Texas-New Mexico Power Company
Texas-New Mexico Power Company's TNP-One facility consists of two 160 megawatt units. These units utilize circulating fluidized bed technology that allow the facility to meet or exceed current and proposed environmental standards without the use of scrubbers.
In a fluidized bed combuster, crushed coal is mixed with limestone and suspended with jets of air. As the coal burns, sulfur is released and is captured by the limestone that acts like a chemical "sponge" before it is released. The sulfur-laden limestone forms a solid by-product.
Due to the tumbling motion of the coal enhancing the burning process, combustion temperatures can be held to around 1,400 to 1,600 0F, about half the normal operating temperature for a boiler. Thus, fluidized beds greatly reduce the formation of NOx and the limestone absorbs more than 90% of the sulfur without additional pollution control equipment.
Details of Reductions
Additional Information :
While there are no immediate cost savings associated with electrical production through fluidized bed combustion versus traditional pulverized coal combustion the benefits lie in being able to meet future environmental standards without costly retrofits.
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