Abstract
Pulverized coal combustion is widely used for electricity generation around the world. The oxides of nitrogen are among the important polluting species, emitted from coal combustion, having large scale adverse impacts on the environment and life. There can be different routes of the formation of NOx from coal combustion and their emission from electric utilities depends on several boiler operating parameters as well. Among the different options of reducing the NOx formation and emission from power station boilers, the introduction of low NOx burner is one of the less expensive alternatives, which can also be readily retrofitted in the existing plants. The present review has focused on the different design decisions in the burner technology for reducing the formation of NOx. Important patents in the field as well as several commercial designs of the burners have been analyzed. A discussion has also been incorporated on some of the current innovations for further reduction of NOx in order to achieve stringent regulations in the near future.
Keywords: Pulverized coal combustion, Electric utilities, Nox, Burner