Biomass and coal are typically moved from a storage pile to a mill by conveyor belt. Should any spontaneous heating occur, there may be hot spots in the biomass or coal that can damage the conveyor belt or cause a larger fire. This causes safety issues and puts process uptime at risk.
Biomass and coal easily oxidise with air in an exothermic reaction, creating hot spots in the supply. The risk is especially acute for sub-bituminous coals such as those from the Powder River Basin in the United States. Continuous scanning provides an automated detection system that can link to process controls to deal with these hot spots before damage occurs or fire breaks out.
Fast-response detection of hot spots or particles in the stock on the conveyor belt prevents damage to plant equipment and costly process shutdowns. Alarm outputs can trigger an automated fire suppression response for added safety.
APPLICATION NOTE
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL MONITORING
Accurate measurement and control of operating conditions are key to safety and efficiency in modern power plants. Whether the fuel source is coal or an alternative type such as petcoke or biomass, there is a risk of unwanted combustion – potentially causing injury, damage, and downtime – wherever the fuel is handled, processed or stored.
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