In the IPCC worldwide environmental report released in August 2021, it is clear that we all need to step up our sustainability game if we are going to avoid an environmental catastrophe.
Modern power boilers are usually equipped with catalysts (SCR) and are on an ongoing shift towards better, more sustainable, and expensive fuels like waste and biofuel. Switching to more environmentally friendly fuels will only solve a part of the problem. We need to work in many areas simultaneously, and saving energy proactively is an area with many opportunities. An ideal way to save energy is to improve the total power boiler efficiency by optimizing the soot-cleaning systems.
Infrasound Cleaning Technology™ and High Impact Sootblowing System (HISS™) from Heat Management are two solutions to optimize the soot-cleaning in power boilers. Implementation of any or both systems will bring significant environmental benefits by saving energy and at the same time saving the plant money.
Results from soot cleaning implementations for power boilers
An example of a case with exceptional results is Mölndals Energy, a combined heat and power plant, which has been using HISS™ for many years. The Combined Heat and Power plant is constructed to deliver 80 MWth.
The installation of HISS™ has reduced the steam sootblowing cycle time by 60%, or 1,5h, saving 3 MWh(el) every day. During a sootblowing cycle, the boiler load must be decreased. Hence, a shorter sootblowing cycle will prolong the boiler’s maximum load, which saves electricity. Steam consumption for sootblowing has also been reduced by 45%, used for power generation instead.
Another great example is at Eskilstuna Strängnäs Energi & Miljö in Sweden. Another combined heat and power plant using HISS™ to increase plant efficiency significantly and lower their carbon emissions. The power plant is 110 MWth running a boiler from Valmet (Metso).
The plant increased its heat production by 12 MWh/day and power generation by 7 MWh/day. They have also reduced the time running at lower load (from 249 to 165 min/day) and at the same time reduced soot blower steam consumption in the economizer and air preheater by 50%. The wear of the sootblowers has also been reduced with 50% of ECO and APH.
Växjö Energy is using a Foster Wheeler boiler with a capacity of 100 MWth. The installation of infrasound cleaning led to a 50% reduction of steam sootblowing in the economizer and air preheater, and full elimination of sootblowing in the catalyst. The decreased need for steam sootblowing reduced the wear in the boiler, and also led to large energy and money savings.
A step towards more sustainable power boiler operations
How to implement Infrasound Cleaning Technology™ and High Impact Sootblowing System (HISS™) from Heat Management in power boilers can differ. The technologies can be used separately or in combination depending on the boiler and fuels in use.
Therefore we have created a guide that will make it easier to understand how to implement the solutions and the potential savings that you can download here.
You can also contact Heat Management and we can set up a meeting for a discussion about your power plant and how to implement solutions for more efficient soot cleaning. You can book the meeting here.
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The power boiler industry needs to step up the sustainability game
November 3, 2021 /

In the IPCC worldwide environmental report released in August 2021, it is clear that we all need to step up our sustainability game if we are going to avoid an environmental catastrophe.
Modern power boilers are usually equipped with catalysts (SCR) and are on an ongoing shift towards better, more sustainable, and expensive fuels like waste and biofuel. Switching to more environmentally friendly fuels will only solve a part of the problem. We need to work in many areas simultaneously, and saving energy proactively is an area with many opportunities. An ideal way to save energy is to improve the total power boiler efficiency by optimizing the soot-cleaning systems.
Infrasound Cleaning Technology™ and High Impact Sootblowing System (HISS™) from Heat Management are two solutions to optimize the soot-cleaning in power boilers. Implementation of any or both systems will bring significant environmental benefits by saving energy and at the same time saving the plant money.
Results from soot cleaning implementations for power boilers
An example of a case with exceptional results is Mölndals Energy, a combined heat and power plant, which has been using HISS™ for many years. The Combined Heat and Power plant is constructed to deliver 80 MWth.
The installation of HISS™ has reduced the steam sootblowing cycle time by 60%, or 1,5h, saving 3 MWh(el) every day. During a sootblowing cycle, the boiler load must be decreased. Hence, a shorter sootblowing cycle will prolong the boiler’s maximum load, which saves electricity. Steam consumption for sootblowing has also been reduced by 45%, used for power generation instead.
Another great example is at Eskilstuna Strängnäs Energi & Miljö in Sweden. Another combined heat and power plant using HISS™ to increase plant efficiency significantly and lower their carbon emissions. The power plant is 110 MWth running a boiler from Valmet (Metso).
The plant increased its heat production by 12 MWh/day and power generation by 7 MWh/day. They have also reduced the time running at lower load (from 249 to 165 min/day) and at the same time reduced soot blower steam consumption in the economizer and air preheater by 50%. The wear of the sootblowers has also been reduced with 50% of ECO and APH.
Växjö Energy is using a Foster Wheeler boiler with a capacity of 100 MWth. The installation of infrasound cleaning led to a 50% reduction of steam sootblowing in the economizer and air preheater, and full elimination of sootblowing in the catalyst. The decreased need for steam sootblowing reduced the wear in the boiler, and also led to large energy and money savings.
A step towards more sustainable power boiler operations
How to implement Infrasound Cleaning Technology™ and High Impact Sootblowing System (HISS™) from Heat Management in power boilers can differ. The technologies can be used separately or in combination depending on the boiler and fuels in use.
Therefore we have created a guide that will make it easier to understand how to implement the solutions and the potential savings that you can download here.
You can also contact Heat Management and we can set up a meeting for a discussion about your power plant and how to implement solutions for more efficient soot cleaning. You can book the meeting here.