On November 29th, JI students in the Advanced Energy Solutions course (Vm433) visited Shanghai Wujing Power Plant with the course instructor, Dr. Kwee-Yan Teh, and Corporate Relations and Career Counselor, Ms. Candy Liu.
The students received a warm welcome from the power plant engineers, led by Chief Engineer Mr. Xiaofeng Li.  After a safety briefing, the group visited two new 300-MW coal-fired steam turbine-generator units (Units 8 and 9) at the power plant. The Wujing hosts introduced the major components of the power plant in detail and answered questions patiently, which provided the students a good opportunity to learn about the process of producing electricity.
After visiting the plant, the students and engineers reconvened at the conference room, where discussion continued concerning the day-to-day operation of the power plant, maintenance, pollution control, and electricity transmission. The students also raised questions about the current status of coal electricity generation in China. The Wujing engineers shared their expert opinion and outlook of the Chinese coal power industry.
The visit helped the students integrate what they have learned in the classroom with actual power plant operation and electricity generation.

Background Information

Advanced Energy Solutions Course
This mechanical engineering elective course aims to introduce conventional and advanced energy technologies, and to develop quantitative understanding of these technologies through the application of thermodynamic principles.  The systems studied and analyzed include gas turbine, steam turbine, combine-cycle power plant, fuel cells and hydrogen production.
Wujing Power Plant
The Wujing coal-fired power plant is one of Shanghai’s largest power plants. The power plant is located by the Huangpu River in MinHang District, has net generating capacity of 950 MWe, and also co-generates process steam for neighboring Wujing petrochemical plants.