GE P&W FuelSolv - Opportunity Coal Slag Control at Lakeland McIntosh Unit #3 User Manual

Abstract, Lakeland mcintosh unit #3

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TP1193EN.doc Jan-12

Technical

Paper

“Opportunity Coal” Slag Control at
Lakeland McIntosh Unit #3

Authors:

M. Domingo Tubio (GE W&PT Product Applications), Ken Riddle (Interim Lakeland Electric Plant Manager),
Herb Quinones (GE W&PT Regional Industry Leader) and Don Meskers (GE W&PT Senior Technologist)

Abstract

Electric utilities in Florida are facing a range of chal-
lenges, including competition from low cost natural
gas. For many years McIntosh has burned Eastern
bituminous Central Appalachian (CAPP) coal, cur-
rently $4.20/MMBtu. (Lakeland) Prices have in-
creased in recent years due to rising exports as
metallurgical coal and decreasing production.
(Buchsbaum 2008; Metzroth 2008) Meanwhile, nat-
ural gas prices have decreased to ~$3.50/MMBtu.
(EIA, 2011) This cost difference places coal-fired
electric generation at a competitive disadvantage
with natural gas-fired combined cycle units. (Bodell,
2011) The lowest cost producers in the power pool
run baseload while the more expensive dispatch are
idle until peak demand brings them online. To re-
main competitive, lower-quality “opportunity” coals

such as Northern Appalachian (NAPP) and Illinois
Basin (ILB) coal (less than $4/MMBtu) are being
evaluated as blends with or replacements for
CAPP coal.
Although lower rank coals such as NAPP and ILB
may be attractive from a fuel cost perspective,
they often present operational challenges includ-
ing slagging. Noncombustible minerals in the coal
can create deposits in the furnace and super-
heater areas which can lead to gas path plug-
gage, slag falls, extended outages, and affect sta-
tion reliability, among other issues. (Gabriel 2011)
In 2011, Lakeland Electric and GE Water conduct-
ed a fireside trial to evaluate chemical treatment
on opportunity fuels including Northern Appala-
chian (NAPP) and Illinois Basin (ILB) coals to mini-
mize slagging. Over 72,000 tons of NAPP and
30,000 tons of ILB opportunity coals were con-
sumed with no detrimental impacts due to slag-
related issues in the boiler or unit operations in the
flue gas train. The chemically treated fuel blend
will help the McIntosh Station remain competitive
in the electric generating market, especially
against low-cost natural gas-fired peaking units
which are now being run as baseload units in Flor-
ida.

Lakeland McIntosh Unit #3

Lakeland Electric McIntosh Station Unit #3 is a
365-MW balanced draft pulverized coal front wall
fired B&W Radiant Reheat Boiler commissioned in