CFBC Technology—An Essential Alternative for Present Indian Coal Power Sector

Pulverized coal combustion (PCC) is a dominant technology in Indian power sector and has occupied 51.69% in the grand total installed capacity. Though circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) technology is economically sound, technically feasible and environmentally friendly than PCC technology, CFBC technology utilization in India is still in the nascent stage. In the present paper, two present difficulties (retirement of huge thermal capacity and coal import from other countries) of PCC boilers were explained and need of better technology which is required immediately to come out from these difficulties of PCC boilers was discussed. The objective of this paper is to encourage CFBC technology in India for (i) constructing new boilers and for renovating and revamping old PC fired boilers to extend their life up to 25 years and (ii) improving local low grade coal utilization in present power generation of Indian coal power sector. This paper also provides comparison between CFBC and PCC boilers on three main features such as type of fuel, emissions and cost which are required for manufactures to establish CFBC technology for Indian coal power sector.