Selecting and implementing a fuel blend for scrubbed units at a pulverized coal power plant

• Tested blends of Wyoming PRB, Central and North Appalachian coal, and Pet coke
• Operation with 100% PRB was also tested.
• Co-firing southern PRB and Northern Appalachian coal lead to slagging and fouling.
• Optimal blend included 10% Pet coke with PRB coal and Central Appalachian coal.

The DTE Power Plant includes four boilers, each generating up to 5.7 million lbs/h of supercritical steam, and each supporting the generation of up to 800 MWe (net) of electricity. At the time of the testing two units were equipped with both scrubber and selective catalytic reduction systems in addition to electrostatic precipitators. Over a two year period, the Plant modeled and tested a wide variety of fuels and fuel combinations with a base fuel of Wyoming Powder River Basin (PRB) subbituminous coal and Central Appalachian bituminous coal. Fuels incorporated into the blend included petroleum coke, northern PRB subbituminous coal, and northern Appalachian bituminous coal. Various blend combinations were considered and/or tested. Operation with 100% PRB was also tested. The objective was to optimize the fuel blend from both technical and economic perspectives. The blend proven to be optimal from both technical and economic perspectives included 10% petroleum coke with PRB coal and, as necessary, Central Appalachian coal. This blend was implemented.