Title: Second law evaluation and sensitivity analysis of a thermal power plant operating with 10 different types of low grade Turkish lignites

Authors: Ehsan Amirabedin; Ali Durmaz

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Gazi University, 06570, Maltepe Ankara, Turkey ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Gazi University, 06570, Maltepe Ankara, Turkey

Abstract: Second law and sensitivity analysis of a lignite-fired Thermal Power Plant (TPP) are implemented by using the data obtained from a simulated 245 MW_el TPP in Thermoflex simulation software. In this regard, exergy destruction and exergy efficiency of each component of the power plant and power generation, emissions and exergetic performance of the overall TPP is determined. Also sensitivity analysis is carried out by changing some essential parameters. In addition, power plant is fired with 9 other types of Turkish lignites. From exergy efficiency and emissions perspectives, it can be stated that, for the same power generation capacity, Soma lignite can be considered as the best lignite type among others. Moreover, for low grade Turkish lignites, two certain coefficients have been determined, in order to calculate directly the approximate fuels chemical exergies with the help of Lower Heating Value (LHV) and Higher Heating Value (HHV) of the lignites.

Keywords: TPP; thermal power plants; low grade lignite; energy efficiency; environmental control; exergy analysis; sensitivity analysis; CO2; SO2; carbon dioxide; sulphur dioxide; carbon emissions; sulphur emissions; design; optimisation; simulation; exergy destruction; exergy efficiency; second law of thermodynamics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2012.050226

International Journal of Exergy, 2012 Vol.11 No.3, pp.286 - 301

Received: 12 Jan 2012
Accepted: 01 Apr 2012
Published online: 08 Nov 2012 *

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