Numerical Modeling of Combustion Processes in Pulverized Coal Boilers

Numerical modeling of pulverized coal combustion has matured into a vital tool for designing and optimising large-scale boilers. Contemporary approaches employ computational fluid dynamics to resolve the turbulent flow, particle trajectories and heat and mass transfer within the furnace. Coal devolatilisation and char oxidation are represented by detailed kinetics or two‐step models, while radiation heat transfer is captured through approximations such as the P-1 or discrete ordinates method. Eulerian–Lagrangian frameworks couple the gas phase with individual particle populations, enabling accurate predictions of flame structure, temperature distribution and pollutant formation. Advanced models now integrate the fire‐side CFD solution with the steam cycle, creating self‐consistent simulations of heat flux distribution and steam temperature response under variable load and fuel switching. These tools guide air‐staging strategies to minimise NOx, inform retrofits for biomass co‐firing and support the development of supercritical and ultra‐supercritical units. By reducing trial‐and‐error in commissioning and providing insight into operational flexibility, numerical modeling underpins global efforts to enhance efficiency, lower emissions and extend the lifespan of coal‐fired power plants.

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Numerical Modeling of Combustion Processes in Pulverized Coal Boilers publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in numerical modeling of combustion processes in pulverized coal boilers across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): Numerical technique for simulating fluid flow, heat and mass transfer in combustion systems.
Eulerian–Lagrangian approach: Framework treating the gas phase as a continuum and particles as discrete entities.
Devolatilisation: Thermal breakdown of coal releasing volatile compounds prior to char oxidation.
Discrete Phase Model (DPM): CFD submodel that tracks individual particles to capture their motion and interactions.
Supercritical boiler: Boiler operating above the critical point of water to improve thermal efficiency.
NOx: Oxides of nitrogen formed during high‐temperature combustion, comprising NO and NO₂.
Heat flux: Rate of heat transfer per unit area across boiler heating surfaces.

References

1. Study on Combustion Characteristics and NOx Formation in 600 MW Coal-Fired Boiler Based on Numerical Simulation. Energies (2022).
2. Steam Temperature Characteristics in Boiler Water Wall Tubes Based on Furnace CFD and Hydrodynamic Coupling Model. Energies (2022).
3. Coupled heat transfer model for the combustion and steam characteristics of coal-fired boilers. Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics (2021).