Integrated thermo—economic analysis of industrial boilers: a cost-effective approach

Thermal power plants are being intended and installed to produce energy. These power plants employ heat energy generated from fuel to generate steam in the boiler, that steam is eventually used to run the turbines and thus electricity is produced. While dealing with power plants, particularly with boilers it is essential to know about the energy transfer from fuel to water, to generate steam. Basic concepts and laws of thermodynamics are the foundation to check for the system analysis and to find the system’s efficiency. In this study, energy and exergy analysis are performed on a boiler and their results are compared with each other to analyze the actual efficiency of the boiler. Generally, thermal energy audits of boilers are performed on the basis of heat input and heat output (direct method) only, but in this case study all three methods are used and their results are compared. On the basis of acquired results, an economic analysis is performed to check the cost variance that can be saved using the other two methods.