Energy Saving at Power Plants
When it comes to saving energy at a power station, attention is usually focused on the main consumers of energy resources that have a capacity of over 1 MW. Although these facilities do have a high potential for energy savings, in this article, we will focus on smaller but also important sources of consumption.
Internal consumption facilities of power plants, such as various pumping units, fan installations, and others, consume a significant share of the electricity produced by the station. In some cases, this can account for up to 7% of the total energy produced. Thus, the energy sector is also one of the large consumers of electricity.
Typical Consumption Facilities
Among the typical consumption facilities, the following can be highlighted:
- smoke extraction installations
- blower fan units
- condensate pump installations
- pumping equipment in the chemical workshop
- ash removal devices for boiler units
- raw coal feeders
The implementation of variable frequency drives for pumping units and fan installations can lead to a reduction in electricity consumption of more than 30%. For example, a large power plant may have over a thousand such facilities, creating a large potential for energy savings!
Adjusting the Speed of Electric Motors
The application of conversion devices allows regulating the motor speed by changing the frequency of the electrical current. Working mechanisms rarely operate at full load. Often, dampers or shutters are installed at the output of pumping or fan units to reduce the flow of water and air.
Methods for Optimizing the Operation of Traction Mechanisms
The use of variable frequency drives improves the reliability of boiler unit operation as a whole, reducing the likelihood of failure and extending the service life of traction machines.
These mechanisms also provide significant energy savings by regulating consumption (up to 60%). They reduce fuel costs (by 2-8%) by activating fan installations according to the current load of the boiler unit.
The use of frequency converters in controlling electric motors of pumping units ensures energy savings and increases the lifespan of the units, as well as brings other positive outcomes.