The Captive Power Plant at NALCO, Angul, is a coal-based thermal power plant and total generation capacity of 1200 MW. This educational industrial visit provided comprehensive understanding of captive power generation and its importance in energy- intensive industries like aluminium production. During the visit to NALCO Captive Thermal Power Plant, students not only observed the theoretical workflow of a thermal power plant but also connected it to practical units such as coal handling sections, high capacity boilers, steam turbines, cooling systems and the switch-yard which converts thermal energy to electrical energy. The highlight of this visit was NALCO's Control System where modern instrumentation and automation ensure safety, reliability and efficiency. Furthermore, centralized control, continuous monitoring, and synchronous workings of components provided key insights into the workings of the plant and helped students link theoretical concepts to their real world industrial applications. In conclusion, the visit provided valuable insights into the functioning, operation, safety, role and management of a captive thermal power plant.
