A Study to Retrofit Parabolic Trough Collector on Jimah Coal-Fired Power Plant

In Malaysia, coal-fired power plant makes up 40% out of the total installed capacity as of the year 2016. This preference is set to continue despite the global push to reduce carbon emissions. Solar Aided Coal-Fired Power Generation (SACPG) may be a viable option to be considered to help reduce carbon emissions while maintaining the capability to meet the country's growing electricity demand. This study looks into the possibility and potential of retrofitting Parabolic Trough Collectors (PTC) at Jimah Power Plant (JPP) to substitute the existing steam extraction feedwater heating with solar heating. The main focuses are the potential solar energy that can be harvested and the best feedwater preheating retrofitting scheme. The study found that an area of 59,340.06 m² can be utilised and a maximum solar heating rate of 69,427,870.20 kJ/hr can be harvested. Meanwhile, the lowest feedwater heating was at Feedwater Heater (FWH) A with a heating rate of 153,317,018.40 kJ/hr. Full replacement of any feedwater heater is found to be impossible and the only suitable retrofit scheme is to have 0.45 solar fraction heating at Feedwater Heater A. This retrofit scheme can help to increase 0.59% of JPP efficiency and reduce 8.18 ton/hr of coal consumption.