Assessment of Factors Affecting Boiler Tube Lifetime in Waste-Fired Steam Generators: New Opportunities for Research and Technology Development

This study assessed corrosion and erosion of metal boiler tubes in waste-fired steam generators, and identified research and technology development that could best improve boiler tube performance. Corrosion is caused by deposits that contain alkali, chlorine, and heavy metals, and by the heterogeneous nature of the fuel that may result in incomplete combustion, high CO levels or high heat fluxfrom flame impingement. More efficient plants must operate at higher temperatures than 400 degrees C, previously considered the highest temperature at which corrosion could be controlled. Avoiding corrosion in the furnace zone requires that combustion be completed in the lower furnace. The cost of furnace downtime to repair manageable corrosion is estimated to be at least 1.1% of operatingmaintenance costs.