Reciprocating vs. Chain Grate: Performance Advantages Shown in the Data

In the boiler combustion equipment market, reciprocating grates and chain grates are the two mainstream products. Through long practice and data collection, the partner factory has built up operating data for reciprocating grates on several key indicators.

Fuel adaptability

In fuel adaptability, the reciprocating grate has the advantage. The data show that the partner factory’s reciprocating grate can burn poor coal with moisture ≤40% and ash ≤30% efficiently, while the combustion efficiency of a chain grate on this kind of fuel usually falls by 15%-20%.

This comes from the automatic stoking function of the reciprocating grate: the back-and-forth movement of the moving grate keeps turning and loosening the coal bed, preventing caking and burn-through holes. A chain grate needs manual stoking, which raises labour intensity and also lowers boiler efficiency because the furnace door has to be opened.

Economy and running cost

In economy and energy consumption, the reciprocating grate also performs well. The metal consumption of the partner factory’s reciprocating grate is 20%-30% lower than that of a chain grate, power consumption is 15%-25% lower, and manufacturing and running costs are more economical.

For a grate matched to a 10t/h boiler, the partner factory’s reciprocating grate saves about 1.2 ten-thousand yuan in electricity cost each year. Because the fuel burns fully, fuel cost can fall by 8%-12%.

In addition, the reciprocating grate has a simple structure and its maintenance cost is more than 30% lower than that of a chain grate, so long-term economy is fairly good. Because a reciprocating grate is stricter about coal particle size, the partner factory also supplies fuel pre-treatment advice so that users can improve the result in use.