Abstract
Large fans for the thermal power industry operate more and more on part load. This paper discusses how the total cost of an investment is increasingly based on the inclusion of the operating costs. Today there is still a high demand for conventional thermal power stations. New ones are under construction and existing ones are in the process of conversion with new desulfurization units; more and more emphasis is being concentrated on:
Operating efficiency Technical reliability The environment and noise and, of course, Return on investment
Because these priorities are contradictory, the objective of this paper is to guide the reader to the best choice of fan technology given differing circumstances.
The correct choice is important concerning primary air, forced draft, induced draft and booster fans which can represent a total power consumption of 2–4 per cent in a 350–600 MW power plant depending on the quality of coal used and the boiler type. These fans are generally characterized by a large volume flow and a relatively large pressure and can be of the centrifugal or axial type.
Many solutions are possible for controlling the air flow of these fans. The main ones will be examined by looking at their general principles, their performance and characteristics, and then comparing them from an energy consumption point of view.
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