Hydro energy potential of cooling water at the thermal power plant

Abstract

The hydro energy of the gravity water flow from the coal-fired thermal power plant units to the river in an open cooling system of turbine condensers is determined. The water net head duration curve due to the river annual level change and the reduction of the hydro energy potential due to the thermal power plant overhauls periods are evaluated in the case study of the Thermal Power Plant “Nikola Tesla B” in Serbia on the basis of statistical data for a long time period. A design of the small hydro power plant is defined for the utilization of this hydro energy and the economic benefits of the project are calculated. The internal rate of returns and pay back periods are calculated in dependence of the electricity price. The obtain results show that the project is economically attractive, and it can be realized with standard matured solutions of hydro turbines available at the market. Even for the relatively low electricity price from small hydro power plants in Serbia of 0.08 Euros/kWh the internal rate of return and the pay back period are 17.5% and 5.5 years.