Abstract: Removal of combustion deposits from a fossil fuel boiler surface is optimized by using a sootblower to direct a cleaning medium in accordance with adjustable operating parameters against a surface of the boiler to remove accumulated deposits. Following the sootblowing operation, a parameter indicative of the extent of deposits remaining on the surface is measured to determine the efficiency of the sootblowing operation with the operating parameters used. If deposit removal is inadequate, at least one of the sootblower operating parameters is adjusted to increase its aggressiveness. If deposit removal is acceptable, at least one of the sootblower operating parameters in adjusted to decrease its aggressiveness, thereby reducing operating costs and/or the risk of damage to boiler surfaces. Additional steps of periodically measuring deposit accumulation and initiating a subsequent sootblowing operation when the deposit accumulation reaches a predetermined level can be included.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for discharging ash from a plurality of fossil-fuel boiler hoppers through actuator opened gate valves by opening only selected gate valves during a given discharge cycle and bypassing other hoppers. The time required to discharge a given hopper is determined and compared with a desired time range that would be required to discharge the hopper, if the hopper was filled to a desired percentage. Opening of a given hopper during subsequent cycles is based on a comparison of the actual discharge time with a desired discharge time range. If the actual discharge time is less than the minimum time of the desired time range, a time increment is assigned to the given hopper, and the hopper is bypassed on subsequent cycles until the assigned time increment has expired.

Abstract: Removal of combustion deposits from a fossil fuel boiler surface is optimized by using a sootblower to direct a cleaning medium in accordance with adjustable operating parameters against a surface of the boiler to remove accumulated deposits. Following the sootblowing operation, a parameter indicative of the extent of deposits remaining on the surface is measured to determine the efficiency of the sootblowing operation with the operating parameters used. If deposit removal is inadequate, at least one of the sootblower operating parameters is adjusted to increase its aggressiveness. If deposit removal is acceptable, at least one of the sootblower operating parameters in adjusted to decrease its aggressiveness, thereby reducing operating costs and/or the risk of damage to boiler surfaces. Additional steps of periodically measuring deposit accumulation and initiating a subsequent sootblowing operation when the deposit accumulation reaches a predetermined level can be included.

Abstract: Removal of combustion deposits from a fossil fuel boiler surface is optimized by using a sootblower to direct a cleaning medium in accordance with adjustable operating parameters against a surface of the boiler to remove accumulated deposits. Following the sootblowing operation, a parameter indicative of the extent of deposits remaining on the surface is measured to determine the efficiency of the sootblowing operation with the operating parameters used. If deposit removal is inadequate, at least one of the sootblower operating parameters is adjusted to increase its aggressiveness. If deposit removal is acceptable, at least one of the sootblower operating parameters in adjusted to decrease its aggressiveness, thereby reducing operating costs and/or the risk of damage to boiler surfaces. Additional steps of periodically measuring deposit accumulation and initiating a subsequent sootblowing operation when the deposit accumulation reaches a predetermined level can be included.