Vinh Tan 4 is a 1,800MW super-critical thermal power plant developed by Vietnam Electricity (EVN) in Binh Thuan, Vietnam.
The plant was originally designed to have a capacity of 1,200MW (2 x 600MW) and estimated to cost VND36.72t ($1.62bn).
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An expansion of the plant was announced in October 2015 in order to add 600MW at a cost of approximately VND24t ($1.1bn).
The ground-breaking ceremony for the Vinh Tan 4 power plant took place in March 2014.
The first unit began commercial operations in December 2017, followed by the second unit in October 2018. The Vinh Tan 4 extension plant was inaugurated in September 2019.
Vinh Tan 4 is one of four power plants planned for development within the Vinh Tan power complex (6,224MW), which is located in the Vinh Tan Commune in the Tuy Phong District of Binh Thuan.
The Vinh Tan power complex is expected to generate a combined annual output of 12 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) to power the South-Central region and Southern provinces.
Vinh Tan 4 thermal power plant make-up
Vinh Tan 4 power plant combines conventional condensing technology with super-critical parameters to fire bituminous / sub-bituminous coal procured from Indonesia and Australia.
It comprises an ultra-super-critical, single reheated boiler, which has a steam output of 1,755tph.The boiler operates at superheat pressure of 25.75bar and a temperature of 568.9°C.
Vinh Tan 4 also includes a Toshiba steam turbine generator, which can generate steam at a pressure of more than 240bar.
The introduction of super-critical technology enables the plant to generate electricity in a more efficient and eco-friendly manner.
The plant is also equipped with advanced technologies for reducing environmental pollution and NOx and SOx removal, as well as wastewater treatment to meet both Vietnamese and international criteria for environmental protection initiatives.
Vinh Tan 4 extension project details
The 600MW coal-fired extension project was announced as a part of Vietnam’s Power Development Master Plan VII and features among the most urgent investment projects planned for development between 2013 and 2020.
It is located adjacent to the other two units and consists of one boiler, one steam generator, and one turbine unit.
The extension uses conventional steam, thermal power, and super-critical steam to generate power.
Power generation and transmission details
Vinh Tan 4 plant mixes coal with fuel and air in a boiler to generate high-pressure steam, which is transported to the steam drum where it is overheated and forwarded to the high-pressure turbine.
The steam current is then dilated to generate the forces required to rotate the turbine.
Residual heat from the high-pressure turbine is sent back to the boiler for overheating before transporting to the medium-pressure turbine.
Steam from the medium-pressure turbine is dilated and forwarded to the low-pressure turbine.
The dilated steam and generating forces turn the turbine wings, which, in turn, starts the electric generator and produces electricity to be sent to the power grid.
The power generated by the Vinh Tan 4 thermal power plant is transmitted to the Vinh Tan substation via a 1,293m-long, 500kV double-circuit transmission line.
The main transformer of the first unit of Vinh Tan 4 thermal power plant was successfully energised on 12 July 2016, while the second unit was connected to the national power system in December 2016.
Coal handling at Vinh Tan 4 thermal power project
Vinh Tan 4 plant uses approximately 2.8Mt of coal, which is imported by 100,000dwt ships to the coal jetty.
The coal is unloaded and transported to the coal yard by conveyor belts before being delivered to the bunker bay in the main station building via a bucket-wheel stacker / reclaimer.
Funding for the Vietnamese thermal power project
The Korean Eximbank (KEXIM), the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-Sure), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) are jointly funding 85% of the $1.36bn engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the Vinh Tan 4 power plant.
JBIC granted a loan of $202.9m for the thermal power plant, while the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi (BTMU) granted $136m.
JBIC and the BTMU provided funds to EVN for purchasing the main equipment from Mitsubishi and Toshiba for the project.
Contractors involved
A consortium, comprising Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, Mitsubishi Corporation, Pacific Corporation, and Power Engineering Consulting Joint Stock Company 2, was awarded the $1.36bn EPC contract for the power plant in December 2013.
The same consortium also won the EPC contract for the Vinh Tan 4 extension project in March 2016.
Mitsubishi supplied the steam turbine and generator as part of the EPC contract, and Doosan was responsible for the project’s boiler supply and site development.
Power Engineering Consulting Joint Stock Company 3 (EVNPECC3) acted as the owner’s engineer, while Toshiba Corporation supplied the steam turbines and generators.
Tagi Logistics performed barging, roll-off, and trucking of the transformer, while Sarens was contracted by Tagi Logistics for the installation of a generator stator.
Construction Corporation No1 (civil work and structural steel erection works), VINAINCON (plumbing work and CBB building), PECC2 and Pacific (ancillary equipment), ABB (Symphony Plus plant automation system), and Lilama10 Joint Stock Company were also involved in the project.
