Sample News Story
Power Companies Go For Greater CCGT Efficiencies
28/04/1998
The Tokyo and Chubu Electric Power Companies are moving to yet higher gas turbine inlet temperatures for new and refurbished plant as their technologies improve and the achievement of higher temperature yields improves efficiency. Tokyo Electric is moving from second generation plant with 1,300° (Centigrade) inlet temperature to 1,450° for its fourth combined cycle power plant at Futtsu, where construction of the new unit will start in fiscal 1998.
The same technology will be used in the refurbishment, also due to start in fiscal 1998, of Kawasaki thermal power plant, which is currently equipped with older and less efficient gas turbines. This will increase thermal efficiency to 52.8%. These are changes from earlier plans: originally, second generation plant was to be used, with an inlet temperature of 1,300°, but Tokyo Electric is now prepared to move into the more advanced technology, which will also contribute to lower emissions.
Cut consumption Meanwhile, Chubu Electric, following the lead of Tohoku Electric, is considering adopting a 1,500° system for its new, eighth, plant at its Shin-Nagoya site, which is scheduled to start operating in 2002. The company estimates the thermal efficiency will be about 51%, compared with 48.5% for its two newest operating plants, which are the most efficient plants owned by the company at present. Chubu Electric Power Company President Ota sees the 1,500° system as the mainstream of gas-fired power generation, and one which will contribute to further cost reductions; an improvement of 1% in generating efficiency translates into a reduction of annual fuel consumption of half a million kilolitres.