RJM International, which provides combustion improvement and emissions reduction technologies, has secured a major project to supply new combustion technology, including CFD combustion analysis and ultra-low NOx gas burners, to upgrade the two unit, 922 MW Aboño power plant located near Gijon, Asturias in Northern Spain. The plant fires a mix of coal and blast furnace gas (BFG) sourced from a nearby steelworks. The project is for Unit 2 to cease firing coal and undergo conversion enabling it to fire a blend of natural gas, BFG and, in the future, hydrogen.
In environmental terms, the conversion of Unit 2 will reduce emissions of particulates and sulphur oxides by almost 100% and nitrogen oxides by 80%. In terms of CO2 emissions, the average reduction will be 30%, depending on the volume of BFG being co-fired. An additional environmental benefit is that by utilising BFG as a second fuel, a further one million tonnes of CO2 emissions will be avoided.
RJM will be supplying 30 new low NOx gas burners to replace the existing coal burners, and 12 conversion kits to allow the BFG pilot burners to fire natural gas. RJM’s scope also includes detailed CFD studies of the furnace and combustion air systems to ensure that the new fuel mix will not impact negatively on MW output, reliability or efficiency.
Commenting on the project win, John Goldring, MD of RJM said, “We know our track record of successfully completing similarly complex power plant upgrade projects and coal to gas conversions stood us in good stead with the customer … looking ahead, we aim to develop further emissions reduction and decarbonisation projects on coal-to-gas conversions of other utility boilers in Europe, the USA and the rest of world”. Work is well underway on the project and the upgrade is scheduled to be completed by July 2025.
