UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY (UMaT),

TARKWA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

REPORT ON INDUSTRIAL FIELD TRIP TO TAKORADI INTERNATIONAL

COMPANY LIMITED (TICO)

BY

BOATEY MICHAEL

(INDEX NUMBER: BS422103820)

CLASS: EL 3

COURSE CODE: MC 257

COURSE INSTRUCTOR: MR. SETH OFORI

TARKWA, 2022

DECLARATION
I, BOATEY MICHAEL declare that this paper analysis is my own work. It is being submitted
to the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department of the University of Mines and
Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa. It has not been submitted for any examination in any other
University.

………………………………………………

(Signature of candidate)

…………… day of ………………………………………... (year)………………...

 ABSTRACT

This report focuses on a field trip to Takoradi International Company Limited (TICO). TICO
is a joint venture between TAQA and Volta River Authority Ghana, and operates the Takoradi
Thermal Power Station (TTPS) in Aboadze, a 330-megawatt combined-cycle power plant.
TICO's power plant produces approximately 15% of the country's total power capacity. The
field trip to TICO's power plant was a valuable learning experience. I was able to see first-
hand how a combined-cycle power plant works, and I learned about the different technologies
used to generate power.
 DEDICATION

This field trip report is dedicated to my lecturers, Mr. Seth Ofori and Dr. Attachie for their
guidance and support. I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this field trip,
and I am confident that the knowledge and skills I gained will be valuable to me in my future
career. I would also like to thank the staff at Takoradi International Company Limited (TICO)
for their hospitality and for giving us a tour of their power plant. I learned a lot about the
power generation industry, and I am grateful for the opportunity.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Almighty God for the gift of life. I would
also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Electrical Department their support and
assistance in making the field trip to Takoradi International Company Limited (TICO) a
success: My lecturers, Dr. Attachie and Mr. Seth Ofori, for their guidance and support.
The staff at TICO for their hospitality and for giving us a tour of their power plant. My fellow
students for making this field trip a memorable one. I am grateful for the opportunity to have
participated in this field trip, and I am confident that the knowledge and skills I gained will be
valuable to me in my future career.
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Objectives of the field trip

The main objective of the field trip is:

 To give students hands-on experience
 To teach student about environmental issues on the site
 To inform students about health and safety risk
 To teach students about environmental management.
 To teach students about the importance of safety.
 To help students apply classroom concepts to real-world situations.

1.2 Brief history of the TAQA Takoradi thermal power station

Takoradi International Company Limited (TICO) is a joint venture between TAQA and Volta
River Authority Ghana. It is the first independent power producer in Ghana and plays a vital
role in meeting the country's growing demand for electricity. The company's power plant is a
combined-cycle power plant, which means that it uses both gas and steam to generate
electricity. This type of power plant is more efficient than traditional coal-fired power plants
and produces lower emissions. TICO was founded in 1995 and its power plant in Aboadze
began commercial operations in 1997. The power plant was expanded in 2005 to increase its
capacity to 330 megawatts. In 2011, TICO was awarded the Energy Globe Award for its
commitment to environmental sustainability. The company is currently constructing a new
power plant in Takoradi, which is expected to be completed in 2024. TICO is committed to
environmental sustainability and has a number of initiatives in place to reduce its
environmental impact. These initiatives include: Using waste heat from the power plant to
generate steam for industrial use, Planting trees to offset carbon emissions, and Investing in
research and development of new technologies to improve the efficiency of the power plant

1.3 How power is generated at TICO

Takoradi International Company Limited (TICO) generates power through a combined-cycle

power plant. A combined-cycle power plant is a type of power plant that uses two different
methods to generate electricity: a gas turbine and a steam turbine. The gas turbine is the first
stage of the combined-cycle process. It uses natural gas to generate electricity. The hot
exhaust gases from the gas turbine are then used to heat water in a boiler, which creates
steam. The steam is then used to drive a steam turbine, which generates additional electricity.
The combined-cycle process is more efficient than traditional coal-fired power plants because
it uses the heat from the gas turbine to generate steam, which in turn generates additional
electricity. This makes combined-cycle power plants more environmentally friendly because
they produce lower emissions.

Fig. 1 Schematic flow diagram of combined cycle power plant.

The gas turbine is the blue box on the left. The steam turbine is the green box on the right.
The boiler is the red box in the middle. The heat exchanger is the yellow box between the gas
turbine and the boiler. The natural gas enters the gas turbine and is burned. The hot exhaust
gases from the gas turbine heat up the water in the boiler. The steam from the boiler then
drives the steam turbine, which generates electricity. The steam from the steam turbine is then
condensed and recycled back to the boiler. The combined-cycle process is more efficient than
traditional coal-fired power plants because it uses the heat from the gas turbine to generate
steam, which in turn generates additional electricity. This makes combined-cycle power plants
more environmentally friendly because they produce lower emissions. TICO's power plant in
Aboadze is a combined-cycle power plant with a capacity of 330 megawatts. The plant uses
natural gas as its fuel and generates electricity through the combined-cycle process. The plant
is a major contributor to Ghana's electricity grid and helps to meet the country's growing
demand for electricity.

1.4 Mission Statement

Be a low carbon power and water champion

1.5 Purpose

Power a thriving future by efficiently providing sustainable and reliable energy and water to
unleash the unlimited potential of people and places.

1.6 Vision Statement

To provide clean power and water that governments, businesses and consumers need for a
sustainable and successful life.

1.7 Values

TAQA builds an organisation that reflects the following core values:

 Safety: Put safety above all else

 Sustainable: Do what is right for the environment, community, and people
 Collaborative: Stronger together
 Innovative: Seek creative ways to deliver results
 Excellence: Strive for exceptional performance

1.8 Date visited and Facilities used

The field trip was embarked on the 15th September, 2022 to TAQA Ghana. The two hours
thirty minutes journey began at 7:00 am from the forecourt of the school’s library where the
class converged, together with one lecturer from the department, Mr Seth Ofori. On arrival,
the Environmental Compliance Officer, Mr Griffith Ewudzie Mensah briefed us about the
history of the power plant, its operation, production, and contribution to the society and the
nation as a whole. We were first taken through a safety induction process by Ing Griffith
Ewudzie Mensah in the conference room. After we had the opportunity to visit the intake
facility, electro-chlorination plant, pump house, water treatment plant, KV transformer, steam
turbine plant, combined cycle plant, gas turbine plant, and the boiler feed pump. The field trip
came to an end around 6:00 pm and we had our journey back to the school.
 CHAPTER 2

GENERAL OPERATIONS