The new technology provides a 10-15 per cent reduction in carbon-di-oxide emission compared to sub-critical technology.
BHEL, the public sector major, is all set to showcase Advanced Ultra-Supercritical Technology (AUSC) that enables cleanest power generation from coal as a fuel.
Nalin Shinghal, CMD, BHEL inaugurated a two day ‘National Conference on AUSC Technology’, in Hyderabad to showcase the path-breaking R&D work being carried out under the AUSC technology development programme for the cleanest coal power generation.
Such higher efficiency is achieved by higher steam temperatures of 710/720oC instead of 540/600oC used in present power plant technology. The technology provides a 10-15 per cent reduction in carbon-di-oxide emission compared to sub-critical technology.
A consortium of BHEL, IGCAR and NTPC has been collaborating for the development of this technology. The R&D effort towards technology development is presently under progress.
Once deployed, the AUSC power plants will be the most efficient in the world. The fructification will provide a significant boost to country’s stand on climate change objective globally as it is an entirely voluntary initiative.
It will also enable the fulfilment of the NDC (nationally determined contributions) committed by India as part of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Further, there will be many in-tangible benefits in terms of a large number of spin-off technologies being developed which would be useful otherwise, development of a large cadre of technologists and confidence in indigenous technologies.
The conference is an attempt to consolidate the knowledge and know-how developed as a part of the R&D effort so far and also the work being carried out elsewhere in the world.
In addition to the three consortium partners, it will see participation from the leading national academic institutions, industry partners and material development companies.
The participants include IEA (UK), VGB (Germany), Energy Industries of Ohio (USA), IHI (Japan), Goodwin steel castings (UK), Voestalpine (Austria), Special Metals (USA) and Saarshcmiede (Germany), and leading component suppliers for the nickel alloys required to be extensively used considering the higher operational parameters.
The conference expects to engage with industry globally, especially the nickel alloys suppliers as the country prepares to build the world’s most efficient coal-fired power plant.
A 700 megawatt (mW) coal-fired power plant has been approved for development in Koh Kong’s Botum Sakor district by the Cabinet.
The $1.5 billion investment in the Independent Power Producer (IPP) plant is a venture by Cambodian tycoon Okhna Kith Meng’s Royal Group.
A source familiar with the investment said: “The project calls for the construction of a jetty to enable the shipment and unloading of imported coal to fire the power plant.
“It will take about four years to complete and 80 percent – 4,765.44 million – kilowatt hours a year of the power generated by the power plant will be sold to the Electricte Du Cambodge [EDC], the state owned utility company.”
The project has a 35-year operating licence and is to be undertaken on a “build-own-operate” basis.
“The investment funds for the project will comprise 30 percent injection by the company while the remaining 70 percent is expected to be from projects loan from development banks with an expected interest rate of 6.5 percent.
“The company has been mandated to undertake a rigorous environmental impact assessment on the proposed project site, including possible impact on the front where the jetty is to be constructed as well as pollution control,” the source said.
This is the second power plant project being undertaken by Royal Group. The first is the 400 MWs Lower Sesan 2 hydropower plant, located at Stung Treng.
This was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Hun Sen in December 2018 and has an investment capital estimated at $850 million.
The 230kV Transmission Line from the Project to Botum Sakor Substation. Supplied
In addition to the 700 MWs plant, the cabinet had also approved a 265 MWs coal power plant in Trapaing Prasad, Oddar Meanchey province, taking advantage of significant thermal coal deposits in the province.
This plant is expected to start generating power by between the end of 2021 and 2022 and is to be undertaken by Han Seng Coal Mines (HSCM) Co Ltd.
For the project in Oddarmeanchey, EDC must buy85 percent of the power produced power – the equivalent to 1,712,58 million kilovolts an hour per year. The form of investment is also build-own-operate with a business licensing period of 25 years.
Total investment capital is $294.30 million of which 30 per cent is from the company’s fund and the remaining 70 per cent is a bank loan with an interest rate of 6.5 per cent.
The company will enjoy nine years of free tax on income, starting from the date of commercial operation.
Han Seng Coal Mines is listed as a Cambodian registered company that specialises in mineral exploration.
An energy engineer familiar with coal -fired power plants told Khmer Times that that the latest two project approvals would bring to four the total number of coal-fired power plants in Cambodia, including one which is already in operation, one approved last year and the two approved last week.
By pushing the boundaries of power plant design in this manner, the fossil fuel industry will ensure that clean coal continues to play a pivotal role in the global energy mixture to the middle of the century and beyond.
In addition to the two power plants approved, the cabinet has also approved a 230 kilovolt grid link from the power plant in Trapaing Prasad connected to the sub-station in Siem Reap province.
The project is estimated to cost $61.45 million with a tax-exempt period of nine years and a business operations agreement for a period of 10 years.
Fossil energy is vital to the nation’s security, with coal serving as the fuel that produces nearly 30% of U.S. electricity. To ensure the continued success of this critical energy resource, NETL is funding advanced research to modernize the grid and improve the efficiency of the existing coal-fired power plant fleet, which strengthens the reliability of all our electricity generation.
In coal and other fossil fuel-based power plants, high-pressure, high-temperature steam drives turbines that spin electricity-producing generators. After exiting the turbine, steam moves through the condenser where it’s converted back into liquid so it can be re-heated and re-pressurized to be used again. Condenser performance is largely dependent on how efficiently cold tubes cool the steam and condense it back to liquid.
When steam contacts the metal tubes, a film or condensation can form. This layer acts as an insulator between the cold metal and steam, limiting heat transfer and lowering efficiency.
“Condensers can also have issues with fouling, which is the buildup of scale (deposits of hard minerals, corrosion and organisms) on interior and exterior cooling tubes, which further inhibits heat transfer,” said John Rockey, Technology Manager for Transformative Power Generation at NETL.
NETL is working closely with industry partners to address these issues. One promising technology moving forward has been developed by Oceanit Laboratories Inc. and tested extensively at the Hawaiian Electric Company’s Kahe generating station located just a short walk from Oahu’s Kahe Point Beach Park, a popular area for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Oceanit’s solution to improve efficiency is a coating called HeatX™, which is applied to the surfaces of condenser components. The ultrathin, non-toxic coating forces the condensing water to form into droplets that quickly roll off, rather than adhere to, condenser surfaces.
The company’s officials presented results from field tests at the 2019 International Pittsburgh Coal Conference. They concluded HeatX™ reduced fouling on condenser units, increased heat transfer rates and significantly extended the amount of time a unit can remain in service before it must be taken down for maintenance.
Kahe burns diesel fuel, which, like coal, is a fossil fuel, to produce electricity. Oceanit anticipates testing the coating at coal-fired power plants in 2020, according to Matthew Nakatsuka, the company’s technical lead for the project.
The project is one example of efforts taken by NETL to lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, and ensure a reliable supply of affordable electricity for U.S. consumers.
“Fossil fuels such as coal are abundant and inexpensive compared to other energy sources. But energy extraction from fossil fuels is only about 40%. Much of the potential energy is lost in the condenser,” Rockey explained.
“By improving the efficiency of the condenser, less fuel needs to be burned to achieve the same levels of energy output, lowering both consumption costs and emissions,” he added.