Expansion Joints for Multi-Flue Chimneys in Coal-Fired Power Plants

20 January 2009 by Keld Ellentoft India

As the need for more power generation increased, each power station had increased its number of plants, resulting in optimized utilization of space and resources. One of the key areas for space optimization was chimneys. Chimneys can be defined as a vertical hollow structure of masonry, steel or reinforced concrete, built to convey gaseous products of combustion from a building or process facility.

A chimney should be high enough to furnish adequate draft and to discharge the products of combustion without causing local air pollution. The height and diameter of a chimney determine the draft. For adequate draft, small industrial boilers and home heating systems depend entirely upon the enclosed column of hot gas.

In contrast, stacks, which are chimneys for large power plants and process facilities, usually depend upon force-draft fans and induced-draft fans to produce the draft necessary for operation, and the chimney is used only for removal of the flue gas.