What is the primary purpose of economizers in power plants?

The primary purpose of economizers in power plants is to heat feedwater using gases of combustion. This component plays a crucial role in improving the overall efficiency of the steam generation process. By recovering waste heat from the flue gases produced during combustion, economizers preheat the water before it enters the boiler. This means that less fuel is required to bring the water to the boiling point, leading to reduced fuel consumption and lower operational costs.

Additionally, utilizing heat that would otherwise be lost to the atmosphere aligns with energy conservation principles and can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions without being the main focus. While other components in a power plant might target emission reductions, cooling steam, or increasing steam pressure, the specific function of economizers revolves around improving thermal efficiency by preheating the feedwater. This makes the steam generation process more efficient and effective overall.