IMPROVING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF COAL-FIRED COMBINED HEAT AND POWER PLANTS BY INTEGRATING HEAT PUMPS INTO A VACUUM DEAERATION SYSTEM

Abstract

The article is devoted to the urgent problem of increasing the energy and economic efficiency of coal-fired combined heat and power plants (HРP), which form the basis of the energy complex of many regions of Russia. The high share of the fuel component in the cost of energy, as well as growing environmental requirements, make the introduction of energy-saving technologies a key factor in the development of coal generation. As a solution, a new process flow diagram with the integration of a heat pump is proposed and substantiated. The results of energy efficiency calculations are presented, showing that the use of the developed solution for a HРP with a make-up water flow rate of 1000 m³/h allows achieving annual savings of about 6960 tons of equivalent fuel. The payback period of the project is 7 months. The conclusion is made about the high efficiency and feasibility of the widespread implementation of the proposed technology at coal-fired thermal power plants and large boiler houses to reduce fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and increase economic sustainability.

Keywords

Coal fired power plants, energy efficiency, heat pump, vacuum deaeration, make-up water, heating agent, fuel economy, emission reduction, coal generation.

References

1. Xu Q., Wang Sh., Luo K., Fan J. Energy-saving retrofit and thermal economy optimization of peak-shaving for coal-fired power plants utilizing molten salt thermal storage. Applied Thermal Engineering. 2025:128229. DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.128229.
2. Xie L., Wang Ch., Liu Z., Liu M., Yan J. Improving the load ramp-up capacity and efficiency of coal-fired power plants by optimizing the pulverizing system control strategy. Energy. 2025;(334):137499. DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.137499.
3. Kapanski A.A., Hruntovich N.V., Klyuev R.V., Brigida V.S. Identification of easily accessible urban water consumption factors for energy-efficient management of pumping stations. Water Conservation Science and Engineering. 2025;10(2):46. DOI: 10.1007/s41101-025-00372-1.
4. Xie Sh., Qin P., Zhang M., Xu J., Quyang T. A high-efficiency and ecofriendly design for coal-fired power plants: Combined waste heat recovery and electron beam irradiation. Energy. 2022;(258):124884. DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.124884.
5. Kumawat R., Gidwani L., Rana K.B. Comparative analysis of life cycle assessment of biogas-powered and coal-powered power plant for optimized environmental operation. Heliyon. 2024:10(20):e39155. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39155.
6. Golik V.I., Dmitrak Yu.V., Brigida V.S. Impact of duration of mechanochemical activation on enhancement of zinc leaching from polymetallic ore tailings. Naukovyi Visnyk Natsionalnoho Hirnychoho Universytetu. 2020;(5):47-54. DOI: 10.33271/NVNGU/2020-5/047.
7. Brigida V.S., Golik V.I., Dmitrak Yu.V., Gabaraev O.Z. Ensuring stability of undermining inclined drainage holes during intensive development of multiple gas-bearing coal layers. Journal of Mining Institute. 2019;239(5):497-501. DOI: 10.31897/pmi.2019.5.497.
8. Klyuev R.V. Povysheniye energoeffektivnosti polucheniya tepla pri utilizatsii shakhtnogo metana v gazoporshnevykh elektrostantsiyakh // Ugol'. 2025;(1):105-108. DOI: 10.18796/0041-5790-2025-1-105-108. Klyuev R.V. Improving the energy efficiency of heat production during the utilization of coal mine methane in gas piston power plants. Ugol’. 2025. № 1. С. 105-108. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.18796/0041-5790-2025-1-105-108.
9. Filonchyk M., Peterson M.P., Yan H., Gusev A., Zhang L., He Y., Yang Sh. Greenhouse gas emissions and reduction strategies for the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters. Science of The Total Environment. 2024;(944):173895. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173895.
10. Kulikova E.Yu., Balovtsev S.V., Skopintseva O.V. Geoecological monitoring during mining operations. Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories. 2024;16(2):580-588. DOI: 10.21177/1998-4502-2024-16-2-580-588.
11. Kulikova A.A. Novyy podkhod k otsenke vybrosov ot gornykh predpriyatiy s uchetom uglerodnogo sleda // Ustoychivoye razvitiye gornykh territoriy. 2023. T. 15. № 4. S. 825-832. DOI: 10.21177/1998-4502-2023-15-4-825-832. Kulikova А.А. A new approach to estimating emissions from mining enterprises, taking into account the carbon footprint. Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories. 2023;15(4):825-832. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.21177/1998-4502-2023-15-4-825-832.
12. Kongar-Syuryun C., Klyuev R., Golik V., Oganesyan A., Solovykh D., Khayrutdinov M., Adigamov D. Principles of Sustainable Development of Georesources as a Way to Reduce Urban Vulnerability. Urban Sci. 2024;(8):44. DOI: 10.3390/urbansci8020044.