Solutions for More Efficient Coal-Fired Power Generation

Improving coal power generation across the process

Through the continued development and expert application of advanced technologies where they can achieve the most significant benefit, Thermo Fisher Scientific enables coal-power producers to gain efficiencies at each step of the process.  Using this process-oriented approach, our customers are afforded a comprehensive and synergistic result. 

Online coal quality analysis

Coal exists in various forms including lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, and anthracite.  Each contains varying amounts of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon, and as a result they have different combustion properties.  

The efficiency and cost of your power generation operation is directly tied to the fuel you’re using. 

Optimization empowered Thermo Scientific online elemental coal analyzers and blending software measure the composition of coal in real-time and proactively address process variations to help ensure more consistent coal blends that are optimal for your particular plant. Our analyzers use either Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation (PGNAA) or Pulsed Fast Thermal Neutron Activation (PFTNA) technology to help provide accurate, reliable data to control coal blends and help ensure on-spec batches for coal-fired power generation plants. 

Positive material ID (PMI) & warehouse

Material anomalies in metal production and construction processes can have profound effects on the final product, so today’s best practice is to analyze 100% of critical materials used in the plant's infrastructure. Using Thermo Scientific handheld XRF and LIBS analyzers, both manufacturers and operators of coal-fired power generation facilities can perform positive material identification (PMI) to analyze piping equipment, facility assets and materials. 

The structural integrity of pipelines and power generation plant assets is key for safety and operational efficiencies.

Quickly achieve profound risk reduction These analyzers deliver results in minutes to help ensure that no incorrect or out of specification metal alloys have entered the manufacturing process or exist in the plant. This type of analysis can prevent catastrophic failures, reduce downtime, and mitigate risk.

Health and safety

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a variety of products designed to prevent downtime, meet health and safety regulatory requirements, reduce insurance costs, and generally protect your most valuable investment – your workforce.  From radiation detection to tramp metal detection to equipment operation safety sensors and switches, our solutions are designed to keep workers safe and productive, reduce liability, mitigate risk, and increase efficiency in your coal fired power plant. 

When it comes to operational efficiency and cost savings, nothing delivers more potential than protecting your workforce.

Key components of our plant health and safety solutions are radiation detection and air quality monitoring. We offer a variety of instruments, for both plant-wide and personal radiation detection, that provide real time detection of gamma radiation with accurate dose rate measurements, verification, and assessment of whether radioactivity is of natural or artificial (man-made) origin.

We provide a wide range of solutions for monitoring indoor and outdoor air quality. Our dust and aerosol monitors provide real-time results at the mine or the plant.

Environmental monitoring

According to the EPA, power plants are currently the dominant emitters of mercury (50 percent), acid gases (over 75 percent) and many toxic metals (20-60 percent) in the United States. With ever increasing regulatory pressures and responsibilities to the communities you service, environmental monitoring and sensitivity is critical for the future of your operation. 

Exceptional monitoring solutions are needed to keep step with increasing regulatory scrutiny. 

Comprehensive compliance and environmental impact control Our specialty Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) include Particulate Matter (PM) CEMS and Mercury (Hg) CEMS. Thermo Scientific iQ Gas Analyzers reliably monitor a broad range of pollutants such as CO₂, Nox, SO₂ and CO. The Thermo Scientific iQ Series Instrument Platform is a smart environmental solution for ambient and source gas analysis. As your partner in compliance, our systems are designed with the necessary protocols to help ensure your monitoring reports are accurate and accessible and meet US EPA 40CFR Parts 60 and 75 and other standards worldwide, while providing high sensitivity, accuracy and reliability.