Method and apparatus for uprating and controlling a solid fuel pulverized and exhauster system for a steam generator

The present invention relates to a solid fuel pulverizer and exhauster system which is suitable for use in association with a fossil fuel-fired steam generator in a new utility unit application or a retrofit application in an existing utility unit. A method for retrofitting a solid fuel pulverizer and exhauster system includes replacing the bowl drive motor with a new drive motor which is operable to drivingly rotate the bowl at the pre-retrofit speed but which provides relatively more horsepower than the replaced bowl drive motor and replacing the original exhauster fan coupling with a new exhauster fan gear set which effects rotation of the exhauster fan at a relatively higher rotational speed than the pre-retrofit speed. A solid fuel pulverizer and exhauster system of the present invention acting in cooperative association with a fuel-fired steam generating power plant includes an exhauster fan transmission assembly operable to translate the rotation of the drive shaft of the exhauster fan drive motor through ninety (90) degrees to thereby effect rotation of the fan by the exhauster fan drive motor