Several studies have been made to optimize the design and/or operation of thermal power plants. The underlying concepts, objective indices and methods of optimization in these studies vary. The major concepts which have been applied in these studies are pinch technology, energy analysis, exergy analysis and exergoeconomic analysis. The objective indices are usually economic and efficiency parameters; and the methods of optimization vary from advanced to simple methods.
Pinch technology represents a set of thermodynamically based methods that guarantee minimum energy levels in design of heat exchanger networks. Pinch technology and cycle efficiency targeting have been used to increase the cycle efficiency of a steam power plant and to reduce the fuel consumption of the plant [1]. Pinch analysis was used to reduce energy penalty in a coal-fired power plant with carbon capture; and cooling water requirement was reduced compared to base case [2]. The pinch concept has also been used as an aid in selecting the optimum combined heat and power (CHP) systems so that the overall energy consumption of the manner in a thermal power plant [6]. The concept has been used to optimize the first and second reheat pressures in a thermal power plant [7]. A comparison has been made of coal-fired and nuclear steam power plants using exergy analysis to identify areas with potential for performance improvement [13]. A reduction in production and fuel consumption costs was achieved by exergy analysis of a thermal power plant [14]. The exergy destruction in a combined Carnot cycle has been quantified [15]. Exergy analysis for the optimization of cogeneration steam plants has been performed