Economic Feasibility Study of Feed Water Heater System Integration in a 15 MW Thermal Power Plant

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive economic analysis and optimization of the feedwater heater system in a 15 MW thermal power plant. Feedwater heaters play a critical role in improving thermal efficiency and ensuring operational sustainability of power generation. The analysis focuses on evaluating the operational costs associated with feedwater heating and circulation systems. One of the key economic indicator, the payback period is used to assess the viability and cost-effectiveness of various feedwater heater integration strategies. Comparative scenarios are developed to evaluate plant performance with and without feedwater heating systems. The results demonstrate that effective feedwater heater management can significantly reduce fuel consumption, improve the heat rate, and enhance overall plant performance. Without a feedwater heating system, the plant consumes 13.27 tons per hour (TPH) of fuel. Integrating a low-pressure feedwater heater (LPH) reduces fuel consumption by 1.2%, while the addition of a high-pressure heater (HPH) improves fuel savings to 1.7%. The study concludes that strategic investment in feedwater heater systems can enhance operational reliability and efficiency in medium scale thermal power plants.