POWER March 2013 - 24

FUELS
Techno-Economic Considerations
When Using Low-Grade Coal for
Power Generation
Courtesy: Cleco
The use of low-grade coal is becoming synonymous with circulating fluidized bed (CFB)
power plants. Although CFB technology may often be a better choice than pulverized
coal technology, that is not always the case. Owners and developers need to consider
several technical and economic factors before making this decision.
By Chudi Egbuna, MSc.Eng. (Mech.) Pr Eng., Parsons Brinckerhoff Africa
R
24
egardless of a power plant's objectives
or the relationship between a plant and
an associated coal mine, the availability
of a low-grade coal resource creates the
possibility for a symbiotic relationship. In order
to harness the benefits of such a relationship
between power generation and coal mining,
certain techno-economic considerations
should be kept in mind.
Because the variables are numerous, a few
clarifications are in order to start. In this article,
" low-grade coals " refers to lignite and
subbituminous coals with a calorific value
(CV) of less than 18 MJ/kg (7,725 Btu/lb)
and ash quantities of greater than 40% by
weight. These coals are further characterized
by varying/inconsistent volatile matter (VM),
high inherent moisture, high sulfur, and a low
Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI).
Steam Pro and Steam Master proprietary
software (from Thermoflow Inc.) were used
to generate some of the data used in this article's
charts and table. Efficiency, coal consumption,
and capital expenditure (CAPEX)
graphs assumed a 300-MW single-reheat
subcritical steam cycle. The graphs only inwww.powermag.com
dicate
the relationship among CAPEX, plant
efficiency, coal consumption, and CV for
this power plant design specification. What's
more, a power plant's economic viability depends
on several project-specific factors such
as plant CAPEX and operating expenses
(OPEX), the availability of a favorable power
purchase agreement (PPA) and coal supply
agreement (CSA), transmission infrastructure,
coal and limestone costs, water costs,
labor costs, and so on.
This article considers only plant CAPEX
and OPEX as major factors contributing
POWER | March 2013

http://www.powermag.com

POWER March 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of POWER March 2013

Contents
POWER March 2013 - Cover1
POWER March 2013 - Cover2
POWER March 2013 - Contents
POWER March 2013 - 2
POWER March 2013 - 3
POWER March 2013 - 4
POWER March 2013 - 5
POWER March 2013 - 6
POWER March 2013 - 7
POWER March 2013 - 8
POWER March 2013 - 9
POWER March 2013 - 10
POWER March 2013 - 11
POWER March 2013 - 12
POWER March 2013 - 13
POWER March 2013 - 14
POWER March 2013 - 15
POWER March 2013 - 16
POWER March 2013 - 17
POWER March 2013 - 18
POWER March 2013 - 19
POWER March 2013 - 20
POWER March 2013 - 21
POWER March 2013 - 22
POWER March 2013 - 23
POWER March 2013 - 24
POWER March 2013 - 25
POWER March 2013 - 26
POWER March 2013 - 27
POWER March 2013 - 28
POWER March 2013 - 29
POWER March 2013 - 30
POWER March 2013 - 31
POWER March 2013 - 32
POWER March 2013 - 33
POWER March 2013 - 34
POWER March 2013 - 35
POWER March 2013 - 36
POWER March 2013 - 37
POWER March 2013 - 38
POWER March 2013 - 39
POWER March 2013 - 40
POWER March 2013 - 41
POWER March 2013 - 42
POWER March 2013 - 43
POWER March 2013 - 44
POWER March 2013 - 45
POWER March 2013 - 46
POWER March 2013 - 47
POWER March 2013 - 48
POWER March 2013 - 49
POWER March 2013 - 50
POWER March 2013 - 51
POWER March 2013 - 52
POWER March 2013 - 53
POWER March 2013 - 54
POWER March 2013 - 55
POWER March 2013 - 56
POWER March 2013 - 57
POWER March 2013 - 58
POWER March 2013 - 59
POWER March 2013 - 60
POWER March 2013 - 61
POWER March 2013 - 62
POWER March 2013 - 63
POWER March 2013 - 64
POWER March 2013 - 65
POWER March 2013 - 66
POWER March 2013 - 67
POWER March 2013 - 68
POWER March 2013 - 69
POWER March 2013 - 70
POWER March 2013 - 71
POWER March 2013 - 72
POWER March 2013 - 73
POWER March 2013 - 74
POWER March 2013 - 75
POWER March 2013 - 76
POWER March 2013 - Cover3
POWER March 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/re-tech-supp-to-power-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-and-re-tech-supp-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-October-2022-140th-Anniversary-Supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-October-2022-and-Anniversary-Supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-and-re-tech-supp-september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-July-2022-Intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2022-intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2022-intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-April-2022-Intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-top-plants-supp-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com