Power Generation OverviewTommy Waggoner

Generators

Illustration of a real power plant generator. Stator refers to the part that does not move, and rotor refers to the part that is rotated inside the stator. The rotor is a large electromagnet with windings inside to produce a magnetic field. As it rotates inside the stator, induced current is generated at the windings of the stator.

http://www.hk-phy.org/energy/power/act_ac_gen_e.html

Wind Generation

Wind Generation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbine

Wind Generation

http://www.siemens.com/press/pool/de/pressebilder/2012/photonews/300dpi/PN201204/PN201204-06e_300dpi.jpg

Wind Generation

Pros• No air or water pollution• Renewable Resource• “Free” fuel

Cons• Unpredictable output• Most available off-peak• Obstruction of views• Noise• Small capacity (1.5MW)• Kills wildlife (birds, bats,etc.)

Hydro Generation/Pumped Storage Hydro

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hydroelectric_dam.svg

Hydro Generation

Pros• No air or water pollution• Renewable• “Free” fuel• Benefits of man-made lakes

Cons• Susceptible to drought• Expensive to build• Environmental impact• Burdens of man-made lakes

Combustion Turbines

GPC’s Plant Robins

Combustion Turbines

Combustion Turbines primarily burn natural gas but they are flexible and can burn other fuels as well:

• Fuel Oil• Landfill Methane• Gasified Coal (IGCC)

Gas Fired Combustion Turbine Generation

Pros• Gas is cleanest fossil fuel

– Low NOx, SO2 and CO2

• Relatively low capital cost• Quick start capability

Cons• Non renewable• High operating costs

– Heat Rate ~12000 Btu/kwh

• Fuel Price is very volatile

Coal Fired Steam Plant

GPC’s Plant Scherer

Coal Fired Steam Plant

GPC’s Plant Scherer

Coal Fired Steam Plant

AirHeater

BottomAsh

Flyash

Gypsum

NOXCombustion

Controls

Bagh

ouse

(Hg)

(Act

ivat

ed C

arbo

nIn

ject

ion)

Fuel Changes

NewStack

Coal-Fired Boiler NOx & Hg ControlSCR

SO2 & Hg(acid gases)

ControlScrubber

Dust&Hg Control

ESPACI

Limestone

SNCR

Emission Control Technologies

Coal Fired Steam Generation

Pros• Typically, coal is a low cost fuel• Plentiful fuel supply• Large capacity• Reliable

Cons• High emissions (Nox, SO2, CO2)• Particulates• Non-renewable• Coal mining issues

– Safety– Environmental impact

Nuclear Steam Plant

SNC’s Plant Vogtle

Nuclear Steam Plant

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PWR_nuclear_power_plant_diagram.svg

Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR): Vogtle, Farley

Nuclear Steam Plant

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BWR_nuclear_power_plant_diagram.svg

Boiling Water Reactor (BWR): Hatch

Nuclear Steam Generation

Pros• No NOx, SO2 or CO2 emissions• Inexpensive fuel costs• Uranium is plentiful

Cons• High capital costs• Safety concerns• Radioactive waste

Combined Cycle Plant

Combined Cycle Plant

Combined Cycle Plant

Combined Cycle Plant

Combined Cycle Plant

Gas Fired Combined Cycle Generation

Pros• Gas is cleanest fossil fuel

– Low NOx, SO2 and CO2

• Comparatively low capital cost• Short startup time• High efficiency

– Heat Rate ~7000 Btu/kwh

Cons• Non renewable fuel• Fuel Price is very volatile

Q: Which Generation Type is Best?

A: All of the Above

1/1/

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4/10

/04

7/19

/04

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7/04

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4/19

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/10

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/10

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12/1

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/12

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$0.00

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$25.00 Comparison of Gas and Coal Volatility at Plant Barry

Barry 1 Coal Barry 6 Gas

Mar

gina

l Fue

l Pric

e ($

/mm

Btu)

Stack Report

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 45000 500000

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

NuclearCoalGasOil

Cumulative MW

Mar

gina

l Cos

t ($/

MW

h)

Winter

Spring / Fall

Summer

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11:00 AM

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1:00 PM

2:00 PM

3:00 PM

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5:00 PM

6:00 PM

6:59 PM

8:00 PM

9:00 PM

9:59 PM

11:00 PM0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

Customer Load

12:00 AM

1:00 AM

2:00 AM

3:00 AM

4:00 AM

5:00 AM

6:00 AM

7:00 AM

8:00 AM

9:00 AM

10:00 AM

11:00 AM

12:00 PM

1:00 PM

2:00 PM

3:00 PM

4:00 PM

5:00 PM

6:00 PM

6:59 PM

8:00 PM

9:00 PM

9:59 PM

11:00 PM0

5000

10000

15000

20000

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30000

35000

Customer Load

HydroCombustion Turbines

Nuclear

Coal

Combined Cycles