The relative contribution of waste heat from power plants to global warming

Zevenhoven, Ron; Beyene, Asfaw

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2010.10.010

Cited by 73 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…horizontal vs vertical structure of buildings), surface albedo (Vahmani and Ban‐Weiss, ), types of construction materials (Santamouris et al , ), and sources of AH [e.g. waste heat from air‐conditioning (A/C) (Salamanca et al , ), power plants (Zevenhoven and Beyene, ), transportation and manufacturing (Sailor, ), etc. ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban meteorological modeling using WRF: a sensitivity study

Sharma

Fernando

Hamlet

et al. 2016

Intl Journal of Climatology

109

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This study explores the sensitivity of high-resolution mesoscale simulations of urban heat island (UHI) in the Chicago metropolitan area (CMA) and its environs to urban physical parameterizations, with emphasis on the role of lake breeze. A series of climate downscaling experiments were conducted using the urban-Weather Research and Forecasting (uWRF) model at 1-km horizontal resolution for a relatively warm period with a strong lake breeze. The study employed best available morphological data sets, selection of appropriate urban parameters, and estimates of anthropogenic heating sources for the CMA. Several urban parameterization schemes were then evaluated using these parameter values. The study also examined (1) the impacts of land data assimilation for initialization of the mesoscale model, (2) the role of urbanization on UHI and lake breeze, and (3) the effects of sub-grid scale land-cover variability on urban meteorological predictions. Comparisons of temperature and wind simulations with station observations and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer satellite data in the CMA showed that uWRF, with appropriate selection of urban parameter values, was able to reproduce the measured near-surface temperature and wind speeds reasonably well. In particular, the model was able to capture the observed spatial variation of 2-m near-surface temperatures at night, when the UHI effect was pronounced. Results showed that inclusion of sub-grid scale variability of land-use and initializing models with more accurate land surface data can yield improved simulations of near-surface temperatures and wind speeds, particularly in the context of simulating the extent and spatial heterogeneity of UHI effects.KEY WORDS urban heat island; lake breeze; urban meteorology; mesoscale modeling; land data assimilation; sub-grid scale land-use variability; WRF

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban meteorological modeling using WRF: a sensitivity study

Sharma

Fernando

Hamlet

et al. 2016

Intl Journal of Climatology

109

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“…27 Finding ways to divert residual heat to practical applications could assist thermal power generators in complying with heat discharge regulations that protect receiving water bodies. 25 Previous studies have shown that waste heat has a non-negligible impact on climate 28 and projected that substituting residual heat for primary energy could reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 13%. 5 Studies estimating the quality, quantity, and availability of residual heat are sparse in the literature.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantity, Quality, and Availability of Waste Heat from United States Thermal Power Generation

Gingerich

Mauter

2015

Environ. Sci. Technol.

152

107

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Secondary application of unconverted heat produced during electric power generation has the potential to improve the life-cycle fuel efficiency of the electric power industry and the sectors it serves. This work quantifies the residual heat (also known as waste heat) generated by U.S. thermal power plants and assesses the intermittency and transport issues that must be considered when planning to utilize this heat. Combining Energy Information Administration plant-level data with literature-reported process efficiency data, we develop estimates of the unconverted heat flux from individual U.S. thermal power plants in 2012. Together these power plants discharged an estimated 18.9 billion GJ(th) of residual heat in 2012, 4% of which was discharged at temperatures greater than 90 °C. We also characterize the temperature, spatial distribution, and temporal availability of this residual heat at the plant level and model the implications for the technical and economic feasibility of its end use. Increased implementation of flue gas desulfurization technologies at coal-fired facilities and the higher quality heat generated in the exhaust of natural gas fuel cycles are expected to increase the availability of residual heat generated by 10.6% in 2040.

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“…Electricity generation using fossil fuels contributes negative impacts to the environment, namely CO 2 emission [1,31], greenhouse effect [32,33] and global warming [34][35][36] and human health leading to diseases such as skin cancer, respiratory diseases, etc. In addition, fossil fuels are less reliable in the long term because of limited reserves [37] and provide economic growth because of the high oil price [38][39][40].…”

Section: The Worldwide Necessity For Renewable Energymentioning

confidence: 99%