Power Plant Operations & Heat Rate Improvement Training Course

Course Overview

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the importance of heat rate and efficiency for fuel cost, emissions, and competitiveness of thermal power plants on Day 1.
• Apply thermodynamic principles of Brayton, Rankine, combined, and cogeneration cycles to plant performance.
• Calculate heat rate and efficiency on gross and net bases using higher and lower heating values and correct results to reference conditions.
• Evaluate the effects of ambient conditions, load, fuel quality, and operating mode on plant performance.
• Apply efficient operating practices for startups, shutdowns, load following, and part-load operation.
• Identify and reduce gas turbine losses, including compressor fouling, inlet air filtration and cooling, and recoverable and non-recoverable degradation.
• Identify and reduce heat recovery steam generator and boiler losses, including excess air, stack temperature, fouling, attemperation, and air heater leakage.
• Identify and reduce steam turbine, condenser, cooling system, and feedwater heater losses, including backpressure, air in-leakage, fouling, and heater performance.
• Reduce cycle leakage, drains losses, and auxiliary power consumption.
• Apply performance testing principles based on recognized test codes and ensure instrumentation accuracy.
• Implement online performance monitoring, corrected heat rate tracking, and heat rate deviation analysis, and quantify the economic value of improvements.
• Develop a heat rate improvement plan supported by digital tools and emissions reduction considerations by the end of Day 5.

Who Should Attend

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
• Explain why heat rate matters for cost, emissions, and competitiveness.
• Describe how gas turbine, steam, and combined cycle plants convert fuel to power.
• Calculate heat rate and efficiency correctly and on a consistent basis.
• Understand how ambient conditions and load affect performance.
• Operate plants efficiently during startups, shutdowns, and load changes.
• Identify and reduce gas turbine performance losses.
• Identify and reduce boiler and heat recovery steam generator losses.
• Identify and reduce steam turbine, condenser, and feedwater heater losses.
• Reduce cycle leakage and auxiliary power consumption.
• Understand performance testing and the importance of accurate measurements.
• Monitor performance and analyze heat rate deviations.
• Build and justify a practical heat rate improvement plan.

Course Outline