Power Company in Ohio Valley Receives Significant Payback With Acoustic Horn Application

The installation of six Powerwave D-75 horns on the reheater at a major power company in the U.S. resulted in a considerable decrease of ash build-up between the reheat tubes of the boiler and a reduction in the reheat steam temperature by 20?F. This translates into a heat rate improvement of 80 Btu/kwh, or an annual heat rate savings of $103,000, based on current fuel prices. Future plans to install 12 more acoustic horns at this plant's Unit 1 reheat section is projected for the plant's next scheduled shutdown.

Utility Company in Spain Reduces Labor/Materials Costs With the Aid of Acoustic Horns

The application of Powerwave D-75 acoustic horns significantly reduced the use of sootblowing at a Spanish utility plant, thereby decreasing costs relating to labor and materials. One-third of the boiler tube punctures experienced at the plant's primary reheat sections of the boiler was caused by sootblowing. The six acoustic horns installed in this area reduced the need for sootblowing by two-thirds. Plant management is strongly considering the installation of more Powerwave acoustic horns in this area in order to do away with sootblowing altogether, and is considering acoustic horns in the economizer as well.

Powerwave; D-75 acoustic horn installed in access port.

Boiler tube abrasion.

Opacity Spikes Eliminated with Acoustic Horn Application at a Midwest Utility Company

The application of three Powerwave acoustic horns in a Ljungstrom air preheater solved the problem of opacity spikes at a midwestern U.S. utility company. Opacity spikes were the direct result of excessive ash buildup in this plant's air preheater. Steam sootblowing had been used for cleaning the buildup, however, this method was ineffective and eroded the baskets. Acoustic horns, which can be operated more frequently and less expensively, kept ash from building up in this plant's air preheater, without damaging the baskets.

Powerwave acoustic horn installed in access port.

Powerwave acoustic horn installed in existing sootblower opening.

Paper Mill in the Southeastern U.S. Increases Heat Transfer Efficiency with Acoustic Horns

A pulp and paper mill located in the southeastern U.S. has realized an average increase of 13 degrees in the economizer of their coal/wood burning boiler after installing acoustic horns. This improvement in heat transfer efficiency is expected to save the plant $120,000 annually. Six Powerwave D-230 acoustic horns were installed into existing access door openings at this plant. Personnel at the plant have also reported an increase in heat transfer in the superheaters and believes that the horns are cleaning these tubes as well.