West Burton Power Station
West Burton Power Station is a 4 x 500 MW power station equipped with wet limestone FGD and two new chimneys, each with two Pennguard® lined steel flues. Originally, West Burton Power Station had two, 200 m / 656 ft high concrete chimneys, each with one sectional brick liner. These old chimneys were in poor technical condition and were in an unfavourable location in relation to the 4 new FGD plants. Re-using the existing chimneys would have resulted in long and expensive outlet ductwork.
Environmental problem, caused by daily start-up and shutdown procedures
Due to a free electricity market, West Burton Power Station is subject to a flexible operating regime. The 4 units operate in base load service during the winter period. At other times of the year, especially in summer, the power station operates on a ‘two-shift’ schedule, which calls for daily starts and stops.
‘Two-shift’ operation creates many challenges for the power station and the new chimneys. During start-up, flue gas volumes are still small and while the flue surfaces are heating up, there is a strong formation of acid condensate within the chimneys. The acid condensate can be ejected from the chimneys as acidic droplets or particles. Another problem is that the cool chimneys lower the temperature of the exit plume. As a result, plume dispersion during start-up may be significant worse than during steady state operation.
Pennguard® chimney linings help to make a ‘clean start’
The Project Report on West Burton Power Station explains how the Pennguard® lining on the steel flues will help to limit the formation of acidic condensate during ‘two-shift’ operation with frequent start-up and shutdown procedures.
The last page shows the Pennguard® lining installation in pre-lined steel flue cans before it enters the chimneys. For erection of the steel flues, the chimney builder chose to use bolted flange connections instead of field welds.