International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Studies

E-ISSN22498974

Research Paper

EASY METHOD OF EXERGY ANALYSIS FOR THERMAL

POWER PLANT
Mali Sanjay D1, Dr. Mehta N S2

Address for Correspondence

1

PG Student, ME Thermal, 2Asst. Prof, Mechanical Engg.L.D.R.P Institute of Technology and Research,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad.
ABSTRACT

In this paper presents energy and exergy analysis method for thermal power plant and analysis carried out on 125MW coal
base thermal power plant. The increasing demand of power has made the power plants of scientific interest, but most of the
power plants are designed by the energetic performance criteria based on first law of thermodynamics only. The real useful
energy loss cannot be justified by the fist law of thermodynamics, because it does not differentiate between the quality and
quantity of energy. Energy analysis presents only quantities results while exergy analysis presents qualitative results about
actual energy consumption. In this analysis shows exergy efficiency is less at each and every point of unit equipments. Also
presents major losses of available energy at combustor, superheater, economiser and air-pre heater section. In this article also
shown energy exergy efficiency, exergy disctructon and energy losses comparison charts.
KEYWORDS Analysis, Energy, Exergy, Entropy

. INTRODUCTION:
The definite value of thermal energy can only be
obtained by a qualitative or exergy analysis of its
conversion, transport and distribution1 . Energy
consumption is one of the most important indicator
showing the development stages of countries and
living standards of communities. The energy supply
to demand contraction down day by day around the
world, the increasing demand of power has made the
power plants of scientific interest, but most of the
power plants are designed by the energetic
performance criteria based on first law of
thermodynamics only. The real useful energy loss
cannot be justified by the fist law of thermodynamics,
because it does not differentiate between the quality
and quantity of energy. The present study deals with
the comparison of energy and exergy analyses of
thermal power plants stimulated by coal and gas2 .
Economics of power generation does not only require
designing an efficient power plant, but also following
proper operation and maintenance strategy such that
the energy conversion efficiency of the plant
throughout its life cycle remains high3 . Exergy
analysis usually predicts the thermodynamic
performance of an energy system and the efficiency
of the system components by accurately quantifying
the entropy-generation of the components4 . The
world energy needs rely heavily on fossil fuels for
electricity generation. The majority of the worlds
power generation is met by fossil fuels, particularly
coal and natural gas. Despite the growth of renewable
energy installations like wind and solar power, the
heavy dependence on fossil fuels is expected to
continue for decades. Despite the depletion of fossil
fuel reserves and environmental concerns such as
climate change, the growth in oil demand is expected
to be 47.5% between 2003 and 2030, 91.6% for
natural gas and 94.7% for coal5 .
. ENERGY AND EXERGY ANALYSIS
. 
CALCULATION
FOR
BOILER
COMBUSTION CHAMBER
. .  Energy Analyses
2.1.1.1
          /

 !"  # #  # # /
2.1.1.2
$    %  !" /
IJAERS/Vol. I/ Issue III/April-June, 2012/245-247

& 



!"'



2.1.1.3

Where,
 Eenergy enter to the combustion chamber /
 !" Eenergy exit from the combustion chamber
/
$  =Energy losses /
& First law efficiency
For an Adiabatic Combustor the Efficiency always
yields 100% as the specific enthalpy of fuel is
evaluated at Higher heating Value.
2.1.2 Exergy analysis
2.1.2.1
(  )  )  )  /*+
( !"  )#  )#  /*+
(,-".!/"   ( % ( !" /
(
&  !"0(
2.1.2.2

(  exergy in to the combustion chamber /*+
( !"  exergy out at the combustion chamber
/*+
) specific exergy of fuel in 1/*+ 
 2 % 34  5 /*+
2.1.2.3
) specific exergy of primary air in /*+ 
2.1.2.4
 2 % 34  5 /*+
) specific exergy of secondary air in /*+ 
2.1.2.5
  % 34  
)# specific exergy of fuel gas in 1/*+ 
2.1.2.6
# # % 34 # 
)# specific exergy supplied to steam generator
1/*+
 # # % 34 # 
2.1.2.7
8. ENERGY PART
8.  ENERGY ANALYSIS
3.1.1
  # # : ;/*+
3.1.2
  # # % #  ;/*+
 !"  ! <=>  :  ? @  : 
3.1.3
 >A  :   <A  : ;/*+
 !"  ! 2<=>B % <=>C 5  ? @B %
3.1.4
@C    2>AB % >AC 5

 <AB % <AC  ;/*+

$    %  !" /

&  !"' 


International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Studies

Where,
# =Enthalpy of flue gas & at inlet and outlet in
/1
# =mass flow rate of flue gas in 1/*+
! & <=> =mass flow rate 1/*+, Enthalpy /
1 of water superheated steam
? & @ = mass flow rate1/*+, Enthalpy /
1 of water in economizer
 & >AB = mass flow rate1/*+, Enthalpy
/1 of primary air
 & <A = mass flow rate1/*+, Enthalpy /
1 of secondary air
Subscripts I and O refer to outlet and inlet sections
respectively.
8.  ENERGY ANALYSIS FOR INDIVIDUAL
COMPONENTS
8. .  Energy Analysis for Superheater
  # 2# % # 5 /
3.2.1.1
 !"  ! <=>B % <=>C  ;/*+
3.2.1.2



$    %  !" /

&  !"' 

8. .  Energy Analysis for Economizer
  # 2# % # 5 /
3.2.2.2

3.2.2.3
 !"  -/ EFBB % EFBC  ;/
$    %  !" /

&  !"' 

8. . 8 Energy Analysis for Air Pre-heater
  # 2# % # 5 /
3.2.3.1

 %      %
 !"   >AB
>AG

<AB
3.2.3.2
<AC  ;/
$    %  !" /

&  !"' 


H. EXERGY PART
4.1 EXERGY ANALYSIS
(  )#  )# /
4.1.1
(  )!  )!   )?  )?  
4.1.2
2)  ) 5  )  )  /*+
Where,
( Exergy or Availability at inlet to the heat
recovery system in
( !"  Exergy or Availability at outlet to the heat
recovery system in
)# specific exergy referred to flue gas in 
# 2# % 34 # 5/
4.1.3
)# specific exergy referred to superheated steam
4.1.4
 ! 2! % 34 ! 5/
)? specific exergy referred to water  ? ? %
4.1.5
34 ? /
) specific exergy referred to primary air 
  % 34  /
4.1.6
) specific exergy referred to secondary air
4.1.7
   % 34  /
And I & o referred to inlet and out let system
respectively.
(  # 2# % 34 # 5 % # 2# % 34 # 5/
4.1.8
IJAERS/Vol. I/ Issue III/April-June, 2012/245-247

!"

E-ISSN22498974

 ! J2! % 34 ! 5 % 2! %

34 ! K  ? ? % 34 ?  % ? % 34 ?  

 J2 % 34  5 % 2 % 34  5K 

  % 34   %  % 34  /

4.1.9
H.  EXERGY CALCULATION FOR EACH
COMPONENT
H. .  Exergy Analysis for Superheater
(  # 2# % 34 # 5 % # 2# % 34 # 5 /
4.2.1.1
( !"   ! 2! % 34 ! 5 % 2! %
4.2.1.2
34 !  /
(,/".!/"    % ( !" /
(
&  !"' 
(
H. .  Exergy Analysis for Economiser
(  # 2# % 34 # 5 % # 2# % 34 # 5 /
4.2.2.1
( !"   ? ? % 34 ?  % ? % 34 ? /
4.2.2.2
(,/".!/"    % ( !" /
(
&  !"' 
(
4.2.3 Exergy Analysis for Air Preheater
(  # 2# % 34 # 5 % # 2# % 34 # 5 /
4.2.2.3

(,/".!/"

  % (

4.2.2.3

!" /

M. RESULTS
M.  OVERALL PLANT RESULTS
TABLEM.  PLANTS RESULTS AT PART
LOAD N8 OP
Component

Combustor
Heat
recovery
System
Super heater
Economizer
Air
preheater
Turbine

Energy
loss

Exergy
loss
QR/S

99.88
84.53

52.57
66.53

467.4815
23267.8

170364.8
37269.45

83.68
83.01
64.19

48.12
44.13
48.59

13613.2
6052.07
11901.88

40327.6
16972.3
17577.28

85.54

78.17

111155.4

78172.51

These results indicate that each point of power plant

exergy disctruction is much more than energy loss at
point. This show available energy loses at that point
is high results lower second law efficiency or
exegetic efficiency. Exergy analysis also that exergy
efficiency is lower than energy efficiency for each
points of power plant which mark requirement good
maintenance .

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Studies

M. .  Result Charts

Chart M. . .a Exergy disctruction chart %

Chart M. . . U comparison chart of loses %

Chart M. . . V exergy and Energy Efficiency

Chart M. . . X Exergy v/s Energy Efficiency

Chart M. . . Y Turbine Exergy disctruction and

Exergy efficiency
Second law or Exergy analysis has been performed in
this thesis is able to help to understand the
performance of coal fired thermal power plant and
justify possible efficiency improvements .It gives
logical solution improving the power production
opportunities in thermal power plants.
Z. CONCLUSION
1. It has been observed that Exergy efficiency is
lower than Energy efficiency It has been
observed that APH, Super heater and
economiser (heat exchanger) are main parts
that contributed loss of exergy.
2. It has been found that 47.43% exergy loss
occur in combustor (furnace) which shows
combustor is not fully adiabatic and
combustion may not be complete. It is due to
the irreversibility within the combustion
process. This study pin points that the
combustor requires necessary modification
like refractory (insulation) modification to
reduce exergy destructions thereby plant
performance can be improved.
3. The major energy destruction occurs in the
heat recovery system which leads to inefficient
heat transfer between hot stream (flue gas) and
cold stream (water & air).It indicates heat
exchanger system need to be carefully
inspected.
4. HP and IP turbine have best performance show
it tends to adiabatic and LP turbine have poor
performance need maintenance.
REFERENCES:
1.

2.

3.

Chart M. . . W exergy and Energy Efficiency QR/S

4.

5.

IJAERS/Vol. I/ Issue III/April-June, 2012/245-247

E-ISSN22498974

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