This manual has been written for boiler operators and is intended to be a concise,
easily understood, and interesting guide to the clean and efficient operation of bituminous
and sub-bituminous stoker coal- fired boilers. It should be made very clear that this
manual neither replaces nor supercedes the manufacturer's operating manual. This
manual will explain general principles of boiler operation and will suggest ways of
reducing boiler emissions and increasing boiler efficiency. This manual will not show
the operator exactly how to implement these suggestions. For this reason, the operator
should consult the boiler manufacturer's operating instructions as well.The first part of the manual includes a list of definitions used in discussing stoker
equipment. The reader needs to understand terminology in order to properly address the
technical and operational ramifications of a stoker-boiler installation.The first section of the manual describes the types of stoker boilers in use today.
Since stokers of different design have different operating characteristics, this part of the
manual will explain each type of design to enable a better understanding of how to solve
problems specific to the type of stoker in use. The next section of the manual explains
the combustion process. Since both increased boiler efficiency and reduced boiler
emissions can be achieved most inexpensively through combustion optimization, a basic
understanding of the combustion process is essential to achieving improved boiler
operation. The last two sections of the manual explain how the operator can control the
combustion process in the coal stoker-fired boiler in such a way as to achieve increased
boiler efficiency and reduced emissions. While it is frequently possible to achieve
increased efficiency and reduced emissions simultaneously, there is sometimes a tradeoff
between the two. The nature of this tradeoff is explained in the last two sections of the
manual.