Comparative assessment of industrial-boiler options relative to air-emission regulations

The purpose of this work was to assist the DOE in its efforts to further advance environmental control technologies in the industrial coal use sector. A number of near-term technologies applicable to new boilers were evaluated to determine their technical and economic merits, and to identify needed research and development. In addition, sets of capital cost data were developed for the industrial steam supply options. The steam supply options comprise conventional pulverized-coal and stoker-fired boilers, atmospheric fluidized bed boilers, and low- and medium-Btu gas fueled units. Oil-fired boilers were included for comparison purposes. The consequences of potential future alterations of EPA's regulation of stack gas pollutants (NO/sub 2/, particulates, and SO/sub x/) were evaluated by analyzing the potential impact of ranges of emission levels for each of the DOE Regions. In each DOE region investigated, the steam from new coal-fired boilers is costlier than from oil for small size systems or those with a small capacity factor. The implication is that if coal is to displace oil/gas for new industrial boilers under free market conditions, then research and development should focus on developing small, low cost, direct combustion coal-fired systems. Development of lower cost emission controls appropriate for small boilersmore » with moderate control requirements would be an important facet of this endeavor. For medium to large applications in regions using subbituminous, low-sulfur coal, demonstration and full commercialization of AFBCs would yield steam costs about 10% lower than for conventional coal-fired boilers. Central gasification may be useful for a group of small industrial users - the cost of medium-Btu gas approaches the cost of oil in some regions. On-site gasification is clearly uneconomic relative to direct coal firing.« less