SECONDARY AIR DAMPER CONTROL(SADC)

C.R.PAL,Sr Mgr(PS)
Secondary Air Damper Control(SADC) is an important and salient feature of modern CE design corner-fired boiler. Few no of windbox dampers are used to distribute air in the furnace for better combustion.The very purpose of SADC is not to control secondary air flow but its distribution. Pre-set value of Furnace to Windbox(WB) dp is maintained by modulating WB dampers and thereby maintaining flame at desired position at furnace. Fuel elevation dampers are adjusted to get a stable flame from about 300 mm away from the nozzle. More fuel air shifts the flame further away and makes flame unstable & less fuel air results in burning within the nozzle and hence results in over-heating. There are six Fuel(Coal) elevation dampers(A,B,C,D,E,F); three Fuel-Oilcum Aux Air dampers(AB,CD,EF); and three Aux Air dampers(BC,DE,FF). Another damper situated at the bottom-most position, namely AA damper is not connected to SADC circuit and operated manually. It is also called anti-slag damper due to its use in controlling slag formation. Its opening is also decided by the amount of bottom ash combustible.

In SADC, Furnace to WB dp is maintained at 40 mmwcl upto 30% boiler load(ie steam flow). It is mainly required for purging & very little amount of fuel flow at that condition. When boiler load increases, the dp is ramped up to 70 mmwcl for boiler load from 30% to 60% and maintained at this level. This value of saturated WB dp can be increased or decreased through a biasing pot, situated on the plaque. Coal elevation dampers are designed to modulate as a function of feeder rpm. But at KTPS these dampers are closed as the feeders are not gravimetric and as recommended by BHEL(after a lot of tripping through Flame Failure).Fuel Oil-cum-Aux air dampers will act as Aux air dampers so long there is no oil burner at that elevation. As soon as the oil burners are pressed into service, then these dampers will open fully(actualy 80%) to cater the air demand for high Calorific Value fuel. It will remain open until the purging is completed. Aux air dampers are responsible for maintaining Furnace to WB dp and will modulate accordingly. Dampers of all 4 corners will be in same position of opening/closing. Interlocks 1. Aux air damper or Fuel oil-cum-Aux air dampers at any elevation will close if its adjacent coal mills are not in service and boiler load is >30%. 2. In case of Boiler tripping(ie MFR) or loss of both ID/FD fans all dampers will open fully and control will go to manual. This will also occur in case of dp>240 mmwcl. Instrumentation There are two dp transmitters(Tx) namely DPT1 & DPT2 to get Furnace to WB dp. Values of both Tx are shown on the UCP plaque. Any one of the Tx is selected for control. If deviation between two Tx are higher than a preset value an annunciation will appear & control will go to manual. But it will not occur if Defeat Switch(situated on the plaque) is operated. Furnace to WB dp can be adjusted with the biasing pot on the plaque. Percentage opening(command) of dampers, dp set point and biasing are on shown on plaque.

Actual damper position is just the reverse of the power cylinder position ie. If power cylinder is fully closed, damper is fully open & vice versa. From outside the windbox we see the power cylinders to operate. Logic power of SADC is +10 v DC.
Schematic diagram of the circuit as below.

DPT1

DPT2

SELECTOR SW

SET-PT

BIAS

Field side Signal to 4 corners of Windbox

I/P

Control Room