Advanced Power Plant Materials, Design, and Technology

As cheaper fossil fuel resources are exhausted and emissions criteria are tightened, utilities are turning to power plants designed with performance in mind to satisfy requirements for improved capacity, efficiency, and environmental characteristics. This work provides a comprehensive reference on the state of the art of gas-fired and coal-fired power plants, including their major components and performance improvement options. Part one critically reviews advanced power plant designs which target both higher efficiency and flexible operation, including reviews of combined cycle technology and materials performance issues. "… an indispensible reference for those who will be involved in the development of advanced power plants. It covers all of the bases including operational issues and environmental control." -- Professor Jim Skea, Research Director, UK Energy Research Centre, UK Part two reviews major plant components for improved operation, including advanced membrane technology for both hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) separation, as well as flue gas handling technologies for improved emissions control of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), mercury, ash and particulates. The section concludes with coverage of high-temperature sensors, and monitoring and control technology that are essential to power plant operation and performance optimisation. Part three begins with coverage of low-rank coal upgrading and biomass resource utilization for improved power plant fuel flexibility. Routes to improve the environmental impact are also reviewed, with chapters detailing the integration of underground coal gasification and the application of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage. Finally, improved generation performance is reviewed with coverage of syngas and hydrogen (H2) production from fossil-fuel feedstocks.

Table of Contents:
PART 1 ADVANCED POWER PLANT MATERIALS AND DESIGNS Advanced gas turbine materials, design and technology, J. Fadok, Siemens Energy Inc., USA Introduction. Development of materials and coatings for gas turbines and turbine components. Higher temperature efficiency operation. Design for hydrogen-rich gases. Design to run at variable generation rates. Future trends. Sources of further information. References. Gas-fired combined-cycle power plant design and technology, A. Rao, University of California, USA Introduction. Plant design and technology. Applicable criteria pollutants control technologies. CO2 emissions control technologies. Advantages and limitations of gas-fired combined-cycle plants. Future trends. Sources of further information. References. Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant design and technology, Y. Zhu, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and H.C. Frey, North Carolina State University, USA Introduction: types of integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants. IGCC plant design and main processes technologies. Applicable CO2 capture technologies. Applicable emissions control technology. Advantages and limitations of coal IGCC plants. Future trends. Sources of further information. References. Improving thermal cycle efficiency in advanced power plants: water and steam chemistry and materials performance, B. Dooley, Structural Integrity Associates, Inc., USA and R. Svoboda, Svoboda Consulting, Switzerland Introduction. Key characteristics of advanced thermal power cycles. Volatility, partitioning and solubility. Deposits and corrosion in the thermal cycle of a power plant. Water and steam chemistry in the thermal cycle with particular emphasis to supercritical and ultra-supercritical plant. Challenges for future ultra-supercritical power cycles. Acknowledgements. References. PART 2 GAS SEPARATION MEMBRANES, EMISSIONS HANDLING, AND INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGY FOR ADVANCED POWER PLANTS Advanced hydrogen (H2) gas separation membrane development for power plants, S.J. Doong, UOP, a Honeywell Company, USA Introduction. Hydrogen membrane materials. Membrane system design and performance. Hydrogen membrane integration with power plant. Hydrogen storage and transportation. Future trends. Sources of further information and advice. References. Advanced carbon dioxide (CO2) gas separation membrane development for power plants, A. Basile, Italian National Research Council, Italy, F. Gallucci, University of Twente, The Netherlands, and P. Morrone, University of Calabria, Italy Introduction. Performance of membrane system. CO2 membrane materials and design. Membrane modules. Design for power plant integration. Cost considerations. Sources of further information. References. Advanced flue gas cleaning systems for sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and mercury emissions control in power plants, S. Miller and B.G. Miller, The Pennsylvania State University, USA Introduction. Flue gas desulfurization (FGD). Selective catalytic reduction (SCR). Selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR). Hybrid SNCR/SCR. Activated carbon injection systems. Future trends. Sources of further information. References. Advanced flue gas dedusting systems and filters for ash and particulate emissions control in power plants, B.G. Miller, The Pennsylvania State University, USA Introduction. Materials, design and development for particulate control. Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs). Fabric filters. Future trends. Sources of further information. References. Advanced high-temperature sensors and smart sensor networks for combustion monitoring in power plants, M. Yu and A.K. Gupta, University of Maryland, and M. Bryden, Iowa State University, USA. Introduction. Combustion behaviour. Sensor considerations. Sensor response. Vision of smart sensor networks. Sensor information processing. Conclusions. Acknowledgements. References. Advanced monitoring and process control technology for coal-fired power plants, Y. Yan, University of Kent, UK Introduction. Advanced sensors for on-line monitoring and measurement. Advanced control. Future trends. Sources of further information. References. PART 3 IMPROVING THE FUEL FLEXIBILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND GENERATION PERFORMANCE OF ADVANCED POWER PLANTS Low-rank coal properties, upgrading and utilisation for improving the fuel flexibility of advanced power plants, T. Dlouhy, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic Introduction. Properties of low-rank coal. Influence on design and efficiency of boilers. Low-rank coal preparation. Technologies of low-rank coal upgrading. Utilisation of low-rank coal in advanced power plants. Future trends in coal upgrading. Sources of further information. Acknowledgement. References. Biomass resources, fuel preparation and utilisation for improving the fuel flexibility of advanced power plants, L. Rosendahl, Aalborg University, Denmark Introduction. Biomass types and conversion technologies. Chemical constituents in biomass fuels. Physical preparation of biomass fuels. Functional biomass mixes. Summary. References. Development and integration of underground coal gasification (UCG) for improving the environmental impact of advanced power plants, M. Green, UCG Engineering Ltd, UK Introduction. Brief history of UCG. The UCG process. Criteria for siting and geology. Drilling technologies and well construction for UCG. Integration with power plant. Environmental issues and benefits. Future trends. Conclusion and future trends. Sources of further information. Glossary. References. Development and application of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage for improving the environmental impact of advanced power plants, B. McPherson, The University of Utah, USA Introduction. Premise: capture and sequestration of CO2 from power plants. Fundamentals of subsurface CO2 flow and transport. Fundamentals of subsurface CO2 storage. Enhanced oil/gas and coalbed methane recovery. CO2 storage in deep saline formations. Comparison of storage options: oil/gas vs. coal vs. deep saline. General site selection criteria. Emissions versus potential subsurface storage capacity. Sealing and monitoring to ensure CO2 containment. Alternatives to geologic storage. Future trends. Sources of further information and advice. References. Advanced technologies for syngas and hydrogen (H2) production from fossil-fuel feedstocks in power plants, P. Chiesa, Politecnico di Milano, Italy Introduction. Syngas production from gas and light liquids. Syngas conversion and purification. Syngas and hydrogen from heavy feedstocks. Thermal balance of hydrogen production processes. Future trends. Sources of further information. References.