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Economic evaluation of MHD-steam powerplants employing coal gasification

Book ·
OSTI ID:4370515
To assess the efficacy and economics of producing power from coal, four open-cycle magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) processing schemes were selected for study. Each involved a different mode of coal combustion and level of gas cleanliness. The options considered were: (1) coal burned in a slagging combustor; (2) suspension gasification with slag removal prior to combustion; (3) parallel cyclone combustors, one operating fuel rich and the other operating with excess air; and (4) suspension gasification by the hot exhaust gases from the MHD duct with ash removed prior to combustion. Option 1 has the highest ash content in the combustion plasma and as a result would have the greatest operational difficulties associated with it. Options 2 and 4 have the cleanest MHD combustion plasma. For coal priced at ton, the power generating cost of Option 4, 11.78 mills/kW-hr, is the highest, with Option 1, at 9.04 mills/kW-hr the lowest. These costs may be compared with a conventional power cost of 9.92 mills/kW-hr for the late seventies. Capital costs of three of the four options were competitive with those of conventional thermal power plants employing stack gas SO/sub 2/ cleanup systems. Option 2 has the most favorable combination of operating characteristics and power cost. It was concluded that a clean, high- temperature working fluid can probably be produced from coal without leading to depressed system efficiencies and exorbitant capital costs. (auth)
Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-29-009636
OSTI ID:
4370515
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English