FAQ

Physically, CoMate Ash Modifier is a proprietary engineered clay-based mineral compound. It is first and foremost an ash modifier which activates during combustion of carbon monoxide (CO) in a combustion environment. CoMate is not considered a fuel additive as it is designed primarily for injection apart from the fuel feed.

To maximize its effectiveness in combustion processes, CoMate is produced as a dry, granular, free-flowing material. It must be pneumatically injected at strategically located injection points on your combustion system. 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.

CoMate is designed for use with any and all carbonaceous fuels or combinations of fuels. CoMate can be used in many industries including power generation, pulp and paper, wood products manufacturing, and other operations using high-pressure boilers, steam generators and thermal energy systems. It can be applied to virtually any combustion system with ease.

No. Due to CoMate’s fuel-independent functionality, and its direct application to the carbon monoxide combustion process, it stands alone both in function and performance. CoMate functions as both an ash modifier and a combustion catalyst, together in one product.

CoMate is a terrific tool for reducing your emissions while also reducing your operating costs. CoMate reduces your emissions in two different ways. See our section on Emissions Reduction to learn more.

Yes. CoMate is non-flammable, non-toxic and completely inert. It is very safe to use, and presents no additional requirements to operational safety. For more information, our MSDS sheet is available by request in our Contact section.

CoMate is shipped in either 22.7 kg (50 lb) bags on pallets of 48 bags. Atlantic Combustion Technologies also offers bulk feed systems for larger boilers where CoMate is shipped 1,140 kg (2,500 lb) canvas supersacks.

We use a specialized feeding system that integrates with your existing equipment. The process is very safe and easy to install, our systems can be customized and scaled to suit your needs. Atlantic Combustion Technologies provides its standard feeding systems, for use with 22.7 kg (50 lb) bags of CoMate, free of charge for as long as CoMate is used.

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

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, the use of CoMate had no impact whatsoever on the disposal requirements of the ash, and in cases with biomass it could still be spread on farmer’s fields. CoMate is an inert, non-toxic material that generally leaves ash with less unburned carbon, and with no additional contaminants.

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

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 will occur is difficult to predict. Empirical observations conducted over a number of years suggest that CoMate has a direct reducing effect on corrosion. More significantly, in field demonstrations where ash deposition was sampled at progressively downstream locations, corrosive elements removed from the gas stream were shown to accumulate in low temperature environments. Under these conditions, ash deposits are dry, dusty and unlikely to cause corrosion.

No. When CoMate 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. CoMate has a Mohs hardness rating of 1.5 to 2. For comparison, silica sand is 7 and talcum powder is 1.

EFBs are often used employed in wood products manufacturing plants, and are used to capture particulates that would otherwise be emitted from the stack. 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 slightly, therefore decreasing its corrosiveness.

Generally speaking, as long as the feed hoppers are kept full of CoMate, operators do not need to do anything different (except enjoy a cleaner, more efficient furnace). With that said, once the operation has been improved with CoMate, opportunities to exploit the benefits CoMate brings will often arise. A cleaner furnace often means the relief of bottlenecks, allowing you the opportunity to improve your unit’s performance in additional ways, such as adjusting sootblower configuration, shutdown schedules/duration, fuel selection, etc. As our client, we are happy to provide advice when such opportunities arise.

Generally, yes. When adding CoMate to a system that is already fouled, CoMate will halt the process of fouling very quickly, and then over time begin to reverse it as old deposits will begin to oxidize and attrite. In cases where the fouling is extremely severe, it may be wise to do a full cleaning first. The reason for this is that CoMate will cause ash to liberate, and if too much is moving at once, this may, in some cases, be problematic. Such cases are quite rare, however. We will work with you to ensure your application program is designed specifically for your situation.