1. System overview. Pressurized natural gas/methane (CH4) and oxygen (O2) are reduced and fed to shock pulse generators (SPGs) via a valve panel when triggered by the controller to initiate a cleaning cycle. Nitrogen (N2) is used to hold the piston forward during rest periods. Source: Explosion Power GmbH

With SPGs, the automatically triggered combustion reactions take place outside of the steam generator in a stable, pressure-resistant container, and the generated pressure wave is passed through a convergent-divergent nozzle into the steam generator. The pressure wave generates a structure-borne sound oscillation within the caking and sets the flue gas flow and the heating surfaces into a short-term vibration. Soot buildup is efficiently cleaned away through these simultaneously occurring effects. The penetration depth of the shock wave depends on the type of device, but it can be more than 10 meters (m).

Figure 2 shows the sequence of events during a typical cycle. The steps are:

2. The firing sequence. The series of events in a shock pulse cycle includes dosing containers being filled with O2 and CH4. Once the glow plug triggers combustion, a pressure wave is released into the boiler, resulting in a short-term vibration that cleans contamination from tubes. Source: Explosion Power GmbH

During its waiting time, pressurized nitrogen holds the freely moving piston forward in the SPG, sealing the outlet gas-tight.

After being enabled by the controller, the dosing container is filled to the set pressure with the necessary small amounts of natural gas and oxygen. At this point, the two gases are still completely separated from each other and are therefore noncombustible.

The transfer solenoid valves for natural gas and oxygen open, and the two gases flow into the combustion cylinder, where they mix with each other and become combustible.

The glow plug is energized, triggering combustion. Due to the sudden pressure increase in the combustion chamber to 350 bar, the piston shoots backward, opening the outlet.

The pressure wave passes through the outlet nozzle into the steam generator and spreads out—initially linearly and then spherically.

After the pressure wave has left the unit, nitrogen pressure pushes the piston forward, closing the outlet. A waiting period follows, which can last for several hours.

The SPG can be mounted either horizontally on the steam generator wall (Figure 3) or vertically on the ceiling. Supplying gas to the SPG can be easily accomplished using individual cylinders or small bundles. The piping to the SPG requires only a 12-millimeter nominal diameter and a line pressure of 40 bar. A small compressor can also be used for natural gas with an existing main connection.

3. Ready for action. This image shows a horizontally mounted TwinL SPG. Courtesy: Explosion Power GmbH

The generators have been used in existing plants as a replacement or supplement for previously installed boiler cleaning technologies. But another big advantage can be realized in new construction projects. SPGs allow a significant reduction in the enclosed building volume, and thereby the steel required for construction, compared to plants designed with long retractable sootblowers. The cost savings can be substantial. The low construction volume of approximately 1 cubic meter per generator even makes installation in out-of-the-way spaces possible.

Successful Installations

The Werdohl-Elverlingsen coal-fired power plant in Germany is operated by Mark-E, a subsidiary of the ENERVIE Group. Block E4 has an electrical output of 321 MW. The unit has a Benson steam generator with two chambers and double U-firing (Figure 4). The dimensions of the steam generator are approximately 11 m x 13 m x 80 m.

4. Retrofit reduces abrasion and erosion. Two SPGs were added on the Werdohl-Elverlingsen Block E4 boiler in the Reheater 1 area, shown near the top of this diagram, allowing three sootblowers to be retired with excellent results. Courtesy: Explosion Power GmbH

The plant has been cleaning Reheater 1 using two SPGs since September 2011, and three sootblowers have thereby been shut down. In addition to the steam savings, inspections have shown that the service life of Reheater 1 has been extended considerably, as damage caused by abrasion and erosion have been reduced.

Another installation was completed at the Josefstrasse waste-to-energy (WTE) power plant in Zürich, Switzerland. The four-pass horizontal boiler has a radiation pass width of 7.2 m and processes up to 13.25 tons of waste per hour, including up to 15% sewage sludge. The steam capacity is 52 tons/hr at 40 bar and 400C. A membrane evaporation wall subdivides the third radiation pass into a left and a right half. By design, flue gas temperature should not be allowed to exceed 700C at the inlet to the horizontal pass to prevent excessive corrosion of superheater tubes.

In 2015, the flue gas temperature at the inlet of the horizontal pass increased during operation almost linearly 7C per day, reaching the critical value of 700C less than one month after boiler startup. By using a shower cleaning system, the plant could keep the temperature around 700C for two to three weeks. However, in order to avoid a further increase in temperature at that point, a manual online boiler cleaning was required, which in practice reduced the temperature to a similar value as after a maintenance stop. Thereafter, the periods until shower cleaning and manual online boiler cleaning were again necessary became shorter and shorter.

One TwinL SPG was installed in 2016 near the lower part of the second radiation pass (Figure 5) to enhance cleaning. The improvement was immediately noticeable. The SPG was commissioned one week after boiler startup. During weeks two and three, the interval between shock pulses was four hours. During weeks four and five, the interval decreased to two hours, and from week six onward, pulses were required every hour. Although the flue gas temperature at the inlet to the horizontal pass increased in the first month to 600C, it was then maintained between 600C and 650C for the rest of the four-month operating period through use of the SPG.

5. Flue gas temperature reduced. One SPG was added on the Josefstrasse waste-to-energy power plant boiler, shown near the bottom of the second pass in this diagram. The change allowed operation with less manual intervention for cleaning. Courtesy: Explosion Power GmbH Not only did the reduced flue gas temperature decrease the corrosion rate in the superheater bundles, but the operator also noticed positive effects in the manual online cleaning regimen necessary in the horizontal pass. It could be reduced from three interventions to one intervention every six months of operation. Additionally, sand blasting during the maintenance stop could be carried out faster and with less material disposal required. Last, but not least, the reduction in the flue gas temperature allows overload operation of the boiler during periods of peak demand in the district heating system. “The shock pulse generator enables us to run our district heat production on maximum performance all year long,” said Bernhard Dettwiler, managing director of the Josefstrasse Waste Incineration Power Plant. In October 2016, seven years after SPGs were introduced to the market, more than 300 units are either in operation or currently being delivered. Initially launched into the European market for WTE plants, the novel technology is now available virtually everywhere in the world and is used on industrial waste, biomass, hazardous waste, and coal-fired plants. Due to the high level of standardization in SPGs, Explosion Power allows permanent leasing of units, which can be an attractive alternative for plants with limited residual service life or for plants that are owned and operated by different entities. ■ —Christian Steiner is deputy chief sales officer and Kaspar Ninck is sales engineer for Explosion Power GmbH, headquartered in Lenzburg, Switzerland.