The presentation is based on the discussions of starting operations of a coal based thermal power plant. This presentation is based on the in-house training to the operation engineers of the thermal power plant. It describes the activity chart for the starting of boiler, Turbine and synchronising of Generator, picking up the load etc.

1. Thermal Power Plant Operations
(Coal Based TPS)
Manohar Tatwawadi
total output power solutions
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Mob: +91 9372167165, Email: mtatwawadi@gmail.com

2. AIM / OBJECTIVE
• Bring Unit on load in optimum time
• Sequential and Parallel operations on Boiler
and Turbine side for minimum cost of
generation.
• Reduction of Fuel required for Start Up
operations before the unit is connected to the
grid
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3. Power Plant Operations ..Cold
• Check the availability of Station Supply for
Water, compressors and other common aux.
• Charge the station transformers
• Make the supply available for CHP, OHP, AHP,
WT, Compressor House and the Dewatering
pumps etc.
• Make the supply available for Unit Auxiliaries
(Boiler, Turbine, Generator)
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4. Readiness of Outdoor Plants
Check for the readiness of
• Oil Handling Plant for availability of Oil; FO
and LDO
• Coal Handling Plant; Coal stock, crushers,
vibrators, Bunker levels etc.
• Water Treatment Plant; availability of General
service water, DM water, etc.
• Ash Handling system
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5. Readiness of Unit Aux Systems
• Firing Equipment; Ignitors, Scanners, Burners
(Oil and Coal), atomising air/steam etc.
• Boiler Auxiliaries; APH, ID Fans, FD Fans, PA
Fans, ESP, etc for cooling water and operating
oil etc.
• Turbine Auxilieries; CEP, BFP, Deaerator, LP
Heaters, HP Heaters, Gland seal system,
Lubricating oil system, etc.
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6. Starting the operations
• Boiler drum filling
• Condenser Filling
• Deaerator filling
• DM Makeup Tanks
• Lubricating Oil system cooling
• Cooling for ID, FD, APH etc
• Condenser CW System
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7. Unit Start Up
• PRDS Availability, Oil Heating
• Boiler Lightup, FSSS
• Lub oil system of turbine, Seal oil system of
generator
• Hydrogen Filling in Generator, Barring Gear
Turbine
• Expansion of Boiler, RH protection
• Closing of Vents, Drum and S/H.
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8. Unit Start Up
• Opening of HP LP Bypass
• Raising MS Pressure, Temp. 25kg/sqcm, 2800C
• Heating of MS Lines, Turbine Casing, Rate of
heating controlled by drains.
• Rate of raising of temp of steam in Boiler.
• Admission of steam in Turbines, Rolling of
Turbine.
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9. Turbine Rolling
• Turbine Soaking
• Turbovisory
• Critical Speeds
• Raising the speed to 3000 RPM
• Boiler side Extra guns taken in service
• Generator Stator water & Hydrogen coolers
are I/S
• Generator main CB OK
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10. Synchronising
• Maintain the speed of Turbine to 3000 RPM
• Raise the Terminal Voltage of Generator by
Excitation system with AVR on Manual.
• Synchroscope “ON”
• When the Turbine speed is slightly more than
the grid speed, the Phase sequence is
matching and the generator TV is slightly more
than the grid voltage, synchronise the Unit
(Make the generator CB “ON”)
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11. Loading of the TA Set
• Increase the Furnace Oil guns
• If the temp of the furnace is more than 6000C a
coal mill can be taken in service.
• The unit must be synchronised or HP LP Bypass
must be taken in service before taking a coal mill
in service. This ensures steam flow through the
reheater.
• The load on the unit must be raised as per the
ramp rate given by the manufacturer.
• Change over from station Transformer to Unit
Auxiliary Transformer
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12. Charging of BFP
• Check the deaerator heating and deaerator
pressure
• Check the recirculation valves of BFP
• Check the balancing leak off valves of BFP
• Aux oil pump running, warm up valve open.
• BFP Motor cooling I/S
• Check the Feed water Regulating station, HP
Heaters, FW System and Start BFP .
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13. Charging of LP Heaters
• LP Heaters must be evacuated before Charging
• All condensate must be drained before
charging the LP Heaters.
• LP heaters will be charged with condensate
first.
• Cascade drains to be opened for maintaining
the levels in the LP Heaters.
• LP Heaters can now be charged from steam
side. (Extractions)
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14. Boiler side load raising
• PA Fans started and PA Header Pressure
Maintained on Auto
• Cold air and hot air gates for PA to mill opened
• Mill Temp and PA Flow to be put on auto
• Coal Mill shall be taken in service ensuring the
bunker level.
• Secondary air dampers of the elevation put on
auto
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15. Boiler side loading
• Check the Boiler Expansion
• Take ESP In service
• Set the BA and Fly ash evacuation system in
service.
• The increase in Temp and pressure of the
steam must be in line with the Ramp rate
given by the manufacturer. (2 MW/min)
• Take another mill I/s
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16. Charge HP Heaters
• HP Heaters are already Charged from Feed
side
• Open the cascade drain/drip valves and put
them on auto to maintain the level in the
Heaters
• Open the extraction Valves
• This may result in lowering the load but the
load will automatically rise as the HP heaters
are in service.
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17. Start Up Curve Cold Start
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18. Activities Chart
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