HEAT RATE TEST / PERFORMANCE

TEST OF POWER PLANTS

INTRODUCTION
 WHAT IS HEAT RATE OF POWER
PLANT?

 Heat Rate is the heat input (fuel) required per unit of Power generated
(kcal / kWh) for specific fuel being fired as per specific site conditions. OR
 Amount of energy used to generate 1 kWh of electricity
 Definition: Heat energy input per unit of electrical energy output.
 Heat Rate = Thermal Energy Input / Electrical Energy output

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 HOW TO CALCULATE HEAT RATE OF
POWER PLANT

 Chemical Energy of Fuel = Total Fuel Used (scf/hr) x Higher Heating

Value (HHV)(BTU/scf)
Unit =  Joule / kWh or BTU / kWh
Gross & Net Unit Heat Rate:
 If gross generation is used, then the resultant heat rate is the gross
unit heat rate.
 If net generation is used, then the resultant heat rate is net unit heat rate.

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 HEAT RATE OBJECTIVE

 To point out the causes and locations of efficiency losses

 Helps to improve overall heat rate of power plant

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 HEAT RATE CALCULATIONS THROUGH
EXAMPLE

 The heat rate is the inverse of the efficiency: a lower heat rate is better.

The term efficiency is a dimensionless measure (sometimes quoted in
percent), and strictly heat rate is dimensionless as well, but often written
as energy per energy in relevant units
 Heat rate of a 100% efficient plant is simply 1, or 1 kWh/kWh, or 3.6
MJ/kWh, or 3,412 Btu/kWh
 To express the efficiency of a generator or power plant as a percentage,
divide the equivalent Btu content of a kWh of electricity (3,412 Btu) by
the heat rate.
For example, if the heat rate is 10,500 Btu, the efficiency is 33%.
If the heat rate is 7,500 Btu, the efficiency is 45%.

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 SGS PAKISTAN EXPERTISE FOR HEAT
RATE TEST

SGS Pakistan have diversified experience for performing and witnessing of

heat rate test across several power plants in Pakistan.
SGS Pakistan can support in the following areas:
 Development of Heat Rate Procedures
 Review of Design Documents as per actual Correction Curves
 Calibration of Energy Meters
 Calibration of Instruments i.e Flow meters, Transmitters etc.
 Fuel Sampling and Analysis through our accredited labs
 Execution of Heat Rate Test / Witnessing of HRT activity as
independent engineer
 Analysis of collected data
 Reporting

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