Converting From Coal to Natural Gas
With the increasingly strict EPA emission regulations, decreasing price of natural gas fuel, and ever-changing capacity needs, many coal-fired energy plants are considering making the switch from coal to natural gas. Compliance with new environmental regulations have forced power producers to take a serious look at their older, less efficient coal plants to determine whether or not adding emissions control equipment would be an economical way to stay compliant. Coal plants older than 50 years may be better suited to convert to alternative fuels such as natural gas since these plants have limited or no air quality control systems already in place, and the cost of adding an AQCS to comply with regulations is prohibitively high.
As a valuable asset to power producers, older plants that still have a decade or more of useful service life are a great option for converting from coal fuel to natural gas. The legacy cost of maintaining a coal-fired power plant after it is closed can be quite expensive, so switching to natural gas makes more sense than closing the power plant altogether or spending much more on the emission control systems to meet compliance.
The most important thing to consider when making the conversion to a different fuel type is whether or not your industrial chimney or smokestack provides the right conditions for the new fuel. Changing from coal to natural gas with the same smokestack can create problems if the proper modifications are not met. There are many technical issues that can affect the viability, performance, & reliability of your natural gas firing system when your unit was not originally designed to do so.
Some power production facilities may see a notable drop in plant heat rate & loss of efficiency with their industrial chimney or stack due to increased degradation caused by the high moisture content of natural gas. If your stack is not constructed with materials that can handle the difference in temperature or moisture content of natural gas, accelerated deterioration may cause serious problems down the line. It may be best to replace or rebuild a new stack when you make the initial switch from coal to natural gas. This can ensure that your equipment will properly handle the unique environment of natural gas emissions. On some occasions, adding a new industrial liner may be all that is needed to protect your structure from the alternative fuel type. The best way to find out if you will need to modify or rebuild your industrial chimney or stack during the conversion is to have our fully trained experts perform an inspection.
A hands-on inspection will help us determine if your plant & its components are able to handle the conversion from coal to natural gas without further modification. If more efficient boilers or heat exchange systems are required, we can advise on the best type of equipment for the job. As a plant manager or facility owner, it’s important to consider all of the modifications, changes, and updates that will be necessary to complete the conversion. Contact our industry professionals at Industrial Access to find out more about changing from coal to natural gas and how we can assist you with this intricate process.