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Thermodynamic and Economic Assessment of Steam Generation with Heavy Fuel Oil and Electric Boilers in a Brazilian Thermoelectric Power Plant

Author

Listed:
  • Haylemar de Nazaret Cardenas-Rodriguez

    (Gnarus Institute, Itajuba 37500-052, MG, Brazil
    Pro-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pos-Graduacao (PRPPG), Itajuba Federal University, Itajuba 37500-903, MG, Brazil)

  • Yohan Ali Diaz Mendez

    (Pro-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pos-Graduacao (PRPPG), Itajuba Federal University, Itajuba 37500-903, MG, Brazil)

  • Angel Edecio Malaguera Mora

    (Pro-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pos-Graduacao (PRPPG), Itajuba Federal University, Itajuba 37500-903, MG, Brazil)

  • Robson Bauwelz Gonzatti

    (Pro-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pos-Graduacao (PRPPG), Itajuba Federal University, Itajuba 37500-903, MG, Brazil)

  • Rosa Martins

    (Energética SUAPE II S.A., Cabo de Santo Agostinho 54590-000, PE, Brazil)

  • Tiago Diogenes Batista da Silva

    (Energética SUAPE II S.A., Cabo de Santo Agostinho 54590-000, PE, Brazil)

  • Luzivan Da Cruz Moura

    (Energética SUAPE II S.A., Cabo de Santo Agostinho 54590-000, PE, Brazil)

  • Wagner Anderson Souza Figueiredo

    (Energética SUAPE II S.A., Cabo de Santo Agostinho 54590-000, PE, Brazil)

  • Danilo Deivison Santos Silva

    (Energética SUAPE II S.A., Cabo de Santo Agostinho 54590-000, PE, Brazil)

  • Anderson Helmiton Alves de Lima

    (Energética SUAPE II S.A., Cabo de Santo Agostinho 54590-000, PE, Brazil)

  • Arthur José da Silva

    (Energética SUAPE II S.A., Cabo de Santo Agostinho 54590-000, PE, Brazil)

  • André Leon Dias

    (Gnarus Institute, Itajuba 37500-052, MG, Brazil)

  • Erik Leandro Bonaldi

    (Gnarus Institute, Itajuba 37500-052, MG, Brazil)

  • Luiz Eduardo Borges-da-Silva

    (Pro-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pos-Graduacao (PRPPG), Itajuba Federal University, Itajuba 37500-903, MG, Brazil)

  • Frederico De Oliveira Assuncao

    (Gnarus Institute, Itajuba 37500-052, MG, Brazil)

Abstract

Heavy fuel oil (HFO) is a widely used fuel in compression ignition engines, primarily in Brazilian thermoelectric plants, mainly due to its availability, low cost, and low operational expenses. However, heavy fuel oil is not compatible with most diesel engines and combustion systems in use and must be treated to maintain combustion process efficiency. The high viscosity of heavy fuel oil must be reduced before being introduced into the engine. To achieve this, appropriate heating devices are added to the fuel lines, with steam being the primary working fluid in these devices. Steam-generating boilers that burn fossil fuels, including HFO itself, are the most viable option from an economic standpoint and in terms of utilizing locally available fuels for this function. However, the need to mitigate the effects of environmental pollution has encouraged the adoption of other types of boilers, such as electric ones. In this work, a case study of a combustion steam generator installed in a Brazilian thermoelectric plant is developed. This study involves the thermodynamic and combustion modeling of the steam generator through the balancing of the respective thermodynamic and combustion equations. The models and the proposed chemical formula of HFO were validated, and through simulations using real data collected during the boiler’s operation throughout 2024, it was also possible to estimate the carbon dioxide emissions produced. Additionally, a hypothetical scenario was simulated in which the combustion boiler currently installed in the plant is replaced by two electric boilers. A simple economic analysis demonstrated that such a replacement would result in a total steam production cost of only 25% of the amount spent on the current combustion boiler, in addition to reducing C O 2 emissions to the atmosphere by 62.55 tons.

Suggested Citation

  • Haylemar de Nazaret Cardenas-Rodriguez & Yohan Ali Diaz Mendez & Angel Edecio Malaguera Mora & Robson Bauwelz Gonzatti & Rosa Martins & Tiago Diogenes Batista da Silva & Luzivan Da Cruz Moura & Wagner, 2025. "Thermodynamic and Economic Assessment of Steam Generation with Heavy Fuel Oil and Electric Boilers in a Brazilian Thermoelectric Power Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-14, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:10:p:2565-:d:1656370
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