Power Plant Engineering

STEAM POWER PLANT 145

(iii) Ability to burn coal especially of high ash content, and inferior coals.

(iv) Reduced environmental impact in terms of air pollution.

(v) Reduced water requirement.

(vi) Higher reliability and availability.

4.3 Coal Handling

Coal delivery equipment is one of the major components of plant cost. The various steps in-

volved in coal handling are as follows : (Fig. 4.2)

(i) Coal delivery (ii) Unloading

(iii) Preparation (iv) Transfer

(v) Outdoor storage (vi) Covered storage

(vii) In plant handling (viii) Weighing and measuring

(ix) Feeding the coal into furnace.

Coal Delivery

Unloading

Preparation

Transfer

Outdoor Storage

(Dead Storage)

Covered Storage

(Live Storage)

Weighing

and

Measuring

Furnace

In Plant Handling

Fig. 4.2. Steps in Coal Handling.
(i) Coal Delivery. The coal from supply points is delivered by ships or boats to power stations
situated near to sea or river whereas coal is supplied by rail or trucks to the power stations which are
situated away from sea or river. The transportation of coal by trucks is used if the railway facilities are
not available.
(ii) Unloading. The type of equipment to be used for unloading the coal received at the power
station depends on how coal is received at the power station. If coal is delivered by trucks, there is no