Feedback on the industrial visit to Sahiwal Coal Power Plant

Syed Fawad Hussain Shah

USPCASE-UET-MS (TSE)-BATCH-2
Acknowledgment and Introduction:

First of all, I express my feeling of gratitude to management and security persons of Sahiwal Coal
Power Plant for granting permission to visit the plant. I am especially very much thankful to Dr.
Khurshid Ahmad, HOD of Thermal System Engineering for allowing and guiding for the proper
execution of the visit. I am also thankful to the management of USPCAS-E for arranging the visit.

The Sahiwal Coal Power Project is located at Sahiwal in the province of Punjab by the name of Huaneng
Shandong Ruyi Energy (Limited). It has an installed capacity of 1320 MW. It commenced full operations
on 3 July 2017 with 200 days ahead of the given schedule. Huaneng Shandong Ruyi Energy Limited is
responsible for operation of Sahiwal Coal fired power plant.

Feedback:

The security clearance was done in very friendly environment and we were treated very well. After
introduction and precaution session by a very cooperative team, we were provided safety covers.
During visit to design documents and certificates portion, it was very good to know that this project
has been successively awarded more than 30 honorary titles from different national and international
organizations.

We are very happy to know that this plant is one of the most environmental friendly and is emitting
NOx, SOx, and dust well below the standards set by the World Bank, European Union, and Japan. We
practically saw that the plant has set up environmental protection facilities using the world’s most
advanced environmental protection technology such as efficient electrostatic precipitators, flue gas
desulfurization, low NOx burners, optimized furnace combustion organization, wind -proof and dust
control net and waste water treatment plant etc. By using these advanced technology, the dust, ash
and other pollution led particles have been reduced to minimal and that the raw ash and gypsum
produced out of burning of coal was being sold to the local market.

Before visit we had a question that why the site of power plant was selected in Sahiwal which is far
away from the Port Qasim, but there were some reasons. Not just because the site is located near
already existing 500 KV national transmission line, it is also a load center of this region. Nearby this
site there already exist a railway track and abundant water source for plant operation as well. Now
due these strong reasons I would say that it is the most suitable and perfect site selected for power
plant. Daily around 10,000 tons of coal was being transported from Port Qasim Karachi to the power
plant through railway line which was also generating source of revenue for Pakistan Railways.

It was very good to see a power plant working on super critical technology which require less coal per
megawatt-hour, leading to lower emissions and having higher efficiency of about 42% as compared to
conventional coal-fired power plants (32%). We were so excited to see natural draft cooling towers
with unique hyperboloid shape which aids in accelerating the upward convective air flow,
improving cooling efficiency.

Overall it was very learning experience. We all get benefited a lot from it and brought a positive change
in our thinking and practical behavior. The guiding team on site was very supportive to all students. I
think this kind of visit will definitely help the students to understand various technical aspects and
application of subjects like Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer and Power Plant.

Syed Fawad Hussain Shah

USPCAS-E, MS(TSE) Batch-2