Reduction of Coal Usage and Improving Boiler Efficiency in Thermal Power Stations

Abstract

India is the third largest producer of electricity in the world. The national electric grid in India has installed capacity of 399.467 GW as of 31 March 2022. Renewable power plants which also include large hydroelectric plants constitute39.2 % of total installed capacity. During the fiscal year (FY) 2019–20, the gross electricity generated by utilities in India was 1,383.5TWh and the total electricity generation (utilities and non-utilities) in the country was 1,598 TWh. India has a surplus power generation capacity but lacks adequate fuel supply, transmission and distribution infrastructure. India's electricity sector is dominated by fossil fuels, particularly coal which produced about threequarters of the country's electricity. The government's National Electricity Plan of 2018 states that they are commissioning 50,025 MW coal-based power plants under construction. The dependable report of the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows that general coal use is on the trip again +1.84% showed up contrastingly in relationship with 2020. It was observed that more amount of coal is using to generate the electric power than reference level. This was because of presence of magnetic elements in the bed material which was used in boiler to maintain desired temperature at the bottom of the boiler. The efficiency of the boiler is decreasing due to damage caused by the magnetic elements in the bed material. These magnetic elements decrease the reference temperature in the boiler and consequently the boiler operator is allowing excess amount of coal to maintain the reference temperature in the boiler. Because of this, excess amount of coal is used to generate electric power and there by producing excess amount of ash. This can be reduced by constructing a magnetic separator near the bed material stack point and verifying the magnetic elements in the bed material thoroughly. Due to this separator, the boiler efficiency can be maintained nearer to the designed value, usage of excess amount of coal can be reduced. The investment cost for erecting the magnetic separator can be obtained in a couple of years. As a case study, the SKS Power Generation CG Ltd, Raigarh (the one considered in the present assessment), is considered. It is seen that the proposed issue is attempted with MATLAB condition and cost appraisal of thermal power plant is disengaged and existing making data. The test results exhibited that the proposed structure gives a feasible system and best experience and is proved that it is essential for solving such type of assignments.