Simplified analysis and practical mitigation techniques for induestrial boiler thermoacoustic vibration

Industrial boiler systems are prone to mechanical vibration which can lead to premature component failures, emission non-compliance, and greatly increased ambient noise generation. Driving mechanisms, thermoacoustic phenomena, and system geometrical interactions are complex. General methods for accurate predictive analysis of system vibration are historically unreliable. Rather, to effectively mitigate vibration in combustion systems, design best practices can be employed to minimize vibration potential. Should system vibration occur, this can be effectively coupled with comprehensive vibration data collection, prescriptive analysis methods, and system modeling techniques so that the most probable system drivers can be isolated and mitigation techniques can be quickly employed. An overview of combustion acoustic theory and design best practices with a strong emphasis on combustion as acoustic amplifier will be presented. Vibration data analysis, system modeling methods, and mitigation techniques will be presented. A case study of combustion system vibration will be discussed outlining vibration observations and effects, and how analysis of key design features and vibration data led to successful strategies for resolution.