International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)

ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor:6.887

Volume 5 Issue IX, September 2017- Available at www.ijraset.com

Super Critical Thermal Power Plant Boiler

Efficiency Calculation Using Imported Coal
Ashish Kumar Rai1, Dr. Mukesh Pandey2, Dr. Prashant Baredar3
1
Ph.D. (Scholar) Department of Energy Technology RGPV Bhopal MP, India
2
Professor Department of Energy Technology RGPV Bhopal MP, India
3
Associate Professor Department of Energy Technology MANIT Bhopal MP, India

Abstract: As a result of ever increasing demand for power and diminishing basic resources, the requirement of power plants with
higher capacities and higher efficiencies have become the need of the day. In this context, Super Critical Technology is now
being used for thermal power generation. In this technology, super critical boilers are used to convert the water into superheated
steam. Due to using of super-critical boiler plant is called super-critical thermal power plant. Boiler is the most important part of
thermal power plant. In super critical boilers water is splashed directly into steam, so called once through boiler. Initially
imported coal was used, now Indian coal is also used for firing in super critical boiler to generate the steam. The point that
needs to be addressed now is that how these advanced technology units perform in Indian conditions with imported coal. In this
paper an attempt is made to calculate the efficiency of super critical boiler of capacity 660MW using imported coal by indirect
method. In indirect method all heat losses of the system are included. This paper also presents a brief of various Boiler operation
adjustments to enhance and optimize the supercritical boiler efficiency.
Keywords: Super critical, pulverized fuel, BFP, LHV, Rifled & CV, Separator, etc.

I. INTRODUCTION
The demand for electricity is rapidly increasing in India as economic growth continues. Coal remains the fuel of choice for
electricity generation and much of the new demand is expected to come from coal-fired power plants. Fifty nine percent of the
existing 230 GW power generated in the country comes from coal-fueled power plants. The next generation of coal plants is
expected to have supercritical (SC) and ultra-supercritical (USC) units that have an efficiency of 38-45 percent depending on design,
operating parameters, and ambient conditions [1].
The advantages associated with super-critical cycle includes a lower heat rate, low fuel burn rate, lower emission rate and improved
load response [2]. On the basis of these factors super-critical technology is invariably adopted all over the world and India is no
exception with most of upcoming plants being based on this technology.
The efficiency of the thermal power boiler is calculated by two methods, direct method and indirect method. Various parameters are
required for efficiency calculation such as chemical analysis of coal, feed water analysis, coal feeding rate, steam generation rate,
steam parameters and fuel consumption rate etc. These parameters are interrelated to each other and are required for efficiency
calculation.
In this paper the sequence of steps is mention for the indirect method to calculate supercritical boiler efficiency. Efficiency calculation
has been done on the basis of parameters available for 660 MW supercritical pulverized fuel boiler used for electrical power
generation. Most of the supercritical power plants are using imported (Indonesian) bituminous coal with CV of 4200 kcal/kg to 4600
kcal/kg is used in furnace.

II. SUPERCRITICAL TECHNOLOGY

The term critical refers to the critical point of water, it is the maximum pressure that liquid and vapour can coexist in equilibrium. At
this critical point the density of the steam and water are equal and there is no distinction between the two states, at the critical point
the pressure and temperature being 22.1 MPa and 374ºC respectively [3] as shown in fig.2.1

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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor:6.887
Volume 5 Issue IX, September 2017- Available at www.ijraset.com

Fig.2.1 critical point Fig.2.2 – Rifled tubes

When water is heated above the critical pressure, the temperature goes on increasing continuously. At critical point and above this the
water will flash instantaneously into steam and super heating will commence [4]. There is no change of specific volume from the
liquid to the dry state steam. This is called Super - Critical technology of steam generation.

A. Advantages of Supercritical Technology

Super critical technology has the following advantages
1) Highest achievable plant efficiency working on supercritical steam parameters is improve by 3% [5] on making the transition
steam pressure from 16.7 MPa (e. g. drum boiler Sub - critical) to 25 MPa.
2) High plant efficiency even at part load ie. main steam temperatures in the supercritical boiler are independent of load. This
results in higher process efficiency for the power plant over a wide load range. Minimum output in once-through operation at
high main steam temperatures is 35 to 40% for furnace walls with smooth tubes and is as low as 20% if rifled tubes are used [6]
as shown in fig.2.
3) Suitable for wide range of coal grades available on the world market. The transition from evaporation to superheating [7] is not
fixed in location and can take place at any point in the upper section of the furnace. This enables dimensioning of the furnace
without restrictions on the water/steam side.
4) The thermo-elastic construction and small thermal storage masses in the boiler enable flexible power plant operation [8] with
short startup times and large load transients over a wide output range. The Benson boiler startup system consists of several
separators, a collecting vessel and a flash tank as in fig.2.3 Installation of a circulation pump is cost-effective for frequent
startup, as this further reduces startup losses.

Fig.2.3 Start-up system & Separators connection. Fig. 2.4 Sliding-pressure operation

5) On high load transients, the temperature changes are in the evaporator section [9]. Due to its thermo-elastic design, Thermal
power plants with Benson boilers are therefore especially well-suited to sliding-pressure operation. In sliding-pressure
operation temperatures change in the boiler as shown in fig.2.4. The fig. shows, the advantage of the variable evaporation
endpoint becomes especially clear in sliding-pressure operation. The enthalpy increase in the boiler for preheating,
evaporation and superheating changes with pressure. However, pressure is proportional to output in sliding pressure
operation. In a uniformly heated tube, the transitions from preheat to evaporation and from evaporation to superheat shift
automatically with load such that the main steam temperature always remains constant.

©IJRASET (UGC Approved Journal): All Rights are Reserved 710

International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor:6.887
Volume 5 Issue IX, September 2017- Available at www.ijraset.com
 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor:6.887
Volume 5 Issue IX, September 2017- Available at www.ijraset.com

Fig.4.2 Mill (Where Coal is converted into pulverized form)

A. Technical Features
The lower furnace water wall and hopper adopt spiral coil and have enough cooling capacity under different loads, it can
compensate the thermal deviation of furnace circumambience effectively, and the hydrodynamic force feature is stable. Four startup
separators are adopted, the wall thickness is even and the thermal stress is small when temperature changing. It is fit for sliding
pressure operation, increase the unit efficiency and extend the life-time of turbine. The system with recirculation pump is adopted.
The boiler has the capacity of quick startup which can shorten the startup time, and can recover heat and medium effectively during
startup. The startup system is equipped with atmosphere type flash vessel and drain tank which has enough capacity.
Wall tangential combustion system which has stable firing and uniform temperature field Wall tangential combustion system can
guarantee heat distribution along horizontal furnace is uniform. This reinforced single tangential is vertical to water wall because of
the pulverized coal flow and big tangential makes the furnace flame fullness is good, and it is good for guarantee the stable
combustion. Compare to corner arrangement burner, it has the advantages of short flame range and good condition for flame two-
side blow down

V. SUPER - CRITICAL BOILER EFFICIENCY CALCULATION

In most large pulverized coal fired boilers, the boiler efficiency loss accounts for about 10 - 15 percentage points [15] of overall
plant efficiency loss. If performance is not optimal, the controllable losses can result in an even greater degradation in boiler and
overall plant performance.
The controllable losses [16] are often related to dry flue gas and carbon losses, which are in turn related to combustion. Since half of
the losses are typically dependent on the fuel and ambient condition, the best efficiency can be achieved through optimal settings
and tuning of a boiler and its auxiliary equipment.
Boiler efficiency is the ratio of energy output to the energy that is input into a system. Sometimes boiler efficiency is referred to as
fuel-to-steam efficiency. It accounts for the effectiveness of the heat exchanger as well as the radiation and convection losses. The
efficiency of a boiler is determined by two methods [17].
Input - Output Method or Direct method formula.
Heat - Loss Method or Indirect method formula.
Input - Output Method:
The Input - Output efficiency measurement method is based on the ratio of the output to input of the boiler [18]. The actual input
and output of the boiler are determined through instrumentation and the data are used in calculations that result in the fuel-to-steam
efficiency. To accomplish this, accurate scales, gravimetric coal feeders, and accountability for all fuels (quality of fuel) are
essential. The boiler efficiency is calculated by below mention formula

Boiler efficiency % η =
* 100

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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor:6.887
Volume 5 Issue IX, September 2017- Available at www.ijraset.com

A. Heat Loss Method

The Heat Loss efficiency measurement method is based on accounting for all the heat losses of the boiler. The actual measurement
method consists of collecting representative samples of coal, flue gas, and ash for data compilation. Calculate all losses and then
subtracting losses from 100. The resulting value is the boiler's fuel-to-steam efficiency [19]. The heat loss method accounts for stack
losses, radiation and convection losses.
Boiler efficiency % η = [100 − Total Losses] ------- (1)
= [100 − {L + L + L + L + L + L + L + L }]
Where
L1 - % Heat loss due to dry flue gas
L2 - % Heat loss due to evaporation of water formed due to H2 in fuel
L3 - % Heat loss due to moisture present in fuel
L4 - % Heat loss due to moisture present in air
L5 - % Heat loss due to incomplete combustion
L6 - % Heat loss due to radiation and convection
L7 - % Heat loss due to unburnt in fly ash
L8 - % Heat loss due to unburnt in bottom ash

B. Equation for calculating various losses

Initially air requirement is calculated for the combustion of fuel.
Step 1. Theoretical (stoichiometric) air requirement
. . [ ]
Theoretical air requirement =
Step 2. % Excess air requirement (EA)
%
% Excess air requirement (EA) = *100
Step 3. Actual air requirement
Actual air requirement (AAR) = TA ∗ 1 +
kg of of fuel

C. Calculation of all heat losses

1) Percentage Heat loss due to dry flue gas
∗ ∗( )
L1 = * 100 -------------- (2)

Where,
m = Mass of dry flue gas in kg/kg of fuel
= Combustion products from fuel CO2 + SO2 + Nitrogen in fuel + Nitrogen in the actual mass of air supplied + O2 in flue gas.
(H2O/Water vapors in the flue gas should not be considered)
Cp = Specific heat of flue gas in kcal/kg °C
Tf = Flue gas temperature in °C
Ta = Ambient temperature in °C
2) Percentage Heat loss due to evaporation of water formed due to H2 in fuel
∗ ∗ ( )
L2 =
* 100 ------------ (3)
Where
H2 = kg of hydrogen present in fuel on 1 kg basis
Cp = Specific heat of superheated steam in kcal/kg °C
Tf = Flue gas temperature in °C
Ta = Ambient temperature in °C
584 = Latent heat corresponding to partial pressure of water vapour
3) Percentage Heat loss due to moisture present in fuel
∗ ( )
L3 =
* 100 ------------- (4)

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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor:6.887
Volume 5 Issue IX, September 2017- Available at www.ijraset.com

Where
M = kg moisture in fuel on 1 kg basis
Cp = Specific heat of superheated steam in kcal/kg °C
Tf = Flue gas temperature in °C
Ta = Ambient temperature in °C
584 = Latent heat corresponding to partial pressure of water vapour.
4) Percentage Heat loss due to moisture present in air
[ ∗ ∗ ( )]
L4 =
* 100 ----- (5)
Where
AAS = Actual mass of air supplied per kg of fuel
Humidity factor = kg of water/kg of dry air
Cp = Specific heat of superheated steam in kcal/kg °C
Tf = Flue gas temperature in °C
Ta = Ambient temperature in °C (dry bulb)
5) Percentage Heat loss due to incomplete combustion
% ∗ ∗
L5 = (% )
∗ 100 ---------- (6)
CO = Volume of CO in flue gas leaving economizer (%)
CO2 = Actual Volume of CO2 in flue gas (%)
C = Carbon content kg / kg of fuel
6) Percentage Heat loss due to radiation and convection (L6)
The actual radiation and convection losses are difficult to assess because of particular remissivity of various surfaces, its inclination,
air flow pattern etc. In a relatively small boiler, with a capacity of 10 MW, the radiation and unaccounted losses could amount to
between 1% and 2% of the gross calorific value of the fuel, while in a 500 MW& more than 500 MW boilers, values between 0.2%
to 1% are typical. The loss may be assumed appropriately depending on the surface condition.
7) Percentage Heat loss due to unburnt in fly ash (%).
( ∗ )
L7 =
*100 -------- (7)
8) Percentage Heat loss due to unburnt in bottom ash (%)
( ∗ )
L8 = *100------ (8)

Now add all eight losses to find total heat losses and find out the boiler efficiency by using formula as in equation (1)
Boiler efficiency % η = [100 − Total Losses]

D. Data for Efficiency calculation

In a typical 660MW capacity super-critical thermal power plant using imported Indonesian coal [20] having boiler is from Harbin
Boiler Company Ltd. China. The Boiler is Supercritical, circulating pump type starting, low NOx burner with corner fired
combustion, once reheating, balanced ventilation, all steel frame and fully suspended structure.
Coal and other parameters are as mentioned in table 5.1 & 5.2
Table 5.1 Typical proximate Analysis
Item Unit Imported Coal*
Fixed Carbon % 32.5

Volatile Matter % 30.48

Moisture % 33

Ash % 4.02

Grindability Index HGI 43

Lower Heating Value (LHV) kcal/kg 4142

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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor:6.887
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Table 5.2 Ultimate Analysis

Item Unit Imported Coal*
Carbon % 47.64
Oxygen % 10.06
Sulphur % 0.64
Hydrogen % 3.22
Nitrogen % 1.42
Moisture % 33.00
Ash % 4.02

Coal consumption, ash production and ambient condition are as shown in table 5.3 & table 5.4
Table 5.3 Ash analysis
Item Unit Imported Coal*
Coal Consumption tons/hr. 347
Ash production tons/hr. 17.67
Bottom ash Unburnt Burnt Carbon % 7.72
Fly ash Unburnt Burnt Carbon % 0.59
Bottom ash to fly ash proportion % 10 : 90

Table 5.4 Ambient Conditions

Item Unit Imported Coal*
Dry bulb temp. ℃ 22
Moisture bulb temp ℃ 15.78
Atmospheric pr. kPa 100.2

E. Boiler operating parameters for calculating super critical boiler efficiency

The Boiler efficiency test is carried out on 660MW pulverized coal fuel boiler with imported coal. Operating parameters are shown
in table 5.5
Table 5.5 Boiler operating parameters for 660MW capacity.

Item Unit Imported Coal*

Main steam flow tons/hr 2115.5

Main steam outlet pressure MPa 25.40

Main steam outlet temp ℃ 571

Feed water pressure MPa 28.87

Feed water temp ℃ 292.6

Separator outlet pressure MPa 27.36

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Separator temp ℃ 423

Reheat steam flow tons/hr 1714.9

Reheat steam outlet pressure MPa 4.60

Reheat steam outlet temp ℃ 571

Reheat steam inlet pressure MPa 4.79

Reheat steam inlet temp ℃ 328.6

Flue gas exhaust temp ℃ 146.3

O2 content in flue gas % 4.38

Flue gas temp in APH ℃ 409

Total coal tons/hr. 347

VI. RESULT FROM CALCULATION

Result derived from the above mentioned Equations in Heat Loss method, the boiler losses & Efficiency is shown in table 6.1.
Table 6.1 Boiler Losses& Efficiency.
Item Unit Imported Coal*
Losses due to unburnt carbon % 0.1279
Dry gas loss % 4.7
Moisture in fuel loss % 0.268
Hydrogen in fuel loss % 0.590
Loss due to carbon monoxide % 0.00
Air moisture Loss % 0.075
Other losses % 0.3
Radiation losses % 0.18
Total losses % 6.24
Boiler efficiency % 93.75

VI. CONCLUSION
This paper briefly focuses on the calculation of Super-critical boiler efficiency using imported coal. A comparatively high efficiency
of 93.75% was obtained. Analysis shows that higher boiler efficiency can be obtained with high temperature steam at above the
critical pressure. Super critical boiler with higher efficiency and low emission level also produces less percentage of ash. This type
of boiler has been realized and will provide higher compatibility and reliability, using advanced technologies.

REFERENCES
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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor:6.887
Volume 5 Issue IX, September 2017- Available at www.ijraset.com

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