Integration of High Performance Power Systems (HIPPS) Into Vision 21

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy/Federal Energy Technology Center (DOE/FETC)-sponsored High Performance Power Systems (HIPPS) program headed by United Technologies Research Center has identified coal-based combined-cycle power systems using advanced technology gas turbines that could operate at efficiencies approaching 55% (HHV). The HIPPS uses a High Temperature Advanced Furnace (HITAF) to preheat combustion turbine air. The HITAF’s metallic air heaters include a radiator section located in the furnace slagging zone and a convection section located in the downstream portion. The compressor discharge air is heated to 925 C – 1150 C. Additional heat for the turbine, if required in the cycle, is added by special low-NOx gas-fired combustors. The HITAF design has been successfully tested at the desired temperatures for short durations at the Energy and Environmental Research Center, Grand Forks, ND, with tests continuing to expand the systems experience and capabilities. The HIPPS concept with its HITAF advanced air heater are valuable technology candidates for integration into Vision 21, the DoE’s evolving plan to utilize coal and other fossil fuels in energy complexes producing power, chemicals, process heat and other byproducts. For example, the HIPPS would be combined with high temperature fuel cells, e.g., the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), resulting in power systems having overall electrical efficiencies greater than 60% (HHV) with 50% or more of the energy input from coal. These power plants would have near zero emissions with a goal for power costs 10% below current coal-fired systems. Emissions of CO2, an important greenhouse gas, will be drastically reduced by the higher efficiencies of HIPPS cycles. Very important from a power and coproduction market viewpoint, HIPPS can be an attractive repowering technology. This will allow Vision 21 technology to be used in those plants that seek to continue using coal and other alternative solid fuels to capture the economic benefits of their low energy costs. Here, HIPPS adds high efficiency; increased capacity; load following and dispatching flexibility, as well as important environmental benefits to sites having existing fuel and transmission infrastructure.

High-temperature heat exchangers in indirectly fired combined cycle (IFCC) systems: materials management and performance improvement

“…The Brayton (gas turbine) cycle, which makes one-half of the electricity in the IFCC, is inherently more efficient than a Rankine (steam) cycle, because there is no loss of the heat of vaporization of the water to make steam in the Brayton cycle. Therefore, an IFCC system has the potential to be more efficient than a system based solely on the Rankine cycle (Robson et al, 2002).…”

Corrosion of MA754 and MA956 in a Commercial Aluminum Melter

“…The EERC has previously demonstrated a very high-temperature heat exchanger (HTHX) that could be used to produce pressurized air at up to 1090°C for an indirectly fired combined-cycle (IFCC) power plant. An IFCC using this type of heat exchanger has the potential to reach efficiencies of 45% when firing coal and over 50% when a natural gas-fired duct burner is used to additionally heat the gas entering the turbine, efficiencies similar to those of an integrated gasification combined cycle, but with operation almost identical to those of current pulverized coal (pc)-fired boilers [5,6].…”