METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING THE COMBUSTION PROCESS OF A HYDROCARBON FUEL IN A BOILER

The invention relates to methods for combusting hydrocarbon fuel of variable composition. A method for optimizing the combustion process of a hydrocarbon fuel in a boiler comprises continuously measuring the fuel-consumption rate in the boiler and the heat flow rate in a heat transfer medium at the outlet of the boiler, determining deviations of the measured values from initially measured values and subsequently adjusting the air-consumption rate, and determining the specific fuel-consumption rate for generating 1 Gcal of heat, wherein a one-time discrete increase of the air-consumption rate is carried out at the beginning of the optimization of the fuel combustion process, and, if the heat flow rate increases, the air continues to be increased until the point at which the heat flow rate begins to decrease, and, if the heat flow rate decreases, the air is decreased until the point at which the heat flow rate begins to decrease. Optimization of the combustion process of a hydrocarbon fuel in a boiler is achieved by minimizing the fuel-consumption rate for generating thermal energy transmittable to a heat transfer medium.