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Curbing Emissions While Tuning Combustion Engines for Optimal Performance
Anyone who owns or operates a boiler and wants to generate more power from their combustion equipment faces several challenges, as they need to comply with numerous economic, environmental, legal, political and technical regulations pertaining to atmospheric emissions.
In order to maximize boiler performance while still complying with government regulated emission standards, it is important to select a low-emission boiler of adequate size. Having the best equipment for the job is important, however, it needs to be calibrated and tuned correctly for optimal performance. Tuning the combustion equipment correctly will result in peak performance, while reducing fuel consumption and controlling atmospheric emissions.
The four primary boiler emissions that are regulated under the Clean Air Act (CAA) include carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and sulfur dioxide (SO). Emission restrictions that apply to combustion boilers are outlined in the table below. While emission limitations are largely influenced by the size and type of boiler, other influencing factors include the type of fuel or fuel mixture that is used to operate the boiler, the combustion method, and the geographical location of the boiler installation.
The U.S.Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored 'Guide to Low-Emission Boiler and Combustion Equipment Selection' outlines techniques that are effective in reducing NOx, PM and SO2 emissions. These are grouped into three categories according to the stage of the combustion process as outlined in the table below.
[caption id="attachment_1133" align="aligncenter" width="847"] Credit: Guide to Low-Emission Boiler and Combustion Equipment Selection, C. B. Oland, Oak Ridge National Laboratory[/caption]