Power Plant In Malaysia Research Articles

Characterization of Leucaena leucocephala (Petai Belalang) as an Energy Crop for Power Generation Application

Currently, empty fruit bunch (EFB) is the main biomass source to fuel biomass power plant and as co-firing fuel with coal at the existing coal-fired power plants in Malaysia. However, these power plants frequently face insufficient EFB supply, which may contribute to load losses. Energy crops a new source of biomass, are introduced to replace or substitute the shortage of biomass supply. Planting energy crops worldwide ensures a sufficient and cleaner fuel supply for power generation. Positive characteristics of the energy crop are including calorific value, carbon contents and density. Higher value of these parameters indicating the good quality of the energy crop. While, the negative characteristics of energy crop are including moisture content and ash content. Higher value of these two parameters indicating lower quality of energy crop. One of the studied energy crops was Leucaena leucocephala (Petai Belalang), which showed better quality than EFB, based on calorific value, moisture content, ash content and density. It is naturally grown, typically near rivers in Peninsular Malaysia. Furthermore, it can be easily planted and matures in about six months for harvesting.

The combination of conventional Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) with the substitution of fly ash for fine aggregate replacement

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of roller-compacted concrete when fine aggregate is replaced with fly ash. The investigation focused on assessing workability, compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength of the concrete mixtures. Four testing methods were employed, including the slump test for workability assessment, the compression test for determining compressive strength, the flexural test for evaluating flexural strength, and the split tensile test for measuring split tensile strength. The fly ash used in this project was sourced from the powerplant in Malaysia. Various fly ash contents, specifically 0%, 55%, 65%, and 75%, were utilized to replace the fine aggregate. The concrete mixtures were subjected to water curing for 7, 14, and 28 days before testing. Following the mixing process using a concrete mixer, the mixtures underwent a slump test to evaluate their workability. It was observed that the workability of the concrete decreased as the percentage of fly ash used to replace the fine aggregate increased. Mixtures with fly ash exhibited zero slump, while the control mixtures displayed true slump. Subsequently, compression, flexural, and split tensile tests were conducted after 7, 14, and 28 days of water curing. In terms of compression strength, an increase in fly ash content resulted in higher compressive strength in the concrete mixtures. The mixture with 65% fly ash content demonstrated the highest compressive strength at 49.84 MPa. Regarding flexural strength, the concrete with 75% fly ash content exhibited the highest value, measuring 5.45 MPa. However, for split tensile strength, the concrete without fly ash content showed the highest value at 8.84 MPa compared to other mixtures, indicating that the fly ash content exceeded the optimum amount for the mix design. In summary, the concrete mixtures with fly ash displayed several advantages, but their suitability depends on the specific type of construction.

The influence of hazard control and prevention toward safety behaviors and safety outcomes in coal-fired power plants using PLS-SEM

Introduction: The electrical utility industry, which plays a vital role in sustaining other sectors, contributes to high occupational accident rates in the utility industries. The high accident rate shows that there has been insufficient effort made to control unsafe actions and conditions in the workplace. This study aims to examine the influence of hazard control and prevention as leading indicators of safety behaviors and outcomes in coal-fired power plants in Malaysia. Methods: This quantitative research was conducted by distributing survey questionnaires randomly to five coal-fired power plants in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 340 respondents were involved in this research. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis was performed using SmartPLS to validate and examine the relationship of the proposed model. Results: The results validate the construct of hazard control and prevention consisting of planning, action, managing, and verifying, while the safety outcomes construct consists of occupational accidents, fatal accidents, near misses, and lost time injuries. The results indicate that hazard control and prevention significantly relate to safety compliance, safety participation, safety motivation, and safety knowledge. Moreover, safety outcomes were influenced negatively by hazard control and prevention through safety compliance. Conclusion: The model provides a better understanding of the influence of hazard control and prevention on safety behavior and outcomes. Practical Applications: The model can be used as guidance for practitioners and researchers in planning and implementing hazard control and prevention to improve health and safety in the workplace.

Performance Assessment of Malaysian Fossil Fuel Power Plants: A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Approach

This paper investigated the performance of Malaysian power plants from the year 2015 to 2017 using Malmquist Total Factor Productivity (TFP) index, which is based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). This approach offers substantial advantages as compared to other existing methods as it can measure productivity changes over time for a variety of inputs and outputs. Moreover, it comprises two primary components: the technical efficiency change and the technological change indexes that provide clearer insight into the factors that are responsible for shifts in total factor productivity. This study uses a single input, installed generation capacity (MW), and two outputs, average thermal efficiency (%) and average equivalent availability factor (%). These output-input data included ten main power plants: TNB Natural Gas, SESB Natural Gas, SESB Diesel, SEB Natural Gas, SEB Coal, SEB Diesel, IPP Semenanjung Natural Gas, IPP Semenanjung Coal, IPP Sabah Natural Gas, and IPP Sabah Diesel. The results have two significant implications for fossil fuel power plants in Malaysia. First, technological change was the primary factor in boosting the TFP performance of the fossil fuel power plants in Malaysia. Meanwhile, the decline in TFP performance in Malaysian fossil fuel power plants may be attributed, in part, to a lack of innovation in technical components as the results found that the average technical efficiency changes in 2015 – 2016 were at 146% and then dropped significantly to 2% in 2016 – 2017. Second, the average scale efficiency changes rose dramatically from -53% to 3% providing a significant contribution to the improvement of technical efficiency changes. The fossil fuel power plants become efficient as the power plants’ size increases. This indicates that the size of a power plant positively impacts the performance of the TFP.

Simulating a Sea Wave Power Plant for Malaysia

The demand for electricity in Malaysia is growing yearly. Renewable energy from the sea waves is one of the solutions to solve the energy crisis in Malaysia. Malaysia has a long coastline of 4,675 kilometres. Therefore, simulating a sea waves power plant for Malaysia is an interest of this study. This research is aim to identify the suitable locations for installing sea waves power plants in Malaysia and to simulate the total power generated by the sea waves power plant by using Hybrid Optimization Model for Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER). HOMER is a power optimization software and it is used to simulate and analyze the sea waves power plant in the generation system. The sea wave height, the period, and the water depth are collected from the selected regions. From the results, it shows that the sea waves peak periods are between 3 s and 5 s whereas the wave heights are between 0.5 m and 1 m respectively. The HOMER and analytical results show that the total rate of electrical power connected to the grid for Malaysia is 1408.81 MWh per year and 1408.89 MWh per year, respectively.

ASSESSMENT OF STRING INVERTERS FOR LARGE-SCALE SOLAR POWER PLANT IN MALAYSIA’S

Tremendous promotion and growth of Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic (LSSPV) Power Plant in Malaysia increase the reliability and potentiality of the system in having efficient monitoring, operation and maintenance for the plants. Through the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology, the government aims to increase the renewable energy in its generation mix in 2025 by 20% and intends to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) to 45% by 2030. This was followed by the Energy Commission (EC) announcement of 500 MW LSSPV power plants in Malaysia, slated for commercial operation in 2021. Thus, proper monitoring and respectable power generation are crucial to optimising LSSPV for grid interconnection. This paper presents the assessment of string inverters configuration and analysis models to recommend an optimised configuration for maximum harvested power generation in the LSSPV power plant in Malaysia. An analysis of string invert configuration is carried out based on real data measurements of electric generation of a 50 MW LSSPV power plant at the Kuala Ketil site. The test verified that the configuration string inverters offer a reliable outcome for the grid code test (GCT). Besides, the string inverters provide a potential approach to maximising power generation at different climate conditions, thus, reducing the workforce for the operation and maintenance activities. The string system endeavours a feasibility implementation on the suitability of effective configurations for LSSPV in Malaysia without often shutting down the plant generations due to any defect or damage of PV modules.

The Antecedents of Workplace Injuries at Sultan Azlan Shah Power Station, TNB Janamanjung Sdn. Bhd.

Today, workplace injuries have become a major concern to an organization. Workplace injuries can cause minor injuries, major injuries (non-permanent disability or permanent disability), and would face financial loss or death. Being the largest coal-fired power plant in Malaysia, the employees in Sultan Azlan Shah Power Station (SASPS) are exposed to various workplace injuries. Many factors contribute to workplace injuries that expose employees to risk, for example fatigue, lack of training, condition of machineries, design of workplace, stress, dehydration, slips, trips and falls. TNBJ workplace injuries statistics among employees showed an increasing trend and needs to be investigated. The main objective of this study is to identify the determinants of workplace injuries among the employees including contractors at SASPS, Seri Manjung, Perak. This research used online and hardcopy questionnaire surveys that were collected conveniently from 320 respondents in SASPS. Multiple regression analysis was performed to test the hypotheses. Based on the statistical analysis, it was found that all independent variables (fatigue, lack of training, machineries and tools, and design of workplace) were positively significant to workplace injuries. Machineries and tools turned up as the main factors of workplace injuries in TNBJ. Using these findings, TNBJ managers should take actions to minimize both unsafe acts and unsafe conditions that contributed to workplace injuries.

Assessment on Energy Conversion Efficiency and GHG Emissions Rate for Coal, Natural Gas and Biomass Power Plant in Malaysia

Three different power plants have been assessed in terms of energy conversion efficiency and GHGs emission rate. The power plants are coal power plant, natural gas power plant and biomass power plant. The assessments are made by collecting fuels consumption data and generated electricity data of each power plant. In addition to the data collection, observation on operational practices have also been carried out. The energy conversion efficiency and the GHGs emission rate for all power plants are recorded to be lower than the typical values proposed by the literature. The biomass power plant recorded the lowest energy conversion efficiency at 6.47 %. Meanwhile, the natural gas power plant utilizing the combined cycle gas turbine technology recorded the highest overall energy conversion efficiency at 48.35 % and rated to emit GHGs at 0.32 kg CO2e per kWh.

Experiment analysis on the characteristic of empty fruit bunch, palm kernel shell, coconut shell, and rice husk for biomass boiler fuel

It has been a necessary option for most developing countries moving towards renewable energy options as part of the Paris Agreement, which minimizes conventional energy sources’ reliance. In Malaysia, biomass is a profitable renewable option compared to solar and hydro sources for energy production due to the abundance of agricultural biomass availability for immediate use. However, most of the biomass power plants in Malaysia depend on empty fruit bunch as fuel, causing problems when there is a shortage of fuel supply and other circumstances. Variations in the fuels’ properties provide a new challenge to the power plant output; however, mixing biomass fuels can overcome the issue. Hence, this article aims to study the empty fruit bunch (EFB) with other abundant biomass fuels like “palm kernel shell (PKS),” “rice husk (RH),” and “coconut shell (CS)” for biomass boiler fuel. Therefore, the biomass’s composition and characteristics need to be known, which was done through the proximate analysis (PA), ultimate analysis (UA), and high heating value (HHV). As a result of PA, UA, and HHV, RH is the least favourable fuel due to lowest ((moisture (4.92%), volatile matter (63.20%), carbon (42.50%), hydrogen (5.42%), nitrogen (0.43%) and sulphur (0.01%)) and highest ash content (18.19%), whereas CS exhibits the most favourable option with highest (carbon (50.25%) and oxygen (42.57%)) and second highest in HHV (20.53%) compared with PKS. Thus, the experiments have provided the least and highest favourable feedstock ratios option for biomass boiler fuel application.

The potential of cenospheres production from Malaysian coal power plants

Coal Combustion Waste (CCW) fly ash, main component of coal ash waste generated at the Coal-Fired Power Plant throughout the year that causes the presents of toxic metals in the ash. Hence, pose significant health threats towards humans and environment. Cenosphere is a coal combustion by-product obtained from fly ash in boilers of coal fired power plants. The properties of cenosphere including spherical, lightweight, good thermal stability, chemical proof, heat resistance making it to have improved insulation. The aim of this research was to investigate the potential of cenospheres production from three different coal fired power plants in Malaysia namely Jimah, Kapar and Manjung. The wet method was used for cenospheres separation from the fly ash. The percentages of cenospheres ranged from 1 to 1.2% of every 1000 gram of fly ash. The mean sizes were 95.86μm 88.64μm, 49.04μm for Jimah, Kapar and Manjung respectively. Cenosphere evacuated by utilizing water as a medium, it will expend a lot of water and lead to water contamination cause of leaching of toxic material while extracting the cenosphere from fly ash. Nevertheless, any health and environmental impacts from the value-added physical application of cenospheres in civil engineering materials must be screened via strict monitoring and legislated guidelines.

Strength and Chloride Penetration Performance of Concrete Using Coal Bottom Ash as Coarse and Fine Aggregate Replacement

Since 1987, Malaysia had used coal as a product to generate electricity. One of the main or the largest power plant in Malaysia is Tanjung Bin power plant at kukup, Johor. As a coal-based power plant, tonnes of coal bottom ash had been burned every day and the waste is wasted without specific economic benefit. Other than that, the waste generated are dangerous as it involved in environmental risk such as landfill ash reservoir. Therefore, this paper presents one of the alternative ways to manage the coal waste by cooperative it into concrete. This research study focuses on strength and durability performance of the concrete containing coal bottom ash as a coarse and fine aggregates replacement. The tests conducted was workability on fresh concrete, compressive strength test and chloride penetration test in 5% sodium chloride. The results show that the concrete containing coal bottom ash has low workability compare with normal concrete without coal bottom ash. Compressive strength test with coal bottom ash resulted higher than normal concrete. In chloride solution, the concrete containing coal bottom ash replacement shows better performance compare to normal concrete. Thus, it can be concluded that by using coal bottom ash in concrete as fine and coarse aggregates replacement, the performance in term of strength and chloride resistance are better compare to normal concrete. On the other hand, by using it in concrete, the waste generated dump in landfill can be reduced.

Performance comparison of fixed and single axis tracker photovoltaic system in large scale solar power plants in Malaysia

<span>Malaysia is rapidly expanding the generation capacity of solar power through large scale solar (LSS) projects with the aim to achieve 20% renewable energy mix by 2025. This has motivated many solar industry players to explore the usage of solar PV with single axis tracker (SAT) system. However, many are still hesitant due to the lack of understanding on the comparative performance between fixed mounted solar PV with solar PV with SAT system. This paper aims to provide a comparative analysis on the performance of both systems. Simulation using PVSyst 6.83 was performed in five potential LSS sites spread across Peninsular Malaysia in Perlis, Kelantan, Pahang, Selangor and Johor with the same installed capacity of 10.32MWp. The energy yield and capacity factor for 21 years were simulated. On the average, it was found that SAT outperforms fixed mounted solar PV system by 15.08% based on their performance on their first year operation. </span>

Temperature Profile Assessment of Sub-Bituminous Coal by Using a Single Burner Combustion Test Facility

This paper presents a thermogravimetric analysis and combustion test for different coals used in a coal-fired power plant in Malaysia. The main objective is to investigate the suitability of adopting a newly-introduced sub-bituminuous coal in an existing boiler furnace commonly firing standard design coals. In order to ensure that the new coal will not give an adverse effect to the boiler, detail analytical and thermal performance of the new coal is investigated, together with design and other limiting coals. The combustion test was performed in a scaled down, 150kW, single swirl burner combustion test facility available in TNB Research Sdn. Bhd. In the study, combustion gas temperature at different sectors downstream of burner region is measured to determine the peak temperature for all tested coals. Based on the investigation, it was noted that coal with the highest fixed carbon content gives the highest temperature measure at all sectors. Similarly, coal with the lowest fixed carbon gives the lowest temperature. The temperature profile for the newly tested coal was found to be comparable to the design and limiting value coals. Even though it was observed that the temperature given by the new coal is the highest slightly downstream of the burner, the temperature was observed to be decreases as combustion gas flow downstream of the combustor rig. Based on the observation it can be said that the new coal is suitable to be used by the existing boiler furnace.

Modelling and performance analysis of parabolic trough solar concentrator for different heat transfer fluids under Malaysian condition

With the increasing energy demand, depleting fossil fuel, and commitment to the Paris climate agreement, Malaysia should tap into this natural resource and harness its solar energy potential. In this research, a location in Malaysia was chosen based on its yearly direct normal irradiance (DNI) and an optimization strategy for a potential parabolic trough power plant. Besides that, an energetic and exergetic comparison and analysis between 6 HTFs (Pressurized water, Therminol VP-1, Syltherm 800, Solar salt, Hitec XL) on real-world climatic condition (based on Malaysian climatic condition) with varying inlet temperature level (300K–900K), ambient temperature and wind speed was done by using 1-D mathematical model that was coded in MATLAB®. Bayan Lepas received the highest yearly DNI and Sodium liquid outperformed other HTFs at varying DNI and inlet temperature level except at 300K with an advantage ranging between 0.036% and 0.99% in thermal efficiency and 0.438%–0.85% in exergetic efficiency to other HTFs. Sodium liquid at the temperature level of 700K also showed the strongest exergetic gained for any potential implementation of PTSC power plant in Malaysia. For climatic impact on the performance of HTFs, Energetic performance increase with ambient temperature while exergetic performance showed otherwise for all HTFs. Wind speed increment has a negligible impact on PTSC performance for all HTFs with sodium liquid’s performance being the most resistant to any wind increment.

Effects of Coal and Fly Ash Dust Deposition of Photovoltaic Panel Performance: A Photovoltaic System at Coal-Fired Power Plant Case Study

Malaysia is aiming to increase its renewable energy generation capacity from 2% to 20% by 2030. Solar photovoltaic (PV) system will play a huge role in getting this target achieve as it is considered a maturing technology in Malaysia and the nation is blessed with ample amount of solar irradiation throughout the year. However, in Malaysia, this technology faces various implementation challenges such as the PV performance degradation due to dust deposition on the PV panels. Generally, coal-fired power plants have an abundant area of coal ash pond that is suitable for installing floating PV systems. However, this area is prone to dust deposition resulting from pulverized coal particles and fly ashes. This paper aims to evaluate the effects of dust deposition on PV panels’ performance, specifically for PV systems that will be installed near coal-fired power plants in Malaysia. In this study, PV panels were exposed to four different types of dust deposit conditions, which are coal particles, fly ashes, normal environmental dust as well as control PV panel that was clean on daily basis. The tests were carried out outdoor under natural sunlight. Performance of the PV panels were measured based on the power generated by the panels. The average power drop based on the types of dust deposition on PV panels are; natural dust (2.72%), fly ash (13.16 %) and coal ash (15.82 %).

Palm oil and its wastes as bioenergy sources: a comprehensive review.

Due to global warming and increasing price of fossil fuel, scientists all over the world have been trying to find reliable alternative fuels. One of the most potential candidates is renewable energy from biomass. The race for renewable energy from biomass has long begun and focused on to combat the deteriorating condition of the environment. Palm oil has been in the spotlight as an alternative of bioenergy sources to resolve fossil fuel problem due to its environment-friendly nature. This review will look deep into the origins of palm oil and how it is processed, bioproducts from this biomass, and oil palm biomass-based power plant in Malaysia. Palm oil is usually processed from oil palm fruits and other parts of the oil palm plant are candidates for raw material of bioproduct generation. Oil palm biomass can be turned into three subcategories: bioproduct, biofuels, and biopower. Focusing on biofuel, the biodiesel from palm oil will be explored in detail and its implication in Malaysia as one of the biggest producers of oil palm in the world will also be emphasized comprehensively. The paper presents the detail of a schematic flow diagram of a palm oil mill process of transforming oil palm into crude palm oil and it wastes. This paper will also discuss the current oil palm biomass power plants in Malaysia. Palm oil has been proven itself as a potential alternative to reduce negative environmental impact of global warming.

Influence of Ground Coal Bottom Ash on the Properties of Concrete

The coal based thermal power plant in Malaysia produces annually around 1.7 million tons of coal bottom ash (CBA) as a discarded material which poses great environmental problems. Hence, the objective of this study is to utilize ground CBA as a supplementary cementing material in concrete. The oven dried original CBA was grinded for 20hours to achieve required fineness. The mixture of concrete was prepared with CBA proportion of 10, 20 and 30% by weight of cement. For the evaluation of density, water absorption, compressive and tensile strength of concrete, 48 specimens were cast. The workability of fresh mix concrete was also evaluated, and it was found to be decreased as the quantity of CBA increased in the mixture. However, the compressive and splitting tensile strength of concrete was also reduced with the addition of ground CBA but with 10% replacement has attended the targeted compressive strength at the age of 28days. Besides that, it was also observed that the influence of CBA on concrete is obvious in density as well as in water absorption. The density of concrete gradually decreased due to addition of ground CBA, concrete containing 10% ground CBA was likely to be similar to that of control mix and the opposite performance was noticed in water absorption. Hence, experimental findings of this study indicated potentiality of ground CBA as supplementary cementing material in concrete construction which will reduces the environmental concern.

Health Assessment and Biomonitoring of Workers in a Coal-Fired Power Plant in Malaysia

Coal fired thermal plants generation of electricity is an interesting choice for Malaysia that has historically depended on oil and natural gas for energy. For power generation, the country cannot ...

Engineering Properties of Tanjung Bin Bottom Ash

Tanjung Bin is one of the biggest coal-fired power plants in Malaysia to generate electricity. The by product from burning of the coal ash produce 42, 000 metric tons of fly ash and 8, 000 metric tons of bottom ash every month. This huge amount of waste requires large area for disposal storage and also may cause environmental problems. This paper aims to study the properties of bottom ash and the possibility to be used as a substitute materials of sands. The laboratory testing program covered physical and mechanical properties of bottom ash. The physical testing includes specific gravity and particle size distribution, whereas, the mechanical properties are Standard Proctor compaction, relative density, permeability and direct shear test. The results show that the properties of bottom ash have similarities to those of sand thus there is a potential to be used as sand replacement materials in construction and engineering works.

Methodology for implementing power plant efficiency standards for power generation: potential emission reduction

Some methods of generating power such as power generation through coal, natural gas, oil result in inevitable emissions of greenhouse gases. While power generation is necessary due to its increasing demand, it is important for power companies to generate their power in an efficient manner to reduce its effect on the environment. One of the most effective ways of tackling inefficiency issues is through the implementation of efficiency standard. While there exist a lot of studies addressing the topic of energy efficiency standards, there are very few papers that deal specifically with efficiency standard for power generation plant. This paper presents methodology for the implementation of power plant efficiency standard; as mandatory or voluntary regulatory instrument, that may be implemented by the government to control greenhouse emissions from power plants. It is hoped that through its implementation, power companies shall become more conscious of their efficiency and emission quality, hereby encouraging the adoption of more efficient energy sources and latest available technologies. In this paper, methods of calculating greenhouse intensity value and its corresponding allowable ranges have been demonstrated. Case study on a 10-year-old base-load multi-fuel-fired power plant in Malaysia has shown that the power plant is in conformance to the power plant efficiency standard, with an actual greenhouse intensity of 859.4461 kgCO2/MWh sent-out, well within the allowable range of greenhouse intensities for that power plant which is between 760 and 890 kgCO2/MWh sent-out. It has also been demonstrated that older power plants are allowed to have higher values of greenhouse intensity. Benefits of utilising natural gas and operating the power plant at full load have also been shown.