San Juan Power Station
Power station in the US southwest prepares its 4 chimneys for wet stack operation by installing Pennguard® chimney linings onto the brick flue liners
Through the years of operating the four San Juan Power Station chimneys with a mixed, partially desulfurized gas flow, it was found that the free standing brick chimney flue liners were subject to degradation especially in the mixing zones for treated and non-treated gas flows. In 2002 and 2003, the station installed the Pennguard® Block Lining System onto the lower part of the brick flue liners of the Unit 1 and Unit 2 chimneys.
In 2006, the owners decided to switch to fully desulfurized operation, eliminating any bypass around the FGD system. In order to prepare the chimneys for low temperature wet stack operation, the brick flue liners in all four chimneys will be protected by the Pennguard® Block Lining System over their full height.
How the Unit 4 chimney was prepared for wet stack service
The Unit 4 chimney was the first of 4 chimneys to be lined with the Pennguard® Block Lining System. The chimney contractor, Pullman Power, had to complete the lining of the brick flue with the Pennguard® Block Lining System and all related works in an outage of 6 weeks, during the third quarter of 2007. The complete installation process is described on page 2 and 3 of the San Juan Project Report.
Converting brick flue liners for low temperature FGD service.
Pennguard® linings are the most effective technology. Why?
A positive barrier
The Pennguard® Block Lining System will form a positive barrier, isolating the brick flue liner from any contact with acidic flue gas and condensate.
No anchors, no supports
The Pennguard® Block Lining System is lightweight and does not require any anchors or supports that could lead condensate into the lining and create weak spots.
Flexible and adaptable
Most brick flue liners have irregularities such as bulges, offsets between bricks and narrow cracks. Thanks to the limited size of the Pennguard® Blocks and the flexibility of its adhesive, the Pennguard® Block Lining System will readily adapt to most of these irregularities.