Improving Energy Efficiency of Central Power Station at Industrial Facility

Abstract

This article considers pressure stabilization and reduction in power consumption for the auxiliary systems of a central power station at a metallurgic company. The power station has 8 power boilers and 9 turbine generators with a power output over 220 MW that supply electric power and heating to the facility key workshops as well as to one of the city neighborhoods. Asynchronous motors of auxiliary pumps and ventilators are the key elements facilitating the power station operation. The industrial process involves the feeding pumps supplying water to station boilers which are to maintain the pressure level within a required range. Today power is generally supplied to pump drives directly from the mains so that the pressure in the system is controlled manually by throttles or turning one of the pumps on/off. Therefore, facilitating automated pressure stabilization and improving the energy efficiency of the auxiliary services at a power station is a relevant problem. Because of that, to analyze the energy efficiency in terms of pressure level control the authors developed a mathematical model for the pump group operating with the same collector. It pays special attention to the system hydraulics modeling. This article reviews the most efficient methods used to keep the required pressure level. Based on the results of complex research conducted with a developed model, the authors suggested using cascade frequency for the electric drives of the adjustable feeding pump. This solution shall provide for over 20% reduction in power consumption per pump.