The Hindu : BHEL excels in coal-based power generation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

BHEL excels in coal-based power generation

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI APRIL 29 . Coal is the primary fuel for power generation, accounting for about 70 per cent of the total 1.1 lakhs MW power generated in the country. In future also it has a major role in achieving the target of doubling the power generation capacity to about 2 lakhs MW by 2012. In this context it is gratifying that the Navaratna public sector undertaking BHEL is spearheading the clean coal power technology using the high-ash and low-calorific value Indian coal, to meet the stringent environmental norms.

The Tiruchi BHEL, thanks to the pilot plant established in 1988, has gained rich experience in design, engineering, fabrication, erection and operation of the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle technology. In fact, BHEL's operational experience of over 5000 hours of the pressurised fluidised bed-gasification (PFBG)-based IGCC is significant in the context of just around 100 hours logged on by other plants using similar coal gasification technology in the USA and other countries.

The Combined Cycle technology uses the gas turbine-steam turbine combination for power generation and, instead of natural gas, uses coal gas along with steam for power generation in the turbines to achieve higher efficiency. Gasification is the cleanest method of utilisation of coal, while Combined Cycle generation gives the highest efficiency, said Dr.V.Gopalakrishnan, General Manager (Quality), BHEL. Hence the integration of the two technologies for power generation in IGCC plants offers the benefit of very low emissions, higher efficiency and the potential for lower cost of electricity generation.

There is no air pollution from fly ash, as it is collected as bottom ash in the gasifier and CO2 emissions are also much less compared to coal being used as a fuel. The higher efficiency of IGCC will also result in reduction in coal consumption per MW of power generated. The BHEL has also adopted the pressurised fluidised bed gasification, ideally suited for Indian coal, which has high ash content. The BHEL, Tiruchi, set up a 6.2 MW IGCC power plant at a cost of Rs.15 crores in 1989, the first coal-based IGCC in Asia, and the second in the whole world, said Mr.V.K.Gopinath, Executive Director of the BHEL. And in 1996, a PFBG demonstration plant of 150 TPD was designed and retrofitted in the 6.2 MW plant to supply coal fuel gas to the existing unit.

Coal from various collieries in the country was tested for power generation.

The plant has operated for more than 5000 hours, processing 20000 tonnes of coal, and about four lakhs units of power generated had been fed to the southern power grid after internal consumption.

The USAID has invited proposals from US consultants to conduct a feasibility study of a coal-based IGCC power plant in the country, including technical details and cost estimates for the design, supply, installation and testing of a 100 MW plant at a suitable site of the NTPC.

The BHEL is well qualified to play a leading role in such a project in view of its rich experience in the field.

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