Combustion should produce designated temperature of the steam boiler and maintains it consistently. In addition to these, the method of firing steam boiler is such that, the system may be easily handled and also, operation and maintenance should be minimum. There are mainly two methods of firing steam boiler with coal as fuel. One is solid fuel firing other is pulverized fuel firing.

There are mainly two types of solid fuel firing system

1)Hand firing
Smaller size boiler can be operated by hand firing system. This system was commonly used to drive coal engine locomotive in past. Here, coal chips are put into the furnace frequently by shovels.
2) Mechanical stroke firing
When fuel i.e. coal steam boiler furnace by means of mechanical stoker, the firing of boiler method is referred as mechanical stoker firing. There are mainly two types of mechanical stoker firing systems.

Here, combustion takes place on the grate. The primary air is fed below the grate. The primary air is fed below the grate. The secondary air is allowed at the top. when the coal is burnt, it is pushed down by fresh coal. The fresh coal is pushed on the grate by means of rams as shown.
underfeed-stoker
The ignition occurs downwards against the primary air flow. The volatile matter filters through the bed and is completely burnt. The combustion rate is high. The light ash contents and combustion gases fly away to the atmosphere along with primary air. Heavier ash content comes down over the grate and ultimately falls into ash pit.

Here, the coal is burnt on a chain grate which continuously travel forwards slowly combustion takes place during the journey of coal from first end to last end of the furnace. At the end of the combustion heavier ash content falls into ash pit by gravitational force as the grate chain moves like conveyor belt. The lighter ash particles and combustion gases fly away with primary air.

Pulvarized Fuel Firing boilers

For getting most calorific value of coal, the coal is pulvarized in fine powder and then mixed with sufficient air. The mixture of coal powder and air is fired in the steam boiler furnace to achieve most efficient combustion process.This is most modern and efficient method of boiler firing.
Due to pulverization, the surface area of coal becomes much larger, and in this method air required for combustion is much less. As the quantity of required air and fuel both are less, loss of heat in this method of boiler firing is much less, hence temperature can easily be reached to the designated level. As the combustion is most efficient pulverized coal firing increases the overall efficiency of steam boiler. As handling of lighter coal dust is much easier than handling of heavier coal chips, it is quite easy to control the output of the boiler by controlling supply of fuel to the furnace. Hence fluctuation of system load can smoothly be met.