Design and Experimental Study of a Novel Microwave-Assisted Burner Based on Plasma Combustion for Pulverized Coal Applications

• Published in: Applied Sciences
• Main Author: Uğur Tekir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
• Subjects: microwave energy; plasma combustion technology; auxiliary burner; multi-stage ignition; pulverized coal combustion; coal sampling
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/5190

An alternative combustion technology to replace conventional start-up and flame stabilization using fuel oil or natural gas in pulverized coal-fired boilers has been investigated. In this study, a novel plasma burner design is proposed as a replacement for traditional auxiliary burners, operating by generating plasma through the ionization of air using microwave energy. The burner features an internal combustion system and a multi-stage ignition process to enhance flame stability, improve combustion efficiency, and enable more controlled pulverized coal burning within the plasma. Supported by a magnetron generating microwave energy at 915 MHz with a 75 kW output, the burner directly ignites approximately 22% of the coal–air mixture in the plasma zone, forming a stable flame that ensures complete combustion of the remaining coal. An experimental system was established, and tests were conducted by burning up to 3000 kg/h of pulverized coal in an industrial-scale setup at Unit-1 of the 22 MW_e Soma A Power Plant to optimize burner parameters. The specific microwave energy consumption was calculated as 0.055 kWh/kg of coal, demonstrating high energy efficiency and low operational cost. These results confirm that the microwave-assisted plasma burner is a technically viable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional auxiliary burners.