Analysis of Coal-Fired Power Unit Operation in Reduced Minimum Safe Load Regime

Large coal-fired power plants were typically designed as a base load units. Any changes in load level, as well as start-up time, are noticeably slow on that kind of units. However, in order to adapt to changing market conditions with increasing number of renewable energy sources, coal-fired power plants need to improve their flexibility. In the paper, 200 MWe class unit has been taken into consideration. During the test campaign, a minimum safe load of the unit was decreased from 60 to 40%. Paper presents results of a model that was made using Ebsilon®Professional software. The simulation model is comprised of boiler and turbine part of the power unit. Obtained results were validated using measurements collected from the test campaign. Parameters important from the technical and economical point of view were investigated. Results revealed that simulation model can be utilised successfully to scrutinise coal-fired units under off-design operation conditions. As the outcome of the performed analysis, a number of issues related to low load operation of the coal-fired unit are presented and discussed. Paper indicates sensitive areas that need to be addressed when operation in decreased safe load is considered. Finally, overall potential for flexibility improvement for 200 MWe class coal-fired units has been evaluated

The algorithm of steam soot blowers operation based on the monitoring of fouling factors of heating surfaces of a coal-fired boiler under operating conditions

The article deals with the problem of optimizing the operation of soot blowers in a pulverized coal-fired boiler based on the instantaneous degree of cleanliness of heating surfaces, determined in real time. The elaborated methodology of calculations and the algorithm that determines the optimal configuration of the blowers operation has been implemented and tested on a boiler with a capacity of 380 t/h. The indicator defining the degree of cleanliness of a given heating surface is calculated using available measurements of process parameters based on the epsilon-NTU method. The calculations are carried out in the DCS system for each surface individually (air and water heaters, evaporator, superheaters). During the standard operation of the boiler, the adopted methodology was verified, having analysed the usefulness of the tool to assess the boiler cleanliness under operating condition

Formation of ammonia bisulfate in coal-fired power plant equipped with SCR reactors and the effect of reduced load operation

Coal fired power plant are still responsible for vast amount of electricity and heat production in Poland in 2019. Increasing number of units is equipped with SCR reactors in order to mitigate NOx emission. Older units have been designed to work in a base load operation· however increasing number of intermittent energy sources on the market· forces power plant owners to operate such units in reduced load for significant number of hours in a year. Most of parameters in coal-fired boiler would change in reduced load operation· particularly flue gas parameters. That would affect the formation of ammonia bisulfate (NH4HSO4) as well as operation of SCR reactors in the boiler. The NH4HSO4 formation is highly undesired as it can plug the catalyst or heating surfaces in the boiler. To investigate this phenomenon· the NH4HSO4 formation was comprehensively studied. Moreover· reduced load operation of boiler in a medium size CHP plant was simulated· using computer modelling tools. Obtained parameters were used to analyse· how different flue gas parameters affect NH4HSO4 formation and what consequences does it have for boiler operation. In particular, effect related with operation of SCR reactors equipped with V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalyst was deeply studied

The algorithm of steam soot blowers operation based on the monitoring of fouling factors of heating surfaces of a coal-fired boiler under operating conditions

The article deals with the problem of optimizing the operation of soot blowers in a pulverized coal-fired boiler based on the instantaneous degree of cleanliness of heating surfaces, determined in real time. The elaborated methodology of calculations and the algorithm that determines the optimal configuration of the blowers operation has been implemented and tested on a boiler with a capacity of 380 t/h. The indicator defining the degree of cleanliness of a given heating surface is calculated using available measurements of process parameters based on the epsilon-NTU method. The calculations are carried out in the DCS system for each surface individually (air and water heaters, evaporator, superheaters). During the standard operation of the boiler, the adopted methodology was verified, having analysed the usefulness of the tool to assess the boiler cleanliness under operating condition