technology in

Thermal Power
plant

Presented by:
Chintan Patel (130070109011)
Mayur Gadhiya (130070109014)

The Basic Heat Cycle

Critical Point 3208psi/705F (373.88c)
Sub-Critical Steam Cycles : Water boiling to
steam with pressures below critical point
Super-Critical Steam Cycles: Water to
steam without boiling. Pressure above
critical point
Ultra-Supercritical Steam Cycles: Steam
temperatures above 1100 F (593.33c) as
defined by Electric Power Research
Institute (EPRI)
2

Generating Technology:
Ultra-Supercritical (USC) Pulverized Coal
Plants

What is USC Technology?

Defined by EPRI as Rankin Cycle
steam temperatures above 1100F
(593c)
Higher temperatures increase cycle
efficiency
USC technology is most efficient cycle
available for selected fuels (subbituminous coal)
Higher efficiency = Less emissions
IGCC is limited for sub-bituminous coal

Generating Technology:
Ultra-Supercritical (USC) Pulverized Coal
Plants

An ultra-supercritical (USC) steam

generation unit operates at supercritical
pressure (typically 3500 psi or higher) and at
steam temperatures above 1100 oF (593 oC).

For comparison, a conventional

supercritical unit operates at steam
temperatures of 1000-1050 oF (538-566
o
C).

Modern chrome and nickel-based super

alloys in the steam generator, steam
turbine, and piping systems can withstand
prolonged exposure to this high
temperature steam.
By operating at elevated steam
4

Generator Design for USC Unit:

Two-Pole, Three-Phase Synchronous
Machine
840 MVA Rating
Direct Hydrogen cooled field and
stator core
Direct water cooled stator windings

Supercritical Steam Generator

Contemporary supercritical steam generators
are sometimes referred as Benson boilers
the drum of boiler could be completely
eliminated if the evaporation separation
process was avoided altogether. This would
happen if water entered the boiler at a
pressure above the critical pressure (3,206
pounds per square inch, 22.10MPa); was
heated to a temperature above the critical
temperature (706F, 374C) and then
USC
Impact
ona Steam
Generator
expanded
(through
simple nozzle)
to dry
at some lower
subcritical pressure.
steam
High Temperature
Oxidation
Internal oxidation of boiler tubing above
1050 oF
Exfoliation of oxide layers leads to tube
pluggage and could damage turbine
blading.

Gaining Efficiency
Higher Pressure and Temperature

Critical
Point

Comparison
Ultra Supercritical
Supercritical

Temperature

1960 Vintage
Subcritical Reheat

Early 20th Century Vintage

Subcritical Non-Reheat

1940 Vintage Subcritical

Non-Reheat

Entropy

The principal advantages of

supercritical steam cycles
Reduced fuel costs due to improved thermal
are:
efficiency

Lower heat rate and lower specific fuel

consumption
and
hence
reduced
ash
generation
High part-load efficiency, higher adaptability
for sliding pressure operation
Plant costs comparable with sub-critical
technology and less than other clean coal
technologies
CO2 emissions reduced by about 15%, per unit
of electricity generated, when compared with
typical existing sub-critical plant
Very low emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx)
sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulates achievable

Analysis of Supercritical & UltraSupercritical Power Plants

Strengths:
High Thermal Efficiency
Environment Friendly
Fast startup time, faster load changes
Lower fuel cost per unit of power
Run-of-Mine Coal can be directly used

Weaknesses:
Materials Limitation
High levels of corrosion
Increased supervision and maintenance costs
Limited scope for retrofitting opportunities

Conclusion
Ultra-supercritical Pulverized Coal
Technology
Higher Temperatures = Better Efficiency
Better Efficiency = Less Emissions and
Less Carbon Dioxide
Metallurgy Currently Available for
Temperatures above 1100F (593c)
Equipment Suppliers Can Guarantee
Performance and Reliability
11

THANK
YOU