1. ESP Power and Its Relation to ESP Rebuilds Western Canada BLRBAC Meeting
John A. Knapik – ESP Technical Consultant
B&W Controls and Electrical Group
Phone:
October 25, 2017

2. To Become an ESP Expert, You Simply have to Know Two Things
Precipitator efficiency is directly proportional to:
How quickly the dust in the ESP migrates toward the collecting plates to get captured. (Best monitored thru ESP total power [KW])
The relative size of the ESP (SCA) .

3. ESP power is a barometer for ESP performance The more ESP power, the higher the ESP collection efficiency
THIS GRAPH IS FOR PRESENTATION OF THE CONCEPT, ONLY, AND SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED TO REPRESENT ANY SPECIFIC APPLICATION.

4. Precipitator Relative Size (SCA)
The relative size of an ESP is called its Specific Collecting Area (SCA)
Example: Total ESP collecting surface area = 300,000 ft2 Total gas volume = 1,000,000 ACFM 1) SCA of ,000/1,000 (1000s) = 300
ESP

5. Increasing ESP Size
Doubling the precipitator physical size, doubles its SCA. New SCA = 600
Or, reducing the flue gas volume in half, and keeping the ESP physical size the same, doubles its SCA. New SCA = 600
ESP 2X

6. To Become an ESP Expert, You Simply have to Know Two Things
Precipitator Efficiency is directly proportional to:
How quickly the dust in the ESP migrates toward the collecting plates to get captured. (Best monitored thru ESP Total Power [KW])
The relative size of the ESP (SCA)
Therefore, whatever we can do to maximize the above two parameters will increase the ESP collection efficiency. .

7. 9/14/2018
Rebuilding a Recovery Boiler ESP has an Impact on ESP Power and Outlet Emissions

8. 9/14/2018
Precipitator (ESP) Power is the summation of the secondary power (KW=KV*mA) of all the power supplies on the ESP
T-Rs and Bus Duct
Rapping Systems

9. For every ESP, the power levels increase from inlet to outlet, but the easiest to understand barometer is total ESP power

10. If the Recovery ESP had Hoppers, the Catch in Each
AVC Readings KV mA
SPM
Voltage Control
Readings
Field 1
Field 2
Field 3
80%
Efficiency
70%
Efficiency
60%
Efficiency
100 lb of Salt Cake in flue gas
2.4 lb of Salt Cake to stack
2.4 lb
20 lb
6 lb
80 lb
14 lb
3.6 lb
THIS EXAMPLE IS FOR PRESENTATION OF THE CONCEPT, ONLY, AND SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED TO REPRESENT ANY SPECIFIC APPLICATION.
Total = 97.6 lb removed out of 100 lb in = 97.6% efficient

11. Recovery Boiler ESP Current Density by Field
BLR ESP Total KW Increases Roughly by a Factor of 3 from Inlet to Outlet

12. If your most recent ESP inspection showed cell charts similar to this (very poor), the power to those cells is compromised and their efficiency at collecting particulate matter (PM) has diminished .

13. 9/14/2018
Old Boiler ESP Rebuilds Utilized Wires and Weights – Today’s Rebuilds Use Rigid Discharge Electrodes (RDE)

14. Before ESP Rebuild After ESP Rebuild
Rebuilding “in-kind” with weighted wires would improve power (efficiency) but is no longer done. Rigid electrodes are the superior technology.
Before ESP Rebuild
21,600 ft2 of CE Surface
After ESP Rebuild
21,600 ft2 of CE Surface

15. Before ESP Rebuild After ESP Rebuild
Rebuilding with rigid electrodes at 12 in. spacing, as opposed to the weighted wire design at 9 in. – less gas passages, less collecting surfaces
Before ESP Rebuild
21,600 ft2 of CE Surface
After ESP Rebuild
16,200 ft2 of CE Surface

16. But how can rebuilding an ESP with rigid electrodes and progressively less collecting plate area have the same collection efficiency as a new weighted wire rebuild?

17. Before ESP Rebuild After ESP Rebuild
Or better yet, rebuilding with rigid electrodes at in. spacing, as opposed to the weighted wire design at 9 in. – even less collecting surface
Before ESP Rebuild
21,600 ft2 of CE Surface
After ESP Rebuild
11,880 ft2 of CE Surface

18. Conventional Transformer Rectifier Set
The Answer Rests in the Amount of Power Delivered to Each ft2 of Collecting Plate in the Rebuild
ORIGINAL IS AN OUTLET FIELD ON A 2 CHAMBER RECOVERY BOILER ESP WITH 40GP ON 9" SPACING WITH WEIGHTED WIRE.
GAS VOLUME IS 486,000 ACFM.
ESP CONFIGURATION
ESP POWER SUPPLY
DENSITY
CONDITION
uA/FT2
AREA
NO. OF GAS PASS
GAS PASS
VOLT
AMP MA KV
KVA KW
W/FT2
WW,9",CONV.
69.4 40 9
400
240.0
1500 45
96.0
67.5
3.1
RDE,12",CONV.
67.9 30 12
236.0
1100 60
94.4 66
4.1
RDE,16",CONV.
71.5 23
15.75
243.1
850 80
97.2 68
5.7
The above table shows the theoretical size of the conventional power supply required for each rebuild scenario. Note that the input power remains relatively the same (approximately 96 KVA) but the amount of power in the ESP on each ft2 of collecting plate increases proportionately.
Conventional Transformer Rectifier Set

19. One Exception to Wide Plate Spacing
Unlike a coal-fired utility boiler ESP, a recovery boiler ESP sees a much higher dust loading at the inlet with a much finer size distribution
This characteristic produces a condition called “space charge” and renders in. gas passages in the inlet field prohibitive. If in. is used in the rest of the ESP (it is a very sound approach), then the first mechanical field will need to utilize 12 in. gas passages.
Last, because of the space charge, a very aggressive high voltage electrode must be used in the first mechanical field (see v-pin electrode at right).

20. How to Get Even Lower PM Emissions
Remember, collection efficiency is related to the size of the ESP and the total internal power (KW).
The new era of ESP power supplies utilizes a low ripple, almost DC waveform that increases ESP power by 25 to 35%.
More power in means less dust out. Often times 25 to 50% less outlet emissions
High Frequency Power Supply (HFPS)
Three-Phase Power Supply (TPPS)

21. Single Phase = Conventional TR Set
Secondary Current
Secondary Voltage
Peak
Min
True DC:
It produced an ESP DC waveform for current and voltage that looked like this.
Because the wave does not cross zero (change polarity), it is DC and not AC.
It is said to have a lot of “ripple” (35 to 45%)

22. High Frequency Power Supply (HFPS)
Secondary Current
Secondary Voltage
Peak
True DC:
Over the last decade, a lot of conventional ESP TR sets have been replaced with power supplies that provide a more true DC (very little ripple [<1%] in the waveform).
Their advantage is more output power.
More ESP power equates to higher collection efficiencies.

23. 3-Phase Power Supply (TPPS)
Secondary Current
Secondary Voltage
Peak
True DC:
Since the 1960s, the Europeans have been using 3-phase power supplies on ESPs to reduce waveform ripple (0.5 to 1.5%) and increase total power.
Their advantage is higher output power, almost as high as the HFPS, but with a higher reliability than a HFPS

24. Single Phase = Conventional TR Set
Secondary Current
Secondary Voltage
Peak
Min
True DC:
Higher Power – How?
Sparking in the ESP is relative to the peak value of the secondary voltage waveform.
The 3-phase and the switch mode allow you to run at that peak voltage value.
That is why they produce more ESP current for the same peak voltage than a single-phase transformer can

25. Although the Low Ripple Devices are More Efficient, They Still Will Require More Station Power
ORIGINAL IS AN OUTLET FIELD ON A 2 CHAMBER RECOVERY BOILER ESP WITH 40GP ON 9" SPACING WITH WEIGHTED WIRE. GAS VOLUME IS 486,000 ACFM.
ESP CONFIGURATION
ESP POWER SUPPLY
DENSITY
CONDITION
uA/FT2
AREA
NO. OF GAS PASS
GAS PASS
VOLT
AMP MA KV
KVA KW
W/FT2
WW,9",CONV.
69.4 40 9
400
240.0
1500 45
96.0
67.5
3.1
RDE,12",CONV.
67.9 30 12
236.0
1100 60
94.4 66
4.1
RDE,16",CONV.
71.5 23
15.75
243.1
850 80
97.2 68
5.7
WW,9", LOW RIPPLE
480
148.2 70
123.2
105.0
4.9
RDE,12", LOW RIPPLE
139.8 90
116.2
99.0
6.1
RDE,16", LOW RIPPLE
120.0
100
99.8
85.0
7.2
NOTE: 100KV IS THE LARGEST "STANDARD DESIGN" VOLTAGE RATING FOR A LOW RIPPLE POWER SUPPLY
The above table shows the theoretical size of the conventional and low ripple power supply required for each rebuild scenario. For roughly 25% more input power to the low ripple three-phase TR set, it will produce 50% more power out.

26. Advantages and Disadvantages of Low Ripple Power Supplies
TPPS has lowest harmonic distortion, HFPS the highest
HFPS is smaller and lighter than the TPPS
HFPS controls are at the device, on the roof of the ESP and require their own cooling system. TPPS controls are separate, in the MCC room.
TPPS is much more reliable
HFPS is slightly more electrically efficient

27. 9/14/2018
Last Method to Increase ESP Collection Efficiency – Convert 1 Mechanical Field into 2 Electrical Fields

28. Re-Powering & Re-Sectionalizing to Increase ESP Efficiency
Original = Poor
Re-Powered = Very Good
3 TR Sets
3 Electrical Fields
3 Mechanical Fields
6 TR Sets
6 Electrical Fields
3 Mechanical Fields

29. Rebuild Utilizing 2 Electrical Fields Where Originally There Was Only 1
Gas Flow
2 Upper HV Frames

30. Questions
John A. Knapik Phone:
Disclaimer
The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W) assumes no liability or responsibility with respect to the use of, or for damages resulting from the use of, any information, methods, processes, or recommendations provided in this presentation. B&W expressly excludes and disclaims any and all warranties, whether expressed or implied, which might arise or apply under law or equity or custom or usage of trade, including, without limitation, any warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular or intended purpose.