Instrumentation and measurement for coal and biomass fired power plant optimization

Despite the growing deployment of other energy sources, coal and biomass use is increasing worldwide to meet the rising global demand for electricity. Global fluctuations in coal price and logistic uncertainties in coal supply mean that many power stations are burning a diverse range of coals (indigenous and imported) and the type and quality of coal being fired at any moment is often unknown for various practical reasons. Although biomass can be used to generate energy in different ways, co-firing with coal at existing power stations or 100% biomass firing at converted or new power stations remains a practical option available to power plant operators, and is widely adopted as one of the main technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power generation. Biomass originates from a diverse range of sources in a wide variety of forms. In general, biomass has a higher moisture content and higher volatile matter than coal, but its density and calorific value are lower than coal. The inherent differences between biomass and coal and the unknown changes in the type and quality of coals and fluctuations in electricity demand have posed significant challenges to the power generation industry. Instrumentation and measurement techniques have an important part to play in tackling these challenges.