Differences Between Travelling Chain Grate and Reciprocating Grate

Travelling chain grate is commonly referred to as chain grate, the most widely adopted grate for stoker-fired boilers. Reciprocating grate is categorized into inclined reciprocating grate and horizontal reciprocating grate. Both fall under the moving stoker grate type. The core distinction lies in: fuels move synchronously together with the grate on a chain grate; while grate bars shift alternately on a reciprocating grate, continuously turning and pushing fuels forward.

1. Differences in Core Structure & Working Principle
1. Travelling Chain Grate
Chain Grate Boiler
Structure: Sprockets drive the entire endless chain belt, with grate bars fastened onto the chains. The whole grate surface moves backward at a constant speed; fuels are laid flat on the grate with nearly no relative sliding between fuels and the grate.
Ignition Mode: Single-sided ignition
Fresh fuel fed into the furnace is ignited solely by radiant heat from the upper furnace space, burning from top to bottom. Sequential processes take place along the grate front to rear: drying → volatile matter combustion → coke combustion → burnout and slag removal.
Coal Bed Condition: Stable fuel bed with negligible stirring. Once coking occurs, the formed ash crust cannot be broken easily, which tends to block air passages.
2. Reciprocating Grate
Inclined Reciprocating Grate
Structure: Composed of alternately arranged fixed grate bars and movable grate bars. The driving mechanism makes movable grate bars swing back and forth, pushing fuels backward step by step.
Ignition Mode: Double-sided ignition (major advantage)

During the return stroke of movable grate bars, hot glowing coke is flipped underneath fresh fuel. The new fuel is heated from both top and bottom simultaneously, making it far easier to ignite wet fuels and low-calorific-value fuels.
Coal Bed Condition: Constant vigorous stirring and agitation
The coal bed is continuously squeezed and tumbled; coke lumps and surface ash crusts are broken automatically, delivering superior air permeability.