For the first time in Vietnam, the fabrication and operation of a coal handling and transport system for a thermal power plant have been undertaken by domestic science and technology forces.

Technology of High Complexity

The project “Research, design, fabrication, assembly, and commissioning of coal handling and transport systems for coal-fired thermal power plants with unit capacity up to approximately 600 MW,” led by the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering (NARIME), has just been evaluated as excellent by the State-level Acceptance Council and completed in full quantity, quality, and variety of products as “ordered” by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Dr. Phan Dang Phong, Director of the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering, speaking at the project acceptance ceremony

This project is one of 12 tasks under the science and technology project “Research, design, fabrication, and commissioning of some auxiliary equipment systems for coal-fired thermal power plants with unit capacity up to approximately 600 MW.”

Dr. Phan Dang Phong, Director of the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering, shared that the demand for equipment supply for thermal power plants in Vietnam is very large. According to Clause 3, Article 1 of Decision No. 1791/QD-TTg, the coal handling and transport system is one of 11 equipment items that must be localized domestically for the three projects: Quang Trach 1, Song Hau 1, and Quynh Lap 1.

At the time of project implementation, domestic mechanical enterprises had accumulated some experience through designs from abroad, supplying spare parts and performing repair and maintenance of existing systems at thermal power plants.

Nevertheless, we were still unable to master the design and synchronous fabrication of a coal handling and transport system for coal-fired thermal power plants because the calculation documents are proprietary technology secrets of foreign firms, making them very difficult to access or obtain from various sources; no research project had delved deeply into the field of localizing coal handling and transport equipment.

“At that time, no domestic company had the full capability to calculate, design, and synchronously fabricate a coal handling and transport system for coal-fired thermal power plants; they still had to purchase the entire system as a package from abroad at very high costs, which included technology licensing fees,” said Dr. Phan Dang Phong.

Therefore, mastering the calculation, design, fabrication, and commissioning of coal handling and transport systems for coal-fired thermal power plants with unit capacity up to 600 MW in our country is urgent, and the results will bring great benefits to science and technology development, promote the growth of the domestic mechanical industry, and contribute to the successful implementation of the Prime Minister’s pilot program for domestic design and fabrication of thermal power plant equipment for the period 2012–2025 under Decision No. 1791/QD-TTg.

NARIME has designed and provided many economic contracts for domestic industries, including the design and synchronous fabrication of conveyor systems such as: EPC contractor for the Nhan Co bauxite processing plant, including a conveyor system up to 4.9 km long with a capacity of up to 700 tons/hour.

In addition, as EPC contractor for the Tan Rai bauxite processing plant, including a conveyor system up to 3.2 km long with a capacity of up to 700 tons/hour; design and supply of conveyor systems for the Nui Phao mineral mine with a capacity of up to 200 tons/hour; EPC for the Nghi Son cement grinding and export system at Hiep Phuoc with a capacity of 120 tons/hour... These are the foundations that give NARIME confidence in new research tasks.

Localization Reaching 85% by Volume

After many years of research, engineers of the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering have completed the acquisition of basic design technology transfer from abroad and fully mastered the design and fabrication of the coal supply system with a capacity of >1,700 tons/hour.

Song Hau 1 Thermal Power Plant

At the same time, they completed the calculations, basic design, detailed design, fabrication design, and documentation such as manufacturing technology, installation, operation, and maintenance/repair instructions for one coal handling and transport system for a thermal power plant with a unit capacity of approximately 600 MW.

In particular, they completed the design, fabrication, installation, and commissioning of one coal handling and transport system for the Song Hau 1 Thermal Power Plant with a capacity of 2x600 MW, system capacity of 1,700 tons/hour, with local and remote control capability meeting the project's requirements.

Additionally, 173 scientific research results have been published, including monographs and scientific articles that have been verified and are highly reliable.

The project's products have been applied at the Song Hau 1 Thermal Power Plant with a capacity of 2x600 MW. The trial run results met the technical and technological targets and were signed off for acceptance by the investor, general contractor, and general contractor consultant.

“After implementing the project and applying its results to the coal handling and transport system of the Song Hau 1 Thermal Power Plant, the localization rate is estimated to reach 85% by volume and 56% by value. This figure will gradually increase with subsequent projects,” Dr. Phan Dang Phong emphasized.

Having mastered the technology for designing and fabricating the entire system, the research team has applied the achieved research to independently carry out from design to fabrication of the entire coal supply system for the Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant with a capacity of 3,200 tons/hour.

After the successful implementation of the project, the cost of the coal handling and transport system for coal-fired thermal power plants with capacity up to 600 MW has been reduced compared to imported systems, while maintaining equivalent quality. At the same time, it significantly reduces the costs of hiring foreign experts (by approximately 50%) in project management, installation, operation, and equipment repair, as was previously done.

The results achieved by the project have demonstrated the capability of domestic units with a team of scientific and technical personnel with increasingly improved qualifications, always striving to learn new technologies, and capable of undertaking similar complex projects for the country's economic development programs in the coming period.

In the coming period, with the Government promoting the priority development of renewable energy projects such as wind power, solar power, and waste-to-energy, as well as liquefied gas thermal power plant projects, the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering recommends that the Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade establish appropriate incentive mechanisms and policies to create conditions for the research team to participate in research and master the technology for these fields of work.

Source: Cong Thuong Newspaper