ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF QUALITY INDICATORS ON THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF POWER PLANT ENERGY EQUIPMENT

Мezerya A. V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2946-9593
Fursova T. V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1900-7432
Bliznichenko O. V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1654-1598
Maliuta V. V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0789-442X
Tolstorebrov O. V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3203-8909

Keywords: energy equipment, power plant, quality indicators, operational efficiency, efficiency, specific fuel consumption, reliability, availability, turbine, boiler, generator, comprehensive quality indicator

Abstract

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26565/2079-1747-2026-37-07

The article examines the influence of quality indicators of the main power plant energy equipment on the efficiency of electric and thermal energy production. It is shown that under current conditions of limited flexible generation capacity, aging power units, and increasing requirements for fuel economy, environmental safety, and operational flexibility, the assessment of energy equipment quality extends beyond the traditional analysis of nominal efficiency alone. For turbines, boilers, condensers, generators, control systems, and cooling systems, not only energy-related characteristics but also reliability, operational, lifetime, and maintenance characteristics become decisive. It is substantiated that the operational efficiency of energy equipment is formed under the influence of a set of interrelated indicators, including efficiency, specific fuel consumption, reliability, availability, capacity factor, the level of losses in auxiliary systems, thermodynamic perfection, and the stability of parameters over time.

Modern studies devoted to steam turbine degradation, combustion optimization in boilers, the effect of excess air on efficiency, the exergetic distribution of losses among the main units of thermal power plants, increasing the efficiency of turbine installations under variable operating modes, improving turbogenerator cooling systems, as well as issues of equipment reliability and safe operation, are analyzed. It has been established that individual quality indicators have a quantitatively significant influence on operating performance. In particular, long-term degradation of steam turbines may cause a power loss at the level of (2-7,5)%; an increase in excess air in the boiler from 10% to 70% leads to a decrease in energy and exergetic efficiency by approximately 5%; the integration of thermal energy storage systems and the improvement of operating modes can increase maneuverability by 3-4 times and improve the profitability of a power plant. For certain turbine units, rationalization of the reheated steam temperature provided an increase in efficiency of (0,3-1,5)% and a reduction in specific equivalent fuel consumption by (3-4) g standard fuel/kWh.

A system of individual quality indicators of power equipment and a comprehensive quality indicator suitable for multicriteria assessment is proposed. It is shown that the greatest impact on the integrated efficiency of power plants is exerted by the quality indicators of turbine, boiler, and condensing equipment, as well as the reliability of generators and auxiliary systems. The results can be used in technical diagnostics, modernization, optimization of operating modes, and substantiation of priorities for repair and reconstruction of power plant energy equipment.

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