Evaluation of the Central Heating Plant Operation at Malmstrom Air Force Base, MT.
Abstract
In 1983, a new coal-fired central heating plant was built for Malmstrom Air Force Base (MAFB), MT, to replace the existing poorly operating system and provide for increased heating requirements. Although the generators had been fired intermittently with coal, an unofficial test in March 1986 failed due to plugging in the convective section. To determine the cause of the plugging, the Corps of Engineers' Seattle District asked the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USACERL) to observe and document the operation of the heating plant during testing to investigate combustion and design problems. Operating conditions were corrected and the plant was successfully tested. However, the study found that the design parameters were appropriate for high quality Eastern bituminous coal rather than the subbituminous Western coal available to the plant. It was recommended that the furnace temperature be maintained below the ash fusion temperature of the coal to minimize fouling. The coal supply should be monitored for the presence of hot spots and covered or sealed to prevent drying. Placing an opacity monitor before the baghouse should help operators fine-tune the system using visual readings without taking the generators off line.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA306306
Entities
People
- Charles Schmidt
- Jeri Northrup
- Jill Davidson
- Martin J. Savoie
- Thomas Ask
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory