Woodhead Publishing Advanced Power Plant Materials, Design and Technology (Woodhead Energy Series) (Woodhead Publishing Series in Energy)

Fossil-fuel power plants generate the majority of the worlds power, but many plants are ageing and cannot meet rising global energy demands and increasingly stringent emissions criteria. To ensure security and economy of supply, utilities are building a new generation of advanced power plants with increased output and environmental performance. This book initially reviews improved plant designs for efficiency and fuel flexibility, including combined-cycle technology and utilisation of lower-grade feedstocks. Coverage extends to advanced material and component use, and the incorporation of alternative energy conversion technology, such as hydrogen production. Environmental and emissions performance issues round off the book. Key Features: provides a comprehensive reference on the state-of-the-art gas-fire and coal-fired power plants, their major components and performance improvement options; examines major plant components for improved operation as well as flue gas handling technologies for improved emissions control. Contents: Part 1 Advanced power plant materials and designs: Gas turbine technology; Gas-fired combined-cycle technology; Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology; Improving thermal cycle efficiency in advanced power plants. Part 2 Gas separation membranes, emissions handling, and instrumentation and control: Hydrogen (H2) gas separation; Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas separation; Flue gas cleaning for SOx, NOx and mercury emissions control; Flue gas dedusting systems for ash and particulate emissions control; Sensors for combustion monitoring; Monitoring and process control technology. Part 3 Improving the fuel flexibility, environmental impact and generation performance of advanced power plants: Low-rank coal utilisation; Biomass utilisation; Underground coal gasification (UCG); CO2 storage; Syngas and H2 production from fossil-fuel feedstocks.