In this article, I will share the advantages of using gaseous fuels over solid fuels.
There is always a reason why some power plants may entirely decide to use gaseous fuels over solid fuels.
We need to see the positive sides of how gaseous fuels can be a better source of energy.
Without wasting time, let me share what you need to know about this topic.
Advantages of gaseous fuels over solid fuels;
1. You can easily control the nature of the flame
This is the first advantage of using gaseous fuels over solid fuels. Do you know why it’s considered as an advantage?
With the ability to control the nature and the length of a flame as it’s burning, it makes it easier to control the amount of temperature that the fire can generate.
Any plant that uses gaseous fuels over solid fuels, they will need this to achieve greater control of the energy production processes.
There might be some processes that require less amount of energy while some that will require more.
Having control of how the flame can be regulated when it’s burning it’s very essential for the optimum functioning of some power plants.
It’s very hard for you to achieve this kind of control over the flame when solid fuels are being used.
Once the flame starts burning there is no way you can control the nature and length of the flame.
This means that it’s hard to control the amount of temperature produced by this source of energy unless you reduce the fuel content on the furnace, which will also be another case to talk about.
2. Gaseous fuels don’t produce ash.
This is another great advantage of using gaseous fuels over solid fuels. When gaseous fuels are used there is no ash produced as an end product of the combustion.
This is advantageous since we don’t have the issues of handling ash anymore.
Which is very different from solid fuels, when you use them, you will have to ensure that you come up with a measure that will ensure proper handling of the ash.
You will have to find a place where you can contain the ash, have someone dispose of it, and clean up where the ash was once held.
All these are just going to increase the cost of operations of the power plant.
When using gaseous fuels, you don’t have to worry about ash anymore, and this greatly reduced the cost of operation when it comes to energy production in these power plants.
3. Handling gaseous fuels is not required at all.
The moment gaseous fuels are in use, the processes of handling are not required at all.
The only thing that you will need to do is to pipe the gas to the point of combustion.
You don’t need to handle the gaseous fuels since they are always contained in their tanks because of their nature.
They are obtained from the industries with their tanks and used that way.
This is a different case when we compare them to solid fuels, with solid fuels, you will have to handle them.
From the moment they are taken out of the quarry to when they will be used in the furnace.
You need material handling equipment if you want to save time and make work easier just to handle solid fuels.
You might like this: Bulk Material Handling Equipments: Advantages, Disadvantages & Maintenance
As you know, this is only going to increase the cost of operation in the power plant.
You will have to purchase the equipment you need to handle these solid fuels when they are needed to be used in the power plant.
So, using gaseous fuels saves the power plant from the extra cost of handling it.
Though considering gaseous fuels are more expensive than solid fuels, this advantage adds to the reduction of the cost when it comes to fuel usage.
4. Less amount of excess air is needed to facilitate burning.
With gaseous fuels, you need a lesser amount of excess air to facilitate burning.
A small amount of air is enough to keep the fire blazing since gases are flammable.
This is advantageous since it will be easier to generate flame within a go.
This will save so much time, especially if the processes in the power plant are time oriented.
Solid fuels will need an extra amount of excess air to start the burning process, which means it will take time for the flame to be generated.
On the other hand, you will need a measure of ensuring that the excess air provided to the solid fuels reaches every part of the furnace.
Creating turbulence is necessary to mix the air with the solid fuels if you want to keep the flame burning.
With gaseous fuels, you don’t need to worry about this at all. The only thing you need is appropriate ventilation of the furnace and you are good to go.
5. It does not produce soot when it’s burning.
When gaseous fuels are in use, cleanliness is observed since the smoke and soot are practically nil.
You won’t have an issue with cleaning your furnace since soot is not accounted for.
As we know when it comes to burning solid fuels, a considerable amount of soot will always be there no matter how complete the combustion is.
With gaseous fuels, the furnace is left clean which means the maintenance will be minimal.
This will end up decreasing the cost of operations of the power plant. Heat transfer will be greatly increased because the fireside will always be clean.
Lastly…
These are the advantages of using gaseous fuels over solid fuels, and you can see that they are amazing.
But despite the advantages of using gaseous fuels, there are some disadvantages that you can’t run away from.
That will be an issue for another day when in a new article.
Thanks for reading, if you have any questions leave your comments, and see you in my next article.
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