The Experimental Evaluation of Energy Efficiency and Carbonic Emission Rates for All Stable Loads of Larger-Scale (+600 MW) Coal-Fired Power Generation Units in Vietnam

Performance guarantees and tests of thermal power plants are usually carried out at 100% rate output capacity. However, fossil-fired power plants have decreased full load hours, affecting energy efficiency, and are subjected to frequent load changes caused by variable renewable electricity and potential grid stability. Therefore, this study is conducted to calculate and draw the characteristic curves for all stable loads of coal-fired power units including the 60%, 75%, and 100% rate output. The study focuses on the corrected plant net heat rates-gross unit outputs, net standard coal consumption rates-throttle steam pressures, and corrected plant net efficiencies-carbonic emission rates. In addition, the experimental investigation for energy efficiency and carbonic emission of the latest larger-scale (+600 MW) coal-fired power generation units in Vietnam are also implemented using a performance guarantee calculation software called "PG_Cal" version 0.0, which is based on a mass and energy balance method by MATLAB programing language. From the results of this study, it is suggested that the performance guarantees and tests of new coal-fired units should be carried out at different stable loads, including minimum load. Vietnam should apply the ultra-supercritical technology for new units in order to increase their efficiency and decrease carbon dioxide emissions.