Reduction of carbon emission by enhancing energy efficiency of forced draft fans in thermal power plants

Abstract

In this paper, various techno-economical feasible methods for reducing the carbon emission by enhancing the energy efficiency of forced draft (FD) fans in coal-fired thermal power plants based on the energy audit study conducted in 28 numbers of 210MW power plants in India are discussed. The best operating points for pressure gain, flow, pressure drop, equipment efficiency, power input and specific energy consumption are simulated by using MATLAB, and presented in this paper with case study to validate the results. Optimizing the pressure at FD fan discharge and maintaining the optimum secondary air pressure at windbox will enhance the combustion characteristics. Operational optimization and control of excess air will reduce the auxiliary power of FD fans. Optimum sizing of FD fans and motors will reduce the auxiliary power by 0.10% gross energy generation and reduce the CO<inf>2</inf> emission by 1,600 t/year.