THE BRINDISI THERMAL POWER PLANT Centrale di Brindisi Via A. Einstein, 5 - 72100 Brindisi Phone 0831 235450 - fax 0831 235430 E-mail: centrale.brindisi@edipower.it

YESTERDAY

The works for the construction of the Brindisi power plant started in July 1964.
In a first phase, two 320 MW units were erected, connected to the 220 kV transmission grid. Afterwards, the plant was repowered with two additional units of the same capacity, connected to the 380 kV electrical grid.

In 1979 the retrofit to coal was decided, maintaining the possibility to use also fuel oil, as support or alternative fuel

TODAY

THE TECHNICAL OUTLOOK
The installed capacity is 1,280 MW.

The Brindisi Power Plant is located in Brindisi industrial area, east of the city centre. Costa Morena quays are located west of the power plant where coal and oil ships up to 35-40 kt tonnage can be docked.

The power plant is equipped with:

• 4 steam generators
• 4 steam turbines
• 4 condensers
• 4 generators
• 2 190 MVA main transformers for each one of units 1 and 2
• 1 370 MVA main transformer for each one of units 3 and 4
• 4 steel stacks, 60 m high

Today, only two out of the four units (no. 3 and 4) are in operation and are fed only with low sulphur coal. In addition to the electrostatic filters, units 3 and 4 were equipped with a denitrification system (DeNOx) to be operated in accordance with the provisions of the decree issued by the Ministry of Industrial Activities (MAP) in September 22, 2003.

THE TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

STEAM GENERATORS
The steam generators are of the forced crossing type with steam superheating and reheating. Each steam generator is equipped with five mills for coal grinding. Combustion air flows in the generator through two axial fans, having horizontal axis and swinging blades for flow rate regulation.

• Steam production: 1,078 t/h
• Superheated Steam Temperature: 540°C
• Steam Pressure: 177 Ata
• Reheated Steam Temperature: 540°C
• Reheated Steam Pressure: 45 Ata

STEAM TURBINES
The turbines have four cylinders arranged on one single axis: one high pressure cylinder, one intermediate cylinder, and two low pressure cylinders; the latter have double opposed flow to balance the axial thrust of the steam.
After a first expansion in the turbine, the steam flows back to the boiler, where it is reheated and re-inlet in the intermediate pressure cylinder for a second expansion: then, steam reaches the low-pressure cylinders and is discharged to the condenser.

• Inlet steam pressure: 170 Ata
• Inlet steam temperature: 538°C
• Inlet superheated steam pressure: 41.8 Ata
• Reheated steam temperature: 538°C
• Discharge steam pressure: 0.05 Ata

GENERATORS
The generators of Brindisi Power Plant have direct hydrogen cooling of the windings. The generator excitation is of the controlled diode, static type.

• Power output: 370 MVA
• Voltage: 20 kV
• Current: 10,681 A
• Power Factor: 0.9
• Frequency: 50 Hz
• Hydrogen Pressure: 4 Ata

MAIN TRANSFORMERS
The electrical swichtgear station of the power plant includes the main transformers (together with circuit breakers, disconnecting switches and bus bars). Both the 220 kV units 1 and 2, and the 380 kV units 3 and 4, are connected to the TERNA Brindisi substation.

This substation is connected to Taranto with two 220 kV powerlines and to Bari with a 380 kV powerline. Other powerlines at lower voltage are connected to the distribution electrical stations of minor towns.

CONDENSERS
Each condenser is of the surface type: it is equipped with two inlets and two discharges, so that it can be divided in two separate sections on the cooling water side.

• N° of tubes: 23,160
• Exchange surface: 18,800 m2
• Length: 10.8 m
• Condensate Well Capacity: 70 m3

INTAKE AND DISCHARGE CONSTRUCTIONS
The cooling water that flows in the condenser pipes is taken from the sea. The intake construction takes water from a clarification basin located on the sea in East-West direction, almost parallel to the shoreline. For each unit, two circulation pumps are installed, each one having 5.25 m3/s flow rate.
The discharge channel is made of reinforced concrete and is common to the four units.

FUELS
The plant has the possibility to be operated both with coal and fuel oil, or with a mix of both fuels. Oil tankers dock to Costa Morena pier where they unload the fuel oil that is stored in the tanks, through the oil pipeline. Coal is unloaded from coal barges at Costa Morena East pier. It is transported to the charging hopper and is fed directly to the boilers.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SYSTEM OF UNITS 3 AND 4
In addition to electrostatic filters (to reduce particulate emissions), units 3 and 4 were equipped with a urea flue gas denitrification plant since December 2004. Consequently, they are operated in accordance with the environmental provisions requested in MAP decree dated September, 22 2003. The flue gas denitrification plant consists of two sections (one for each unit) including the following main systems:

Urea charging and storage system consisting of the components enabling the loading and storage of aqueous solution urea lower than 50%;

Hydrolization reactor for the production of gaseous ammonia and its distribution up to injection nozzles placed upstream each single reactor;

Catalytic reaction system placed immediately downstream the boiler economizer, in which the flue gas, added with gaseous ammonia, flows through a catalyst mass in order to enable the reduction of nitrogen oxides;

TOMORROW

THE REVAMPING PROJECT
The Brindisi Power Plant revamping project consists in the installation - in place of the 320 MW conventional units 1 and 2 – of a combined cycle, natural gas fired, consisting of a gas turbine and of an existing steam turbine, for a total capacity of approximately 430 MW and in maintaining in operation the units 3 and 4 coal fired.

On this matter, Edipower communicated, with a public announcement dated December, 16 2004, the implementation of the request, dated 3 December 2003, of “pronuncia di compatibilità ambientale” (ruling of environmental compatibility) of the Ministry of Environment and Protection of the Territory and of the Ministry for Cultural Assets and Activities .

The project also includes:

• the installation of desulphuration plants (DeSOx) and filters for coal units;
• implementation of the coal handling system, which include the concentration of loading and unloading activities only in the quay in concession to Enel, the installation of closed conveyor belts for coal, particulate and gypsum transfer;
• the complete covering of coal bunker.

For the implementation of the revamping project, of which the authorization procedure is in progress, approx. 300 million Euro investments are planned

THE RETROFITTING OF UNITS 1 AND 2 INTO GAS TURBINE COMBINED CYCLE

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The design of the thermal cycle proposed for the retrofitting of units 1 and 2 into a gas turbine combined cycle includes one gas turbine unit, natural gas fired.

The heat contained in the flue gas of the gas turbine shall be used to produce steam in an appropriate heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) at three pressure levels: high pressure (HP), intermediate pressure (IP) and low pressure (LP).

The gas turbine combined cycle includes the combination of the existing steam turbine with a new gas turbine unit and HRSG.

DESCRIPTION OF THE THERMAL CYCLE

Gas turbine and generator
The gas turbine unit is suitable for continuous operation and is equipped with burners for dry NOx emissions control.
The generator voltage output is 20 kV. The generator is connected to the main transformer, which is connected to the high voltage systems of the electrical substation through fluid oil cables.

HRSG and steam turbine
The HRSG connected to the gas turbine produces steam at three pressure levels. After passing through the HRSG, the flue gas produced by the gas turbine are conveyed to the steel stack placed at top of the HRSG and then discharged to the air. To enable re-utilization and improve the performances, the existing generator and steam turbine shall be overhauled and modified.

Natural gas pressure reduction and filtration system
Natural gas is the only fuel used in the combined cycle.
In order to make the gas available to the gas turbine at required operation conditions (temperature, pressure, purity, etc.) , it is planned the installation of a treatment and pressure reduction station within the power plant. The system will include measurement, filtration, heating, interception and protection devices.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

For the management of a transient period of approx. two years, scheduled to implement final works included in the Brindisi Power Plant revamping project, some works have been already carried out. On 21 June 2005 these works were positively resolved by the “Technical Committee for impact on the environment of Brindisi power plants” made up by the Municipality, Province and Puglia Region.

The works carried out have been:

• use of Costa Morena East quay for coal unloading;
• coal storage at a coal bunker located at Capodistria with transfer to Brindisi through shuttles;
• the improvement of unloading equipment;
• truck washing in the port area and at the exit of the unloading area in the power plant;
• installation of a network of stations for the monitoring of particulate within the port area.

To reduce the emissions to the air, units 3 and 4 are equipped with:

• Electrostatic Filters (PE) to reduce particles emissions;
• Denitrification plants (DeNOx) to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions.

The emissions to the air of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate and carbon monoxide (CO) are continuously controlled and recorded through an Emission Monitoring System (SME); the measured values are monthly transmitted to the relevant control authorities.

The discharge on the ground of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate is detected by an Air Quality Monitoring Network (RRQA) consisting of five measurement stations. Three stations are located in Brindisi: in La Rosa, Casale and Brindisi centre locations. The other two stations are placed in Cerano and Tuturano municipalities. Recorded data are available in real time to the control authority via computer network.

The waste waters (acid/alkaline, oily, biological) are treated in a purposely designed plant (Waste Water Treatment Plant, ITAR). The recovery and recycling of treated water has been carried out for some years.

All activities that interact or may interact with the environment are managed in accordance with the ruling environmental standards and the available state-of-the-art techniques.

The management of the Thermal Power Plant has implemented an Environmental Management System that was certified according to the UNI EN ISO Standard 14001 in July 2004.The procedure with APAT (Agency for Environment Protection and Technical Services) for the registration according to the co-management and audit community system called "EMAS" is in progress.