FURNACE

DRAUGHT SYSTEM
Present by S.Veerasabari
 Definition of Draught

Draught is defined as the small pressure

difference required to maintained the
constant air flow and to discharge the gases
through the chimney to atmosphere.
Small pressure difference required to supply
air to a furnace and to remove the flue gases
from furnace.
 Necessary of Draught

 To supply the required quantity of air to the furnace

for the complete combustion of fuel.
 To draw the resulting hot gases through the boiler.
 To remove the products of combustion to the
atmosphere through chimney after they have given
the heat to the water being evaporated.
 To supply the air to the furnace for combustion of
fuel& transfer the heat to the absorbing surfaces and
remove the flue gases from the boiler through
economiser, airpreheater, and chimney.
 Types of Draught
.
Draught

Natural Draught Artificial Draught

Mechanical Draught Steam jet Draught

Forced Induced Balanced Forced Induced

Draught Draught Draught Draught Draught
 Natural Draught
 This draught is produced by chimney only is called natural
draught. Which is due to temperature difference of hot gases
inside the chimney(less weight) and outside the
chimney(more weight).
 Draught is produced due difference in weight between
column of hot gases inside the chimney and column of cold air
outside the chimney.
 By this weight difference (cold air outside the chimney and
hot gases inside the chimney), outside air will flow the
furnace into chimney and hot gases will flow up through the
chimney and discharged. This air flow through the furnace is
used for combustion of fuel.
 Natural draught
• Factors influenced in Natural Draught.
• Height of the chimney.
• Temperature and density of hot gases in the chimney.
• Base of the chimney temperature should be greater than
260’C.

Natural Draught is also called as chimney draught.

Taller chimney and hotter chimney gas produces more draught.
This type of Natural draught is used in small capacity boilers only
and it is not widely used in the present high capacity steam
power plants.
 Static Draught
• This is the pressure difference at the grate and at the chimney
base (they are at the same altitude) due to the difference in
pressure exerted by cold column and hot column which is
called static draught.
• The static draught between the grate and the chimney base is
equal to the pressure difference in the weight of the column
of height H of cold air and weight of column of height H of
hot gases.
• Due to this draught air is supplied through furnace(grate),
economiser and flue to the chimney base and hot gases will
flow through the chimney and discharged
• Difference in weight of hot gases inside the chimney and cold
air outside the chimney due to this cool air is admitted to
furnace rushes in to displace the hot gases(less weight) in the
furnace which is called chimney effect.
 Merits and demerits of Natural draught
Merits
 No external power is required for creating draught.
 Capital cost is less than of artificial draught.
 Mechanical maintenance cost is nil and since there are no
mechanical parts.
 Flue gases discharged at a high place in the atmosphere which is
prevents the air pollution.
 It has long life.
Demerits
 It produces less pressure difference for creating draught which is
only used for small capacity boilers only.
 Height of the chimney should be more. So higher capital costr of
taller chimney.
 Draught decreases with increase in temperature of external air.
Hence flue gases should be discharged at higher temperature.
 Demerits
 Over all plant efficiency is decreased when flue gases are
discharged at higher temperatures to produce draught.
 Heat cannot extracted from flue gases for economiser, super
heater and air preheaters. This is because if the temperature
of the flue gas is decreased the effectiveness of the draught is
decreased or reduced.
 The combustion is poor as it produces less draught.
 Due to low velocity of air, mixing of air and fuel in the
combustion chamber is affected. It increases the fuel
combustion.
 This is not flexible for peak loads since the draught available
for particular height of the chimney is constant.
 20% of heat supplied by the fuel is carried by the flue gases to
create the draught.
 Mechanical or Artificial draught
Artificial draught is produced by fans or steam jet. Draught
produced by fan is called fan or mechanical draught. And the
Draught produced by the steam jet is called steam jet draught.
Merits
 Artificial draught is independent of climatic conditions.
 It has greater flexibility to take fluctuating loads of the plant.
 This draught is more economical when the required draught is
above 40mm of water.
 Chimney height is reduced with this draught system.
Mechanical Draught

Induced draught(ID) Forced draught(FD) Balanced draught

 Induced Draught(ID)
In this system ID fan is located near at the base of the chimney.
Which produces partial vacuum by this vacuum the air is
sucked in the boiler sides by reducing the pressure through
the system below atmosphere. Due to this vacuum
atmospheric air is induced to flow into the furnace to aid
combustion.
ID sucks the burned gases form the furnace and boiler side and
discharges it out through chimney by creating partial vacuum
inside the furnace.
The partial vacuum produced by the ID fan is communicated to
the superheater, economiser etc., and flue gases drawn by the
ID fan passes through chimney to atmosphere.
Merits of induced draught

 This draught is not affected by the temperature of hot gases.

 So gases may be discharged at very low temperature( above
the due point temperature).
 This system equipped with economiser, airpreheater so that
system efficiency is increased.
 Chimney used in this system is to discharge the gases at a high
level in the atmosphere.
 It prevent the air pollution.
 So chimney height is reduced with this system.
 Forced Draught(FD)
 In this system a blower or fan is located at the base of boiler
grate. This FD fan forces air under pressure and forces it
through coal bed, furnace, flues, economiser, airpreheater
and to chimney.
 The pressure of air and hot gases in this system is above the
atmospheric pressure. Therefore this system is known as
positive draught system
 A stack or chimney is used in this system which function is to
discharge the gases at a higher level in the atmosphere to
prevent the contamination or pollution. Hence the height of
the chimney is reduced.
 Balanced Draught
 It is the combination of forced and induced draught system.
One ID fan is located at the base of the chimney and other FD
fan is located at the base of the grate or front end of the
furnace. FD fan forces the air at high pressure through the
fuel bed on to the top of the grate. ID fan sucks the flue gases
through the economiser, air preheater and discharge it to the
chimney.
 Force draught overcome the resistance in air preheater and
the fuel bed. So that sufficient air is supplied to the fuel bed
for proper combustion. Induced draught over come the losses
through economiser and air preheaters.
 The pressure effect of FD fan and the suction effect of ID fan
balanced in the furnace which operates at near atmospheric
pressure or just below the atmospheric pressure. The
pressure below the grate is above the atmospheric pressure
which helps for proper and uniform combustion.
 Preference of Balanced draught
In forced draught system when the furnace is opened for
inspection or firing the high pressure air inside the furnace
will try to blow out suddenly . And pressure inside the furnace
is greater than the atmospheric pressure there may be a
possibility of outward leakage of gases in this system which
causes loss of thermal efficiency.
In induced draught system, when the furnace is opened for firing
and inspection there is a possibility of cold air ingress the
furnace(air-infiltration) since the pressure inside the furnace
is below the atmospheric pressure. This reduces the draught,
and dilute the combustion and it reduces the heat
transmission, thermal efficiency of the boiler.
To over come this problems balanced draught is used.
 Features of Balanced draught
 The pressure effect of FD fan and suction effect of ID fan is
balanced in the furnace which operates at or near the
atmospheric pressure.
 A little suction is necessary in the furnace for proper mixing of
air and fuel.
 In balanced draught fuel and air ratio in the furnace is
controlled by the both ID&FD fans so that draught is
regulated and balanced by amount of air and flue gas.
 A little brown haze from the top of the chimney is an
indication of proper combustion of fuel & air. If we supplied
too much air we get incomplete combustion and it cause CO
formation, black smoke.
 A little white haze from the top of the chimney is an indication
of excess air is supplied in the furnace.
 Comparison of induced and forced draught
Induced draught
1. Pressure inside the furnace is
below the atmospheric
pressure.
2. It reduces the heat
transmission and thermal
efficiency.
3. It handles more volume of
gases due to high
temperature. Fan size and
power required is more
4. The rate of burning of fuel is
not controllable.
Forced draught
1. Pressure inside the furnace is
above the atmospheric
pressure.
2. Outward gas leakage causes
little loss of thermal
efficiency.
3. It handles cold air (less
volume compared with
gases) fan size and power
required is less.
4. It gives better control of air
and better penetration of air
in to the furnace increase
the rate of burning.
 Comparison of induced and forced draught
Induced draught
5.Fan operates hot so is liable
to corrosion and out of
balance due to
accumulation.
6.To withstand high
temperature of flue gas it
requires water cooled
bearing.
7.Maintenance cost is more.
8.Care should be taken when
designing an induced
draught fan
Forced draught
5.Fan operates cold so no
corrosion or deposit hence
longer life.
6. No water cooled bearing is
required.
7. Maintenance cost is less.
8. Less attention required
when designing a forced
draught fan.
 Merits of Mechanical draught
 Evaporate capacity of the plant is increased.
Fuel can burnt better rate. The rate of combustion is increased
since available draught is more. The increased rate of combustion
increases the steam raising capacity of boiler.
 Better control of combustion and evaporation.
 Efficiency of the plant is increased.
 It doesn’t affected by the atmospheric climatic condition.
 Low grade fuel can be used since the intensity of mechanical
draught is more.
 Efficiency of the mechanical draught is more(7%) than the efficiency
of the natural draught(1%)
 The fuel combustion for the given power is less than natural
draught(about 15%less).
 Reduces the height of the chimney. The function of the chimney is
to discharge the flue gases at higher level in the atmosphere to
prevent the pollution.
 Merits of Mechanical draught
 Less fuel combustion.
 Smoke formation is prevented.
 Fuel burning capacity is more(200 to300kg/m2(grate area)/hr)
but incase of natural draught fuel burning capacity is
less(50kg/m2/hr)
 High temperature of flue gases are not necessary for required
but it should be greater than due point temperature.
Demerits
 Capital cost is high.
 Running and maintenance costs are high where as in the
case of natural draught is practically nil.
 It requires high power for fans.
Steam jet draught
Steam jet draught is an artificial draught which uses steam jet for
creating draught. Steam jet draught may be classified as
induced draught and forced draught depending upon the
location of the steam jet. This system is used in the
locomotive boilers.
Merits
 This is the simple and cheapest in cost.
 It has the capability of using low grade fuels.
 Space required is less.
Demerits
 It is used only when the steam jet at high pressure is available.
 The draught produced is quite low(20 to 30mm of water
column)
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