Thermal power plant operations are reliant on managing the thermal energy reservoirs and converting it into mechanical or electrical energy. Coal is a fuel that plays a crucial role in such operations, providing the necessary heat energy to power turbines for generating electricity. Handling and managing coal is a complex task, involving various tasks such as unloading, storage, handling, and crushing. In this blog post, we will discuss the coal handling plant in thermal power plants and the significance of coal crushing.
What is Coal Handling Plant?
A coal handling plant (CHP) is a facility that washes coal of soil and rock, crushes it into graded sizes (sorting & sizing), and stockpiles grades to prepare it for transport to the power plant. The coal is transported to the power plant through railway, road, or ship, and unloaded in the coal storage yard. The Coal is then passed through various crushing and screening processes to reduce the size of the coal and ensure uniformity in the quality of the coal delivered to the power plant.
Various Crusher Houses in Coal Handling Plant
The coal handling plant consists of different equipment used for various purposes, such as unloading, conveying, crushing, and conveying the coal to the bunker. The crusher house is one of the critical areas of a coal handling plant. The crusher house receives the coal from the belt conveyor and crushes it into a smaller size suitable for feeding to the boiler. The crusher house is an essential equipment in the plant where the crushing process is performed.
Coal Crushing in a Thermal Power Plant
The coal crushing process is a crucial aspect of coal handling plant in thermal power plants. It is the process of crushing coal into a size that meets the boiler's specifications. The ideal size of coal is around 50 to 60 mm. The pulverizer is used to crush coal into the desired size before being introduced into the boiler to generate steam.
Coal Crushing Equipment
The different types of coal crushing equipment used in thermal power plants include:
1. Ring granulator type coal crusher: It consists of a frame, rotor, crushing chamber, and the drive system. The rotor rotates at high speed, and the coal is crushed by the impact of the hammer teeth and the spinning, crushing ring.
2. Hammer mill type coal crusher: It is designed to crush coal by applying a high speed impact force. The hammer mills crush the coal into finer particles by hitting it with the hammer.
3. Impact type coal crusher: It consists of a hopper, a feeder, a crushing chamber, and the drive system. It works by applying a high speed impact force on the coal, reducing it to the desired size.
Importance of Coal Crushing
Coal crushing is an essential process in a thermal power plant. The operation of the power plant depends on the quality of the coal delivered. The coal crushing process ensures that the coal delivered to the plant is of the right size and quality. Properly crushing the coal helps to increase the plant's efficiency and reliability by increasing the thermal efficiency of the boiler, reducing the emissions, and ensuring a steady supply of coal to the boiler.
Conclusion
A coal handling plant is an essential infrastructure of a thermal power plant. The efficient and reliable operation of the plant relies on the quality of coal delivered. Coal crushing is a critical process that ensures the delivered coal is of the right size and quality. The coal crushing process increases the efficiency and reliability of the plant, ensuring a steady supply of coal to the boiler. In conclusion, the importance of coal crushing in a thermal power plant cannot be overstated.