In coal-fired power plants, coal is crushed into a fine powder for several reasons:
Increased Surface Area: Crushing the coal increases its surface area, allowing it to burn more efficiently. This enhances combustion efficiency and results in more complete burning of the fuel.
Improved Burning Rate: Pulverized coal can burn at a faster rate compared to larger chunks. This leads to better control over the combustion process and enables rapid adjustments to meet the power demands.
Uniform Burn: Pulverizing coal ensures that it burns uniformly. This helps in maintaining a consistent temperature inside the furnace and reduces the formation of clinkers and slag.
Enhanced Heat Transfer: Finer coal particles facilitate better heat transfer to the boiler tubes, improving the overall efficiency of the boiler and generating more steam for power production.
Reduced Emissions: Complete combustion of pulverized coal results in lower emissions of unburned carbon and other pollutants, thus making the power plant more environmentally friendly.
Overall, crushing coal into a fine powder is a crucial step in ensuring efficient, clean, and reliable power generation in coal-fired power plants.
