This project is part of the science and technology project “Research, design, manufacture and commissioning of several auxiliary equipment systems for coal-fired thermal power plants with unit capacity up to about 600 MW”.

According to the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering, electricity consumption demand in Vietnam is currently continuing to increase due to socio-economic development. Coal-fired thermal power plays an important role in ensuring energy security when it still accounts for about 50% of capacity and output.

The acceptance council highly evaluated the research results of the project

In a coal-fired thermal power plant, the Ash Handling System (AHS) is a top important factor, limiting the negative impact of the plant on the surrounding environment. The general ash and slag handling system includes the following systems: the bottom slag handling system, the fly ash handling system, and depending on the ash and slag treatment technology (wet, dry), there are other auxiliary systems such as the technical water supply system, the system for transporting ash and slag to ash/slag ponds, etc.

Ash and slag from a coal-fired thermal power plant are residual residues from the combustion of coal fuel at locations along the flue gas stream in the boiler. Ash and slag are collected from below the boiler and collection points along the plant's flue gas path, then transported to silos, and subsequently removed from the plant.

The general trend of ash and slag discharge technology is to move towards applying new technology, gradually eliminating old, outdated technology that affects the environment. However, until the time before the project was implemented (January 2016), in Vietnam, there had been no complete research project on ash and slag discharge systems for coal-fired thermal power plants. Therefore, the timely emergence of the project has met the needs for supply, repair, and localization of ash and slag discharge equipment in coal-fired thermal power plants in Vietnam in the near future.

To date, the project has fully completed the quantity, type, and quality of the registered scientific and technological products. In particular, for the first time, an ash and slag discharge system for a coal-fired thermal power plant with a capacity of 2×300 MW has been researched, developed, and applied by Vietnamese scientists and engineers.

Accordingly, the research and development process has contributed to fostering and enhancing the capacity of Vietnam's scientific and technological workforce in management, consultancy, research, and design development of ash and slag discharge systems for coal-fired thermal power plants. The project results have affirmed step-by-step mastery of calculations, design, and manufacture of ash and slag discharge systems for coal-fired thermal power plants, reducing costs from hiring foreign experts, importing equipment, and external technology transfer fees. At the same time, it contributes to promoting the development of the domestic auxiliary equipment manufacturing industry.

“At Thai Binh 1 Thermal Power Plant, the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering supplied the ash and slag discharge system through a contract with the main contractor valued at 241 billion VND, which is only about 80% of the cost of a foreign-supplied ash and slag discharge system. The cost reduction is due to the localization process covering at least 50% of the project scope, creating jobs and improving the design, production, and manufacturing capacity of domestic units,” – a representative of the research group said.

Source: https://congthuong.vn