Offline cleaning of cogeneration boilers and treatment of effluent produced

Our client, a major player in the production and supply of electricity in Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada), handles the generation and distribution of 80 % of the energy consumed in the province.

During the annual shutdown of its thermal power plant, CTP environment North America was selected for a combined operation involving the cleaning of two economisers for two different cogeneration boilers (170 MW each) as well as the dewatering and neutralisation of the effluent produced. The economisers were clogged/blocked, reducing the power generation.

The solution proposed by CTP environment combined the following advantages: simplicity of installation / operation, upstream testing, performance and compliance with the site’s requirements in terms of costs and lead times.

The NEUTROL^® process used for the economizer allowed them to be completely cleaned.

Combined with the Geofloc^®, a mobile treatment solution for effluent treatment and dewatering, the entire operation was a success:

• Effluent neutralisation and dewatering
• (Partial) filling of 8 geotextile membranes (10 m³ each – 13 yd³)
• Production of 35 m³ (46 yd³) of wet sludge with dryness of 35 %
• Disposal of effluent

Cleaning outperformed all the targets:

• The boiler recovered its energy generation properties (170 MW each).
• The dryness of the dewatered sludge was compatible with disposal in a landfill site

The effluent at the outlet always had the required pH (pH between 6.5 and 8).