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Plasma-fuel systems for starting up boilers

Traditionally, a significant amount of high reactive fuels such as fuel oil and natural gas are used in pulverized coal power plants for boiler start up and flame stabilization. This means higher operational costs because the owner has to purchase and handle the fuel.


Red Mountain Energy Corporation offers the Plasma-fuel system (PFS) which does not involve the use of liquid or gas fuels, yet provides an efficient start-up of the boiler.


The rise in fuel oil and gas prices makes the problem more critical and has led to other solutions, namely coal-based start-up systems.


PFS is based on the thermal and chemical plasma treatment of coals prior to combustion. А portion of pulverized solid fuel is taken from the main flow and is activated by arc plasma in a special chamber with plasmatron. Due to high temperature the medium is enriched with radicals, the volatile components of coal are extracted, and carbon is partially gasified.


Plasma-fuel systems have the following advantages against traditional oil fuel systems:

  1. Oil-free process
      2. no expenses for purchasing of oil
    • no fuel-oil handling system
  2. Environmental friendly solution
      3. NOx emissions are ~15-20% lower
    • no V2O5 emissions
    • Decrease of carbon loss
  3. Lower operational cost for PFS
      4. the electrodes which are the main consumables of the process are cheap
  4. The operation of PFS requires an insignificant part of power plant auxiliary load
      5. 0,5-2 % of burner heat output
  5. Intermediate payback period
      6. ROI (return on investment) – within 1-3 years

Plasma-fuel systems can be applied with all main types of coals in the world (lignite, brown coal, bituminous coal, anthracite) which have the following characteristics:

  • Heat value: 1600-6200 kcal/kg
  • Volatile content: 4-50 %
  • Ash content: 15-56 %
  • Moisture: 5-57%

In Russia, China, Serbia, Slovakia, and Mongolia we have assembled and put into operation plasma-fuel systems in over 30 boilers with a capacity range from 75 to 670 ton/h.


Our specialists are able to offer you technical consulting on the selection, application or replacement of your equipment. We would be glad to meet with your engineers and to describe this technology in more detail as well as to demonstrate the PFS system in operation. We, at Red Mountain Energy Corporation, can provide a complete service, from design, to the manufacture and successful startup of plasma-fuel systems.