Work out coal consumption instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Coal consumption is the plant's heat requirement divided by the coal's calorific value. Heat requirement is output times heat rate times hours. Specific coal consumption in kilograms per kilowatt-hour is the operational index, typically 0.6-0.8 kg/kWh on Indian coal and 0.35-0.45 on high-grade imported coal.
Coal consumption
Heat required (kJ) = output (kW) x heat rate (kJ/kWh) x hours; coal (kg) = heat / CV (kJ/kg)
Unit conversion
1 kcal = 4.1868 kJ
Coal combustion emissions are regulated. Changes in coal quality or consumption affect particulate, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions and may require permit review.
More tonnes must be handled, milled, transported and ashed for the same energy. Freight, mill capacity and ash disposal all scale with tonnage, not with energy.
Daily performance monitoring and fuel budgeting. A rising trend at constant coal quality points to boiler fouling, air heater leakage or turbine degradation.