F.A.Q.

What exactly is CoMate, anyway?

Physically, CoMate Fireside Additive is a proprietary formulated, silica-based compound. To maximize its effectiveness in combustion processes, CoMate is produced as a dry, granular, free-flowing powder. CoMate is first and foremost a fireside additive that activates at certain temperatures in a combustion environment. The additive must be pneumatically injected (in most cases) at strategically located injection points on your combustion system. CoMate is not considered a fuel additive as it is designed primarily for injection apart from the fuel feed.

How does CoMate work?

CoMate works by being rapidly heated in the combustion zone of a furnace. Once activated, CoMate works to increase the efficiency of your combustion environment while reducing ash accumulation inside your boiler. The net effect is a cleaner and more cost effective operation, reduced overall emissions, extended operating cycles and sustained peak efficiencies.

What kind of combustion systems can I use CoMate in?

CoMate is designed specifically for use in biomass-fueled combustion systems. Although CoMate does work with other fuels, Atlantic Combustion Technologies specializes in industrial sized, biomass based combustion environments. CoMate can be used in many industries including power generation, pulp and paper, board manufacturing, and other operations using high-pressure boilers, steam generators and thermal energy systems. Whether you are burning wood waste or other organic fuels, CoMate compliments your operation in many ways.

Does CoMate work like other additives?

No. The way CoMate works is very unique, providing a marked departure from the typically understood methods used by most fuel and fireside additives. CoMate functions as a combustion catalyst and an ash modifier together in one product.

How does CoMate affect my emissions?

CoMate is a terrific tool for reducing your emissions while also reducing your operating costs. CoMate reduces your emissions in two different ways.

Is CoMate safe to handle?

Yes. CoMate is non-flammable, non-toxic and completely inert. It is safe to the touch and requires only minimal precautions when being handled. For more information, our MSDS sheets are available in multiple languages.

Can CoMate be used with bulk feed systems, to reduce handling?

CoMate is normally shipped on pallets of 40 or more 50-lb. bags. However, Atlantic Combustion Technologies does offer bulk feed systems where CoMate is shipped in FIBC containers or approx. 2,500 lbs. Ask your Atlantic Combustion Technologies customer service representative for more information.

How is CoMate introduced into the boiler?

We use a specialized feeding system that integrates with your existing boiler. The process is very safe and easy to install. These systems can be customized and scaled to suit your needs. Atlantic Combustion Technologies provides their standard feeding systems, for use with 50-lb. bags of CoMate, free of charge for as long as CoMate is used.

Can CoMate be used in recovery boilers?

Yes. CoMate has been used successfully in black liquor and red liquor applications for many years.

Can CoMate-treated ash from my biomass boiler be land filled?

CoMate treated ash has been submitted for analysis by our customers on numerous occasions. As ash is largely defined by the fuel used, each result is specific to that application. In every case, approval was granted for the ash to be used in a designated land fill. As CoMate is an inert, non-toxic material that generally leaves ash with less unburned carbons, ash disposal has never been a problem for our clients. If this is a concern for you, it is advisable to pursue similar analysis for your particular situation. Ask your Atlantic Combustion Technologies customer service representative for more information.

Large pieces of clinker have been known to break loose and fall on maintenance personnel during boiler shutdowns. Can CoMate help?

By reducing ash depositions in boilers, clinker build-up is also drastically reduced, promoting a safer workplace for your plant personnel.

Does CoMate have any affect on corrosion inside my combustion system?

Back-end corrosion is a result of acid condensation. Since CoMate reacts with SO2, it will naturally reduce the potential for dew-point corrosion. The extent to which this effect is occurring is still under study. Empirical observations conducted over the years do suggest that CoMate does have a reducing effect on back-end corrosion.

Additionally, in some field trials where ash depositions were sampled on progressively downstream locations, corrosive elements removed from the gas stream have been shown to accumulate in low temperature environments. Under these conditions, ash deposits are dry, dusty and unlikely to cause corrosion.

Will CoMate cause erosion on the heating surfaces in my boiler?

No. Although CoMate is a silica-based compound, when it is introduced in a combustion environment, the combination of ionized CoMate and ash form a compound that is soft and less apt to erode heating surfaces, even when cooled. Also, because CoMate tends to reduce the amount of fly ash reaching the back end of your boiler, there is less ash available to affect erosion.

Does CoMate have any affect on Electrified Filtration Beds (EFBs)?

EFBs are often found in board manufacturing plants, and are used to capture particulates that would otherwise be emitted from the stacks. Without CoMate, the gravel in the EFB may get lumpy due to high temperature agglomeration (hard slag build-up). When CoMate is used, the ash (fines) will tend to increase due to the friability of the modified ash. The amount of gravel made up and the amount of ash rejected may increase, but generally the separation and the performance should be improved. As a co-benefit, the pH (a measure of acidity) of the flue gas may increase, therefore decreasing its corrosiveness.

Is there anything I can do to enhance CoMate’s effectiveness in my operation?

Generally speaking, as long as the feed hoppers are kept full of CoMate, your operators don’t need to do anything different (except enjoy a cleaner, more efficient furnace). However, sometimes a CoMate installation on an old furnace faces a combustion system that has a lot of old ash stuck in nooks and crannies throughout the boiler. CoMate will eventually get to these deposits and take them down, but you can help the process along by thermo-cycling your boiler.

When a furnace is cooled down to be cleaned, the deposits and the internal (heated) components of your boiler will all cool off at different rates, a phenomenon described by the “coefficient of thermal expansion” of these components. This causes the ash to contract, forming cracks and fissures in the deposits. Depending on how long CoMate has been applied, these old ash deposits can still be relatively strong and difficult to remove. When the unit is re-fired and brought back to operating temperature, the cracks in these deposits will open up, diminishing their strength. Any ionized CoMate will enter these cracks, allowing a better CoMate penetration into the ash. In the first few hours after returning to operation, a large quantity of these deposits will fall down.