Improvement of a coal power plant performance through auxiliary services power demand reduction

This paper proposes method a to increase the electric power dispatched to the grid in a thermoelectric plant. The proposed improvement is based in a reduction of the auxiliary services´ demand. This demand reduction is obtained by improving the power factor and reducing the active power losses in the auxiliary services. The power factor is improved by the installation of capacitors to supply reactive power and filters to reduce harmonic distortion. The measurements and simulations of the electrical system show the most critical nonlinear loads and low displacement power factor loads presented in the industrial plant and the best location to improve the power factor and the power quality.