Enhancing energy conservation in power generation in a coal fired thermal power plant through comprehensive energy audit

Abstract

Current work presents salient insights from energy audit of a 1050 MW thermal power plant by BEE Certified Energy Auditors. It provides insights into grassroot level data instead of relying only on theoretical calculations, unlike previously published literature.Arresting the air leakages in air-preheater has given total saving of 10.72 million kWh/year, saved 398,978.97 kJ/year, thus saving of 25,322.80 MT of coal/year. Upgradation of insulation resulted in total saving of 6632.208 Million kJ/year, i.e. saving of 510 MT/year of coal. Replacing cooling tower blades material proposed saving of 15,242.4 kWh/year. Installation of Variable Speed Drives for pumps provided saving of 274,836 kWh/year. Replacement of old inefficient pumps with energy efficient pumps has saving potential of 739,632 kWh/year. Pressure reduction in compressors has given saving of 344,794 kWh/year.Thus, in total, this energy audit helped to conserve 12.098 Million kWh & 25,832.80 MT coal/year and consequently, 104,243 tCO2/year. Such savings not only help the plant management/decision makers on the monetary front but also identify the avenues for improvement and channelize the resources such time and investment, prudently. Consequently, it has been established that energy audit is a pragmatic tool to achieve energy conservation at grassroot level.