3. Co-incineration in thermal power plants

3.1 Thermal process

Coal-fired power plants are energy plants that generate electricity and heat from coal, by means of cogeneration.

The coal is pulverized in a mill and mixed with preheated air. The mixture is introduced into a combustion chamber via burners. The boiler is lined with tubes through which water circulates under pressure. The heat released by coal combustion raises the temperature of the steam to around 560°C, at a pressure of 165 bar. The steam produced is expanded in turbines. These convert the steam's thermal energy into mechanical energy. The turbines are coupled to electricity-generating alternators. Steam is expanded in three successive stages: high (165 bar), medium (34 bar) and low pressure (0.3 bar). The steam is then directed to the...