A successful performance or preservation program should be based on industry best practices for boiler tuning and testing methodologies. The APPLES approach to Optimization is a method developed by Storm Technologies, Inc.

Optimum combustion and best heat rate operation in a large pulverized coal fired boiler requires the coordinated approach of matching boiler combustion and performance with excellence in steam cycle performance. It is not unusual to have a boiler that meets design efficiency, and a turbine that also meets design efficiency. But the heat rate is several hundred Btu’s above optimum. We call these Opportunities for Heat Rate Improvement, or “Stealth Losses”. These factors include, but are not limited to:

- De-Superheating Spray Flows in the superheater and reheater sections of the boiler

- Non-optimum steam temperatures at low loads

- Air In-Leakage

- Air Heater Leakage

- High Tempering Air Flows

- High Primary Air Flows

- Non-optimized Secondary Air Flow

- Poor fuel balance