Application Background and Benefit Drivers of Plasma-Assisted Low-Oil Ignition

Driven by enterprises' pursuit of maximizing profits, energy cost control has become critical. The widespread application and rapid development of plasma ignition technology stem not from improving boiler efficiency but from the significant economic benefits brought by energy substitution. When generating the same amount of heat, high-cost oil or natural gas is replaced by low-cost, low-grade coal. This cost difference creates substantial profit margins for enterprises, which is the fundamental reason for the popularity of this technology.

Low-oil ignition technology is similar in principle to plasma ignition, differing only in the form of the ignition source. Low-oil ignition provides powerful energy to meet various scenarios but consumes some high-quality energy, while plasma ignition consumes only electricity, offering a unique advantage in energy consumption type. Both ignition technologies enable boilers to respond quickly under ultra-low load or rapid load increase conditions in pulverized coal boilers, meeting operational requirements.

Analysis of the Operational Cost Challenges of Coal-Fired Power Boilers

Despite technological advancements, optimizing boiler startup costs remains challenging. Each boiler startup consumes large amounts of high-quality energy, imposing heavy cost burdens on enterprises. With the large-scale integration of renewable energy, coal-fired power enterprises have taken on the role of "emergency backup" in the power generation system due to natural conditions. Frequent rapid responses and long-term ultra-low load operation have further exacerbated the irrational growth of operational costs, exceeding normal levels and seriously affecting enterprise profitability.

Adaptive Selection Strategy for Coal-Fired Power Ignition Technologies

While both plasma-assisted low-oil ignition technologies are widely used, they have high requirements for coal quality. Plasma ignition, in particular, has more stringent coal quality requirements due to its relatively lower ignition energy, limiting its application scope. Therefore, enterprises must comprehensively consider boiler type and coal characteristics when selecting ignition technologies to achieve a balance among ignition efficiency, operational stability, and economic benefits.

Technological Transformation and Development Trends of Coal-Fired Power Boiler Ignition

The operation of coal-fired boilers involves a complex process from cold start to full load. Initially, high-quality energy sources such as oil or natural gas are required to raise the temperature due to low initial temperatures. Once the primary air temperature meets the standard, the coal mill is started, and pulverized coal combustion gradually replaces high-quality energy until the boiler runs solely on coal.

As mature ignition solutions, plasma-assisted low-oil ignition technologies have captured over 90% of the coal-fired power market, revolutionizing traditional ignition methods and driving industry-wide technological progress and mindset shifts. Looking ahead, plasma ignition technology is expected to become a key direction for technological upgrading in coal-fired power enterprises, leading the industry trend with its unique advantages.