![Almaty thermal power plant No.2. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©](/userdata/news_en/2013/news_16932/thumb_b/photo_25339.jpg)
Validation tests of the plasma-fuel systems at the Thermal Power Plant No.2 in Almaty will start in spring 2013, deputy chairman of Kazakhstan National Scientific Council on Energy Vladimir Messerle told Tengrinews.kz. There are 6 plasma jets installed at the thermal power plant. Three of them are reserve ones. Their task is to inflame the coal that catches fire only at over 1 thousand degrees Centigrade. The coal dust is supplied into the plasma-fuel system, where it mixes with plasma forming a highly-reactive two-component fuel. The old system uses residual fuel oil to heat up the boilers to the required temperature before the coal starts burning. Burning the residual oil is accompanied by hazardous emissions. The combustion products contain nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxides, heavy metals and carcinogens. Messerle said that the first tests of the plasma-fuel system at Thermal Power Plant No.2 were held in 2010. Since then the experts eliminated several shortages in the system. According to the scientist, if the validation tests be successful, the industrial use of the plasma jets in Thermal Power Plant No.2 may start by the next heating season of 2013-2014. The plasma-fuel system will allow all Kazakhstan fuel power stations save up to 30 billion tenge ($200 million) a year, provided that the market prices of one ton of residual fuel oil is at around $400. Use of the system allows to more efficiently burn coal, decreasing fuel underburning that is one of the problems of Kazakhstan's high-ash coal. By Dmitriy Khegai
Validation tests of the plasma-fuel systems at the Thermal Power Plant No.2 in Almaty will start in spring 2013, deputy chairman of Kazakhstan National Scientific Council on Energy Vladimir Messerle told Tengrinews.kz.
There are 6 plasma jets installed at the thermal power plant. Three of them are reserve ones. Their task is to inflame the coal that catches fire only at over 1 thousand degrees Centigrade. The coal dust is supplied into the plasma-fuel system, where it mixes with plasma forming a highly-reactive two-component fuel.
The old system uses residual fuel oil to heat up the boilers to the required temperature before the coal starts burning. Burning the residual oil is accompanied by hazardous emissions. The combustion products contain nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxides, heavy metals and carcinogens.
Messerle said that the first tests of the plasma-fuel system at Thermal Power Plant No.2 were held in 2010. Since then the experts eliminated several shortages in the system. According to the scientist, if the validation tests be successful, the industrial use of the plasma jets in Thermal Power Plant No.2 may start by the next heating season of 2013-2014.
The plasma-fuel system will allow all Kazakhstan fuel power stations save up to 30 billion tenge ($200 million) a year, provided that the market prices of one ton of residual fuel oil is at around $400. Use of the system allows to more efficiently burn coal, decreasing fuel underburning that is one of the problems of Kazakhstan's high-ash coal.
By Dmitriy Khegai