circulating fluidised

bed technology
clean, efficient &
fuel-flexible

Alstom Power is the number one supplier of boilers

worldwide. Up to 30% of the worlds boilers use Alstom
technology, producing a staggering combined output
of 845 GW.
Our product portfolio is comprehensive, offering a wide
range of boiler types including pulverised coal-fired
boilers (up to 1,200 MW) in both tower and 2-pass
configurations, advanced oil- and gas-fired boilers (up
to 1,000 MW) and Circulating Fluidised Bed boilers
(up to 660 MW for lignite). We pioneered supercritical
steam generation and today lead the industry in Ultrasupercritical boiler technology.
We have developed an unmatched level of expertise
in fuel combustion by designing, manufacturing and
supplying state-of-the-art systems and equipment that
work cleanly, cost-effectively and reliably.

02

Alstom CFB boiler

world class performer
Tackling the most difficult fuel conditions

Alstom Circulating Fluidised Bed technology can burn a wide

range of fuels, including difficult fuels such as petcoke with
a high sulphur content, anthracite with low volatile matter
content and lignite with a high ash and moisture content.

Leading expertise

Alstom entered the CFB market in the 1980s, and has since
developed a unique expertise in the combustion of difficult fuels,
and in scaling up to utility-size CFB boilers. Alstom CFB boilers
continually demonstrate their ability to burn a variety of fuels,
while showing top class reliability.

Modular approach

Our platform approach enables us to provide reliable products,

reduce lead time and improve cost effectiveness, while meeting
customer requirements.

Alstom is a leading supplier of CFB technology.

We have demonstrated our ability to supply efficient
and reliable CFB boilers with over 32GW of boilers
installed using our technology.
03

NE

RE

L OWE R
I
ENVIRO N G
NM
FO OT P R EN
I N T TAL

TA
L

GE

EN

ONM

CLEAN

TIONS
PERA
E O

ENVIR

BL

G
IN
AS LITY ITY
L
BI ABI

CO

TY

IN
FL CR
& EX E
RE I
LI

RI

O
TI

DA

ON

BI

EN

D E E R GY
P E SE

CU

SP

SI

How Alstom is helping

you meet the challenges
of energy sustainability.

T
LI

G
IN
C
U
RED T OF
CO S CITY
RI
ELECT

PE

TITI

AFF

V E A S S E T SY
CIT

ORDAB

L E EL E CT RI

REDUCING
COST OF ELECTRICITY

LOWERING
ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT

INCREASING
FLEXIBILITY & RELIABILITY

It takes competitive assets to keep

electricity affordable. We enable power
companies to compete successfully in
the marketplace and provide affordable
electricity to consumers. We help you
reduce the cost of electricity through:

Clean generation is one way of

demonstrating environmental
responsibility. Another is lowering
resource usage, visual impact and noise
pollution. In both cases, we can help
you meet or exceed regulations and
environmental standards. That is why
Alstom innovates in the following areas:

Intermittent power generation is a

growing challenge of energy security, as
is maintaining an aging installed base
and adapting it to changing market
conditions. We help you tackle both
issues so that you can enjoy dependable
operations with:

Efficiency improvements
CAPEX reduction / scaling up
Capacity Factor increase (renewable)
Lead time reduction
Competitive O&M
Competitive financing

04

Renewable portfolio
Natural resource optimisation
Pollutants control
(SOx, NOx, PM, mercury)
CO2 emission reduction & CCS
Land use, visual impact and noise
Water intensity reduction &
recyclability

Maintainability and outage

time reduction
Operational and fuel flexibility
Lifetime extension and power uplift
Designs and service for improved
availability and reliability
Climate packages
Energy storage

CFB boiler

Our promise to customers

Customer benefits
Reducing cost of
electricity

Primary sulphur removal by limestone

injection into the CFB furnace ensures
that emissions meet most of the
current SO2 regulations with no backend treatment such as a Wet Flue Gas
Desulphurisation (WFGD). For very
stringent SO2 emissions, our integrated
proprietary dry scrubber NID is a
cost-effective solution that also reduces
the limestone consumption. Inherently
low NOx values make Selective Catalytic
Reducers (SCR) unnecessary.
Thanks to CFB boilers intrinsically
low emissions, capital investment
and operation costs are reduced and
permits are often easier to obtain.
Our key features also contribute to
reducing the cost of electricity. One
example is the Just-in-time limestone
feed system developed to offer
operational cost savings and higher
reliability.

Lowering environmental
footprint

Increasing flexibility
& reliability

Our continuous R&D efforts are dedicated

to core technologies. Innovations include:
Dual grate furnaces for larger size
boilers; External beds and high efficiency
cyclones to provide longer fuel residence
times, thus achieving high combustion
efficiency while operating the fluidised
bed at moderate temperatures.

Critical equipment has been improved

or replaced with proven technology.
Furthermore, all the critical systems
such as the fuel feeding system, the
limestone feeding system or the bottom
ash extraction systems include a safety
margin so they can operate with several
sub-systems out of service without
impacting the availability of the plant.

Alstoms CFB technology has

demonstrated its ability to meet the
most stringent environmental
requirements.

During the past three decades, we

have continuously improved our CFB
technology based on feedback collected
from operational experience.

Combining low bed temperatures and

our fuel-based air staging system results
in inherently low NOx formation. Our
Ultra-supercritical CFB technology
reduces the CO2 footprint with higher
plant efficiency.

Unparalleled fuel flexibility

Over the past 30 years, we have acquired great experience in the combustion of low grade fuels such as lignite, anthracite, discarded
coal, waste coal with a high sulphur content and also petroleum coke. In addition to low grade fuels, our fuel-flexible CFB boilers are
designed to burn simultaneously multiple fuels in the same unit. Our CFB units have demonstrated their outstanding fuel flexibility in
burning opportunity fuels such as biomass (wood chips, olive pits, wood pellets) oil shale, and even tires.

05

Alstom CFB
A wide range

A wide range of solutions for your plant

Three bay arrangement

Dual grate arrangement

Ultra-supercritical CFB

From 100 to 350 MW class

Most common design

Up to 350MW
Design for specific requirements

660 MW for lignite

Furnace arrangement
Single grate is the common design to
meet most technical requirements within
the 100300MW range.

06

The dual grate concept is based on a well

proven design. Alstoms dual grate CFBs
have been in successful operation in the
United States, France and China for more
than 20 years.

Alstom leverages its world-class

knowledge of both technologies
to offer a proven firing system for
660MW class and higher.

boiler

of capacities and technologies

Alstoms CFB boilers are the result of continuous, evolutionary development
that enables the power plant to tackle challenging conditions induced by
fuel characteristics. Our CFB boilers deliver clean and fuel-flexible solutions
for outstanding efficiency, high availability and economical operations.

Advanced flexible technology

Unmatched, flexible technology

Fluidised bed firing is well suited for low grade fuels. In

a CFB boiler, fuel is fed in a stream of fluidised hot solids
consisting mainly of fuel ash and limestone. Efficient cyclones
ensure extended residence times allowing full combustion
at a temperature lower than in conventional pulverised fuel
firing. Uniform low temperature distribution helps to mitigate
fuel related issues such as slagging and corrosion, drastically
reducing or even eliminating them.

Highly efficient cyclones

Alstom cyclones have been improved through design

development, computerised modelling, rig and full-scale tests.
The benefits are
Burnout improvement and reduced limestone utilisation
Increased concentration of solids in the upper furnace.
This enhances heat transfer
Limitation of the size and quantity of particles going through
the back-pass, thus limiting the heat exchangers erosion and
fouling potential
Homogeneous bed temperature that avoids bed
agglomeration and enhances sulphur capture

An illustration of a 250 MW CFB boiler in operation,

firing diverse fuels without modification

- fixed carbon +

meta a.
anthracites
semi a.

low

ASTM D388 - 05 Standard Classification of Coals by Rank

low
volatile bit.
medium
volatile bit.

high
volatile
A bit.

reactivity
same boiler

high
volat.
B bit.

high
volat.
C bit. or
subbit. A

subbit. subbit.
B
C

+ gross calorific value -

high

lignite

Our CFB technology provides a unique

ability to burn a wide range of fuels
in the same boiler. With a simple and
reliable fuel preparation system, our
CFB boilers can accommodate large
quantities of biomass or opportunity fuels.

07

Alstom CFB
Proven and

External Fluidised Bed Heat

Exchangers (FBHEs)

The use of external FBHE containing heat exchange surfaces,

a mature and reliable technology proven by operation records,
may be necessary to optimise plant layout and performance:

For large size CFBs, as the furnace water walls and upper

furnace internal heating surfaces cannot be large enough to

pick-up the required heat
When burning corrosive fuels, to which final superheater
and reheater heat exchangers are sensitive; moving
those to the FBHEs isolates them from high temperature
corrosion potential, as they are no longer in the flue gas
flow, only in the ash flow
For units which have to cope with a very large range of fuels
For an accurate control of the bed temperature to mitigate
NOx and SOx emissions over a wide range of loads and fuels,
and for fuels that may be prone to bed agglomeration

coal
air
air
limestone
air

ash
air

air

Model of CFB boiler arrangement with external FBHE

08

Low SOx and NOx emissions without

back-end flue gas cleaning systems

NO emissions are generally kept within regulatory

x

requirements due to low combustion temperatures from

800C to 900C (1,470F to 1,650F) combined with
staged combustion. Should lower levels be required, the
Alstom advanced, low ammonia slip Selective Non-Catalytic
Reduction (SNCR) system is the solution
SOx emissions are low as well, due to sulphur capture by
limestone, at temperatures no higher than the typical CFB
combustion temperature
Sulphur capture efficiency is often higher than 95%. Should
higher efficiency and/or reduced limestone consumption be
required, the advanced Alstom flash dryer absorber (NID)
is the solution

The intrinsically low SOx and NOx emissions from CFB

combustion have a beneficial impact on plant capital and
operating costs, as additional back-end flue gas cleaning
systems are generally not required. Water consumption
is also reduced due to the absence of back-end flue gas
desulphurisation systems.

technology

cutting edge features

Matching its state-of-the-art circulating fluidised bed technology, Alstom offers
advanced CFB auxiliary equipment for limestone feed, ash cooling and when
appropriate additional desulphurisation and denitrification.

Flash dryer absorber (NID) advanced

desulphurisation process

To meet stringent SOx emission requirements and/or reduce

the limestone consumption, Alstoms advanced flash dryer
absorber (NID) technology provides a cost efficient option.
This technology takes advantage of the free, non-reacted lime
in the fly ash to further capture residual sulphur oxides. Savings
up to 50% in limestone consumption can be achieved, allowing
significant savings in operating costs. Ash handling and the
associated capital and operating costs are also reduced.

Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR)

Alstom has developed a unique, patented design for the injection

of ammonia into the cyclone inlet and outlet ducts. Thanks to an
optimised injection pattern, ammonia consumption is s ignificantly
reduced, as well as ammonia slip.

Rotary ash coolers for bottom ash

In the case that large amounts of ash need to be conveyed,

water-cooled rotary ash coolers provide a robust system that is
insensitive to coarse particles such as stones.

Just-In-Time (JIT) limestone feed system

raw

ne

sto

e
lim

limestone
silo

furnace isolation
valve
to furnace

slide gate
gravimetric feeder

hot primary air

tempering air

roller
mill

Model of JIT limestone feed system arrangement

CFB operation needs crushed and dry limestone. Conventional

limestone feed systems use oil/gas fired dryers, and a silo for
intermediate limestone storage.
Alstoms advanced, integrated Just In Time (JIT) direct
limestone feeding system simplifies the process and
equipment and reduces auxiliary power consumption. Drying
is implemented in the mills with heat from main fuel firing.
An intermediate silo is not necessary: the crushed and dried
limestone goes directly to the furnace. The Alstom JIT limestone
feed system reduces capital and operating costs, compared to a
conventional system.

09

Ultra-supercritical CFB
State-of-the-art

Higher efficiency & lower CO2 footprint

Based on design innovations in larger sized boilers, and higher steam temperatures, Alstoms highly efficient
Ultra-supercritical CFB technology is ready to provide our customers with 660 MW output for lignite. The USC CFB
provides reliable, state-of-the-art fuel-flexible power generation, while minimising the CO2 footprint.

The best of two technologies

As a leading supplier of Ultra-supercritical, pulverised coal

fired boilers (up to 1,200MW), we have demonstrated
our ability to design once-through boilers, select proven
materials and manufacture the pressure parts.

Added value for our customer

Using our modular approach, we are able to modulate the

power output to meet our customers needs, while ensuring
high reliability and outstanding fuel flexibility. Using this
same platform, we can provide a product delivering higher
capacity when burning hard coal.

Alstom has entered the CFB market in the 1980s, demonstrating

our ability to burn a wide variety of fuel while showing top class
reliability with over 140 references.
These design developments have allowed us to combine the
best of both technologies, creating the Alstom Ultra-supercritical
CFB boiler, allowing for larger, more efficient and more flexible
boilers.

Core improvements

The technologys higher steam temperature and pressure

parameters provide the most economical solution to improving
plant efficiency and operating flexibility, achieving fuel cost
savings and reducing emissions for each kWh of electricity
generated.
Combining our expertise in combustion with both single and
dual grate technologies enables us to scale-up the furnace
dimensions to larger sizes.

10

Alstom Ultra-supercritical CFB

technology
Advanced boiler size
660 MW for lignite
Reduced cost of electricity
+3 points of plant net efficiency compared to
sub-critical conditions
Lower environmental footprint
300,000 tons of CO2 per year vs. subcritical condition
Increased flexibility & reliability
2 fuel quality window

boiler

technology applied to a top class product

660 MW Ultra-supercritical CFB boiler

The Ultra-supercritical circulating fluidised bed boiler

offers the most efficient and reliable solution to deal with
difficult fuel conditions.

11

Local presence,
We are

North America
Ottawa (Canada)
Harrisburg (USA)
Windsor (USA)
Erlanger (USA)
Suwanee (USA)
Chattanooga (USA)
Tyler (USA)
Denver (USA)

Europe
Massy (France)
La Courneuve (France)
Stuttgart (Germany)
Neumark (Germany)
Ashby (UK)
Milan (Italy)
Brno (Czech Republic)

India
Delhi (India)
Kolkata (India)
Durgapur (India)

Asia and Oceania

Wuhan (China)
Xiamen (China)
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Surabaya (Indonesia)
Sydney (Australia)

Boiler capabilities worldwide

New equipment

We have execution centres in charge of project execution,

project management and engineering in key locations around

the world
Our manufacturing sites are also spread around the globe,
ensuring our ability to provide the product you need to the
location you want

Boiler services and retrofits

Alstom offers a full portfolio of services for the complete

plant lifecycle:

Boiler island rehabilitation: We provide an integrated

approach for boiler rehabilitation using process engineered

solutions to improve steam parameters to boost plant
efficiency and output
Field service includes boiler inspections, plant condition
assessment outage support and planning, and commissioning
and start up
Spare parts using genuine Original Equipment Manufacturer
(OEM) replacements, plus product upgrades for OEM and
Other OEM (OOEM) equipment
Subsystem retrofits for biomass co-firing conversions and/or
to reduce NOx or SOx emissions resulting from degraded fuel
quality or in order to comply with environmental regulations.
Construction services for new constructions, installations and
maintenance service

12

global strength

where our customers are

Project highlights worldwide

Spurlock #4 (USA)
A variety of fuels including biomass
and tires
1300 MW CFB boiler burning
bituminous coal. Integrated CFB/dry
scrubber (NID) technology with latest
Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR)
system for very low NOx emissions.

Seward (USA)
Discarded high ash coal
2290MW CFB boilers using waste coal
as the primary fuel source, contributing
to cleaning up more than 40 million tons
of coal refuse accumulated in the first 15
years of the plants operation.

Sulcis (Italy)
High ash coal, high sulphur coal,
biomass co-firing
1340MW CFB replacing one of the
plants original pulverised coal units to
cleanly burn a range of imported and local
high-sulphur coals. Integrated with high
efficiency fabric filter system for dust and
particulate control.

Tamuin (Mexico)
Petroleum coke
4130MW CFB boilers to burn p etcoke.
The ashes are used by CEMEX, the
worlds third largest cement c ompany.
Alstoms technology achieves high sulphur
capture with greatly reduced limestone
consumption.

Baima (P.R. of China)

Anthracite coal with coarse particles,
minimum load on coal very low without
fuel back-up
1300MW, the first demonstration
unit in China, commissioned in 2005.
It is one of the worlds largest CFB boilers
for an anthracite-fired power plant
generating clean, cost-effective power.

CAN (Turkey)
One of the highest load factor ratios
in Turkey
Burning low lignite with high sulphur
content for 2160MW, Can shows an
impressive 70% capacity utilisation
since 2007.

13

Case study: Narva, Estonia

1300MW CFB boiler

The largest oil-shale fired boiler in the world

Narva is a best industrial practice, demonstrating Alstoms
leadership in CFB Technology.
In January 2011, Alstom signed a full turnkey EPC contract
with Narva Elektrijaamad AS, to supply one 300 MW steam
power plant. The plant implements the circulating fluidised
bed (CFB) boiler technology on a large scale.
For reduced environmental impact and increased operational
flexibility, the boiler is designed to burn oil shale, peat and
up to 50% co-firing of wood chips. Despite high nitrogen content
in the fuel, the required 150mg/Nm3 emissions will be met
without an additional denitrification system.

Narva CFB boiler key features

Configuration

Dual grate 4 cyclones

Boiler efficiency
(LHV basis)

92.3%

Main steam flow

850 t/h | 1,880 Mlb/h

Superheater outlet
steam pressure

178 bar | 2,567 PSIg

Superheat/reheat
steam temperature

543C/568C (1,009F/1,054F)

Nitrogen oxides

150mg/Nm3 without an additional

denitrification system

Sulphur dioxide

200mg/Nm3 without limestone injection

The CFB technology will be fitted with large tubular air

preheaters, an option preferred to the conventional rotating
regenerating air preheaters to maximise boiler efficiency.
Alstoms latest developments in CFB technology allow
us to guarantee 92.3% boiler efficiency (LHV basis).

Alstom listening to local requirements

The Narva CFB boiler was built especially to meet its customer-specific requirements: External bed technology provides a safe
place to locate heat exchangers operating at high temperatures and, as such, prevents high-temperature corrosion (chlorine) while
offering an accurate control of the bed temperature. The Narva CFB boiler has been fitted with large tubular air preheaters, an
option preferred over the conventional rotating regenerating air preheaters to maximise boiler efficiency.

14

Alstom
Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation,
power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark
for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies.

Power generation

Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated
metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant
solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy
sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal, wind, solar thermal,
geothermal and ocean energies. Alstom offers a wide range of
solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids.

Power generation
Alstom Power offers solutions which allow their customers to
generate reliable, competitive and eco-friendly power.

Electrical grid

Alstom has the industrys most comprehensive portfolio of thermal

technologies coal, gas, oil and nuclear and holds leading positions
in turnkey power plants, power generation services and air quality
control systems. It is also a pioneer in carbon capture technologies.
Alstom offers the most comprehensive range of renewable power
generation solutions today: hydro power, wind power, geothermal,
biomass and solar. With ocean energies, we are developing solutions
for tomorrow. Alstom is one of the world leaders in hydro power,
the largest source of renewable energy on the planet.

Rail transport

PWER/BPROB/CCFBCN12/EN/BOIL/11.13/CH/7403 ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or
warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances.
It is provided without liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Photo credits: ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Printed on environmentally friendly paper. A PDF version of this brochure is available at: www.alstom.com

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