Introduction
The moisture content of coal is a major indicator of the coal quality and plays an important role in the evaluation of coal-fired power plants. In the power industry, the moisture content is often referred to as the drought level. Different droughts levels have different effects on the efficiency and environmental carrying capacity of power plants. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the significance of the moisture content of coal and its impact on the efficiency of power plants.
The meaning of moisture content
Moisture content is the amount of water in a given weight of coal. It is usually expressed in percentages. It is an important factor in the evaluation of coal quality and is one of the physical properties of coal. It is affected by the geography and climate of the location where the coal is formed, as well as the coal mining process. A higher moisture content indicates that the coal has a lower calorific value and lower density which makes the coal mining process more difficult. In addition, high moisture content also results in increased slagging and corrosion of power plant furnace and pipes.
Impact on the power plant efficiency
The moisture content of coal has a large effect on the efficiency of the power plant. The higher the moisture content, the less amount of energy can be achieved with a given weight of coal. This is due to the fact that more energy is needed to evaporate the water from the coal before it can be burnt in the furnace. Furthermore, higher moisture content also causes more slagging, corrosion and fouling in power plant boilers and pipes. As a result, more maintenance is required and the efficiency of the power plant will be reduced.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the moisture content of coal is an important indicator of coal quality and has a significant effect on the efficiency and environmental carrying capacity of power plants. A higher moisture content results in increased slagging and corrosion, resulting in reduced efficiency. Therefore, it is important to accurately determine the moisture content of the coal to ensure an optimal power plant efficiency.
