Performance and risks of advanced pulverised coal plant (Nalbandian, 05-2008)

Experience and developments in supercritical (22.1-25 MPa, 540-580ºC) and ultrasupercritical technologies (>25 MPa, >580ºC) are discussed in this review. Benefits of utilising these technologies, such as reduced fuel costs, increased efficiency and therefore reduced total plant emissions including CO2, greater plant availability, reduced effect of part load operation, comparable cost with subcritical technology and finally, their capacity to be fully integrated with the appropriate new or retrofit CO2 capture technology, are assessed. Technological risks of supercritical and ultrasupercritical pulverised coal power plant, which are low are also presented. The technologies are commercially established with manufacturers routinely offering units with commercial guarantees. They are, however, subject to increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and face many permitting obstacles that are slowing down the pace of their introduction in some countries. However, the report shows that developed countries and emerging economies, such as China and India, are now installing supercritical power plant as standard. Remaining technical barriers are mostly related to moving to future systems with much higher steam temperatures and demonstrating CO2 capture and storage at full flow. Both issues are also discussed in the review. The report ends with a listing of approximately 500 supercritical and ultrasupercritical pulverised coal power units that are currently in operation, under construction and planned worldwide.