NLC is implementing wind power farm of capacity 51 MW at Kazhuneerkulam in Tamil Nadu at an estimated cost of ₹ 347.14 crores. M/s LeitwindShriram Manufacturing Limited is the implementing agency and so far 29 nos. of Wind Turbine Generators (WTG) have been commissioned and the balance 5 Nos. are expected to be commissioned during the year 2016. Power Purchase Agreement has been signed with TANGEDCO.
The Government has allotted Talabira-II and III coal blocks in Odisha to power NLC which is looking to ramp up coal-based electricity generation capacity. NLC plans to have 19,000 MW capacity by 2025; projects to generate 6,000 MW from coal and 2,500 MW from lignite are underway.
NLC is expediting to set up a pit head coal-based power project in Odisha with the capacity of 3,200 MW. The power plant will entail an estimated investment of ₹ 17,000 crores, and is to be built at Tareikela near Jharsuguda in the western part of Odisha. This power plant would be linked to Talabira II & III coal block in Sambalpur and Jharsuguda district which has a mineable reserve of 553.98 Million Metric Tones. The thus annual capacity of the mine is 20 MTPA. Currently, the mine is being developed by NLC and its mine operator and developer, M/s Talabira Odisha Mining Private Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited.
Coldry and Matmor process – In this process, lignite is crushed and made into pellets which are dried using hot air, and then iron ore is added to make the pellets suitable as reduction agents in iron ore purification process.
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Upgradation of brown coal (UBC) - Reducing moisture in raw lignite at site and increasing calorific value will reduce the transportation cost and increase the fuel value. This will reduce auxiliary power consumption, CO2 emission and improve power plant efficiency and overcome the problem of spontaneous ignition while transporting lignite over long distances.
Underground coal gasification - To gainfully utilize the vast potential of lignite deposits which are uneconomical for conventional mining
Synthesis of zeolites from lignite fly ash – for removal of calcium from circulating water system
Dynamic loading of conveyors – energy conservation measure
Separation of iron from bottom slag of thermal power stations
Usage of bottom ash for construction purposes
High longevity coatings and alternate material for erosion and corrosion resistance
Development of fly ash-based pesticide
Collaborative research with premier technical institutes
Silica sand beneficiation plant
Centre for Applied Research & Development (CARD)
Centre for Applied Research & Development (CARD) is the in-house R&D Centre of NLC and has been recognised by the Department of Science & Technology since 1975.
The testing and R&D facilities were upgraded under a project (LERI) sponsored by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Vienna during 1995–2000. The main objective was to strengthen CARD to improve its capability to provide analytical, environmental monitoring, R&D, technology and services to industry and the Government. Under this project, services of national and international experts were utilised for lignite utilisation and opencast mines, power stations related problems and acquired sophisticated equipment, training and established combustion and gasification testing facilities.
The major functions of CARD are carrying out science & technology projects (Ministry of Coal), in-house S&T plan projects, pollution level measurements, quality control testing & consultancy services, pilot plant studies based on R&D and commercialization of technology developed, coordination of S&T projects taken by other NLC units, institutional services for students, special studies for operation and new schemes.
CARD is carrying out various R&D works on lignite utilisation, diversification, product development, by-product utilisation, solid waste management, wasteland reclamation, corrosion evaluation and prevention. For implementing these projects, CARD is associating with outside agencies like, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, CIMFR, TNAU, BHEL, Anna University, Madras University, Annamalai University, NIIST, VIT, NIT-Trichy, CECRI, VCRC-Pudhucherry, IRERC, and Kollam. Based on the R&D works, some of the processes have been scaled up to pilot plant scale. The projects include Ministry of Coal funded R&D projects as well as in-house S&T funded projects.
CARD has completed seventeen projects funded by Ministry of Coal and seventeen projects under in-house R&D. There are two on-going Ministry of Coal funded projects and nine on-going projects under in-house R&D and a study on upgradation of brown coal in association with M/s Kobe Steel Ltd., Japan with a funding from NEDO, Japan.
CARD/NLC has conducted extensive studies on mine spoil reclamation, integrated farming system, slope stabilization, ash pond reclamation, utilisation of fly ash, bottom ash and bottom slag.
Corrosion studies have been conducted in SME structures of mines to develop suitable coating material. Corrosion studies are also being conducted in SWC pumps to prevent erosion-corrosion due to adverse conditions in mining environment.
Testing facilities
CARD has a well-established analytical facility and is rendering analytical services towards quality control of various products/materials used in mines, power stations and other service units as well as outside agencies. The analytical testing facility includes lignite analytical, microbiology, material testing, environmental section, soil mechanical section, metal testing, paint testing, general analytical, petrography.
The sophisticated instruments available include scanning electron microscope with EDS, ED-X-RAY fluorescence spectrometer, elemental analyzer, TGA/DTA, heating microscope, inductively coupled plasma spectrometer, atomic absorption spectrometer, high pressure liquid ion chromatograph, nitrogen analyzer, fluorescence microscope, petrography microscope, metallurgical microscope, surface area analyzer, continuous ambient air quality monitoring system, and power quality analyzer. CARD facilities are available for internal use and utilized by other agencies like SAIL, BHEL, MECL, GSI, and STCMS.
