USPCASE scholars visit coal-fired power plant in Sahiwal, Pakistan

The U.S.-Pakistan Centers for Advanced Studies in Energy arranged an industrial visit to Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power Plant in Pakistan for Thermal Systems Engineering students. Industry visits give USPCASE students a first-hand look at the energy landscape in Pakistan and the U.S. and the participants get insights into power production and management techniques.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for students to gain practical knowledge and see the application of classroom learning. They learned about plant operations and various solutions to industry challenges. It helps broaden their understanding of the energy sector as a whole,” explains Dr. Khurshid Ahmad.

The power plant generates a total of 1320MW electricity through two units, each producing 660MW power. It is part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Construction began in 2015 and it was completed in 2017 by the Chinese company Huaneng Shandong Ruyi Group. The project site covers 1,700 acres; the land was provided by the Government of Punjab.

“For me, this was my first experience specific to a power plant that runs on coal. I found it great: intriguing, to be honest. Seeing for the first time a chimney that exhausts clean white smoke that is hard to distinguish from clear white clouds, free from all kind of hazardous components … the essence of green combustion technology,” said student Aemal Ahmad.

The students visited various parts of the power plant including the coal unloading and storage area, water reservoirs (that are used as a source of working fluid in the plant), the control center, a nine-story boiler, the steam turbines, and two natural draft cooling towers.