Greenbank Terotech Ltd - the development of an in-line real time density independent microwave sensor to measure moisture content of falling bulk materials used for coal fired power stations

优化进入燃煤电站锅炉的煤粉燃料的含水率，可以显著提高锅炉效率。煤中的水分含量是通过在磨粉机中预热煤来控制的。热量输入是根据燃料水分含量的假设设定的，通常来自每天进行的实验室检查。这并没有提供基于现代操作中所经历的水分含量实时变化来优化热量输入的机会。据估计，每1度不必要的热量每小时浪费10万英镑。现有的微波湿度传感器主要用于具有单一密度材料的输送系统，并根据假设的密度进行校准，并且同样不能灵活地应对动态操作中密度的变化。该项目的目的是开发第一个与密度无关的在线实时微波湿度传感器，用于安装在燃煤电厂粉碎机给煤槽中的下落散装物料。该项目将在具有挑战性的操作和环境条件下应用新型微波测量过程。为了有效地交付项目，greenbank Terotech将利用集团内重要的运营经验和微波传感器开发知识。该项目将包括以实验室为基础的原型开发，并将积极与电站运营商合作，在运行中试用全尺寸原型。该项目的重点是发电厂的煤炭，但该技术在水泥、骨料和食品加工等广泛的散装材料加工行业中存在令人兴奋的额外机会

Optimising the moisture content of pulverised coal fuel entering the boilers of coal firedpower stations provides significant boiler efficiency improvements. Moisture content in thecoal is managed by pre-heating the coal in the pulverising mill. The heat input is set based onassumptions of the moisture content of the fuel typically from laboratory based checksperformed on a daily basis. This does not provide the opportunity to optimise the heat inputbased on the real time variations in moisture content experienced in a modern operation.Every 1 degree of unnecessary heat is estimated to waste £100k per hour. Existing microwavemoisture sensors are principally used in conveyor systems with single density materials andare calibrated based on the assumed density and again do not provide the flexibility to copewith the variation in density of a dynamic operation. The aim of the project is to develop thefirst density independent in line real time microwave moisture sensor for falling bulkmaterials intended to be installed in the coal feed chute of pulverising mills at coal firedpower stations. The project will apply novel microwave measurement processes inchallenging operational and environmental conditions. To deliver the project effectivelyGreenbank Terotech will draw on the significant operational experience and microwavesensor development knowledge within the group. The project will encompass a lab basedprototype development and will actively engage with a power station operator to trial a fullscale prototype in operation. The project is focused on coal for power stations but excitingadditional opportunities exist for the technology in a wide range of bulk material processingindustries such as cement, aggregates, and food processing