Boiler Technology Pursues Goals of Efficiency and Lower Emissions
Conflict has marred the start of commercial operation of the world's largest and most advanced circulating fluidized-bed boilers. Foster Wheeler Energy Corp. last month filed suit against JEA for breach of contract on the Jacksonville, Fla., municipal utility's Northside generating station, where CFB installation was completed this summer. But the project's legal problems do not detract from the accomplishment that the 600-Mw plant represents in the maturing of circulating fluidized-bed combustion technology.
Clinton, N.J.-based Foster Wheeler designed and supplied the two 300-Mw CFB boilers and performed engineering, procurement and construction for the boiler island. The new steam generators replaced oil- and gas-fired boilers serving Units 1 and 2, accomplishing a triple play: They increased the plant's power output by 250% and reduced emissions by more than 10%, according to JEA figures, while switching to a combination of petroleum coke and coal, generally considered "dirty" fuels. The U.S. Dept. of Energy's Clean Coal Technology Demonstration Program contributed $72 million of the overall project cost of about $630 million.