Reducing or Controlling Heat Rate

Heat Rate is one of the critical contributing factors to the gross margins of thermal power plants. “Heat Rate” represents fuel consumption rate for specific levels of power plant output and is inverse of plant efficiency. Heat rate has a direct impact on power generation costs. Hence reduction in “Heat rate” means a reduction in power generation costs, thus leading to a positive impact and contributing to the operating margins of power generation companies.

Heat Rate is one of the critical contributing factors to the gross margins of thermal power plants. “Heat Rate” represents fuel consumption rate for specific levels of power plant output and is inverse of plant efficiency. Heat rate has a direct impact on power generation costs. Hence reduction in “Heat rate” means a reduction in power generation costs, thus leading to a positive impact and contributing to the operating margins of power generation companies.

The assessment of performance of a Thermal Power Plant entails observing its “Heat Rate”.

At the same time, it also reduces the corresponding emissions of pollutants such as particulate, sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOX), mercury (Hg), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Let us review some of the best possible ways and practices that are supposed to be followed and implemented by the thermal power sector.

The first and foremost method is to enhance the power plant’s feedwater heater performance. According to an analysis, a 1 per cent improvement in heat rate can save up to $500,000 in fuel costs annually (based on a fuel cost of $1.25/million Btu, capacity factor of 85 per cent and boiler efficiency of 88 per cent).

Cooling system heat loss recovery and cooling system optimisation – Waste heat recovery systems in order to achieve an optional recovery efficiency.

Flue Gas Heat Recovery – Flue Gas Heat Recovery Systems collects any remaining heat in the flue gas. This heat is then reused to pre-heat water coming into the boiler from the cold mains supply. This significantly results in further reducing energy and carbon emissions.

Reducing warm-up water flow rates from operating pumps to idle pumps, it will improve the auxiliary power of the operating pumps.

Implementing better air quality control systems – Installing of effective FGDs systems.

Boiler draft system control schemes, automating boiler drains – to drain wastewater, residue, and sediments from boiler systems to maximise system efficiency and reduce overall heat rate.

Sootblowing optimisation to removing the soot that is deposited on the internal furnace tubes of a boiler during combustion to prevent plugging of the gas and easing off the heat.

Uplifting digital advancement and technical opportunities for reducing heat rate, through aggregated data, advanced analytics, power operators can not only monitor heat rate variances but also track changes and compare real time data to identify scope for improvement for improving heat rate.

Auditing and tracking of heat rate parameters through effective heat rate surveys and performance monitoring.

Promoting and leaning on clean and green energy resources (hydro, wind, solar and waste heat recovery), the ultimate goal of the power sector, towards achieving the net zero emission standards.

2nd Annual CEE NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICICENCY AWARDS 2022

CEE NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICICENCY AWARDS 2022 identifies and celebrates the best in industry efforts for employing new and pioneering energy efficiency measures. The awards have been established by keeping several operational parameters in focus such as Peaking Plant Load Factor, Secondary Oil Consumption, Auxiliary Power Consumption and Station Heat Rate. The ultimate rationale behind the awards is to encourage some sense of competition among various stakeholders which will eventually inspire them to improve efficiency across the value chain.