Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has successfully commissioned another 250 MW unit based on eco-friendly Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) technology, using low quality coal (lignite) as the primary fuel. The 250 MW lignite based thermal unit has been commissioned at Bhavnagar Energy Company Limited (BECL)’s 2×250 MW thermal power project, located at Padva village in Bhavnagar District of Gujarat.
The project is equipped with CFBC technology that enables use of low quality lignite as fuel. The second unit of this project is also in an advanced stage of completion. Significantly, this is the third 250 MW unit based on CFBC technology, commissioned by BHEL, with two other units having been commissioned earlier by BHEL in Tamil Nadu. In addition, BHEL has earlier executed the 4×125 MW Surat Lignite Power project at Nani Naroli in district Surat, Gujarat, also involving CFBC technology. CFBC boilers are highly fuel flexible and can burn a wide variety of fuels, including Lignite, efficiently. CFBC boilers are also highly environment friendly with very low pollutant emissions. Successful commissioning of this CFBC technology based unit has reinforced BHEL’s leadership status in execution of a variety of thermal power projects involving supply of state-of-the-art equipment, suited to Indian coal and Indian conditions. Lignite reserves in the country have been estimated at around 40.9 billion tonnes. Presently, only a small percentage of the total reserves of lignite have been exploited. CFBC boilers provide an excellent opportunity for gainfully using these huge lignite reserves. BHEL’s scope of work in the contract envisaged design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of Boilers, Steam Turbines and Generators along with associated Auxiliaries and Electricals, state-of-the-art Controls & Instrumentation (C&I) and Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs). The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat had earlier laid the foundation stone of the super-critical technology-based 1×800 MW Wanakbori project in Gujarat, which is presently being executed by BHEL on Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) basis.