NATIONAL NEWS/PUNJAB NEWS EXPRESS

Imported coal & its blending a necessity for thermal plants - CEA
May 04, 2012

NEW DELHI: The imported coal and its blending in a efficient manner will be a necessity for existing thermal plant boilers due to shortage of domestic coal.

Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report on coal blending of imported coal with domestic coal has suggested that about 10-15% blending of imported coal by weight or 15-22% on heat value basis can generally be carried out in typical existing Indian power boilers designed for low quality Indian coals without envisaging any major problems.

Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report on coal blending of imported coal with domestic coal has suggested that about 10-15% blending of imported coal by weight or 15-22% on heat value basis can generally be carried out in typical existing Indian power boilers designed for low quality Indian coals without envisaging any major problems.

The choice of blending methodology would vary from station to station and would depend on the facilities available in the coal handling plant, additional space available for creation of facilities etc. Facilities for blending would have to be created in the stations required to use blended coal.

Considering the coal shortages for the thermal plants will be a certainty CEA has suggested that it is possible to design future boilers for any blend of domestic and imported coal. The boiler design for future units should be such that they are able to run on domestic coal with 100% efficiency and simultaneously should operate on full efficiency with blended coal.
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The report has also recommended criteria for Blending of imported and domestic coal. It suggests that blending decisions should be based on the knowledge of the specific behavior of a given pair of coals, rather than an assumption of linear variation of properties with blend traction. The ash chemistry of the component coals must be compatible so that ash related problems like deposition (slagging and fouling) could be handled effectively.

Coal India has projected a demand supply gap of more than 150 million tons for the last financial year which is set to increase to 450 Million tons by 2012-13. To meet this increase in coal shortfall, it is a necessity to import coal.

Punjab had been importing coal for its thermal plant few years back but its import were discontinued after controversies. Haryana has been importing coal in full quantity as per directions of Power Ministry.