Bottom Ash Hopper Drip Shield

[wayuu1981]

Hello,
I work in a 2x160 MW gross capacity utility, pulverized coal fired, tangential arrangement of burners. We are changing our bottom ash handling system from hydraulic to mechanical system by means of a sumberged scrapper conveyor SSC.

The old system had a water impounded hopper and it had a wire mesh drip shield (now its completely damaged by years of operation) but now the new hopper will work dry, the water will be only in the seal throug and in the upper side of the SSC, we are not sure if we need to replace the drip shield or if we don't need it anymore because the level of the water-ash mix will be far from seal through (more than 12 ft) so no drip will occur.

Does anyone know if we really don't need the drip shield anymore ?
does the drip shield have another function different that I'm not having into account?
Thanks for any help you can give me.

Javier Guevara E.
Termoguajira, Colombia, South America

 

[eyec]

i would ask the boiler OEM (CE i assume).

 

[wayuu1981]

As I know, the drip-shield's function is only to protect the water-seal trough against ash or other contaminats.

Because of the size of the mesh (almost 0.5" holes) I assumme that the contaminants should be large pieces and no dust suspended in the gas flue, or foam produced from the old sistema that worked with sea water and high pressure jets. but in the new system, the hopper works dry, the water is in the SSC aprox. 12 ft below de water trough.

 

[rmw]

Try calling these guys.

http://www.rvii.com/power_plant.htm

Ask for Dave or Tim. No se habla espaniol.

rmw