SWOT Analysis of Supercritical

1
SWOT Analysis of Supercritical
Ultra-Supercritical Power Plants

• Strengths
• High Thermal Efficiency
• Environment Friendly
• Significant breakthroughs in RD
• Lower fuel cost per unit of power
• Run-of-Mine Coal can be directly used

2

• Weaknesses
• Materials Limitation
• High levels of corrosion
• Increased supervision and maintenance costs
• Limited scope for retrofitting opportunities

3

• Opportunities
• Vast Scope for Power Plant capacities based on
  Supercritical Technologies
• Ever increasing demand for power
• Optimum use and higher dependence on domestic
  sources of energy

4

• Threats
• RD setbacks will restrict the growth
• Fossil Fuels are likely to be exhausted in not
  too distant a future
• More stringent environmental regulations
• Development of cheaper and more efficient
  sources of energy

5
CONCLUSION

• The current state-of-the-art for coal-fired
  supercritical steam cycles is 600C/300 bar
  maximum steam conditions, with a net thermal
  efficiency of about 45 (LHV, based on UK inland
  conditions). 620C plant are expected within
  five years while, in the longer term (10-20
  years). 650-700C is expected, with resulting
  cycle efficiencies in the range 50-55.
• Materials limitations are the major factors
  limiting further development, with key
  constraints at the furnace wall, superheater and
  reheater outlets, and the first stages of the HP
  and IP turbines. Considerable materials RD is
  under way in Europe, Japan and the USA.

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• Other developments are under way, mostly by
  individual manufacturers to optimise cycle design
  and improve individual components, which are
  resulting in incremental improvements across
  the plant.
• Identified RD needs include extensive materials
  research, particularly into the welding and
  corrosion properties of candidate
  high-temperature materials, and demonstration of
  a Benson vertical furnace tube.

7

• No significant opportunities for retrofit of
  supercritical technology to existing
  (Predominately subcritical) plant have been
  identified.
• FBCs using supercritical steam cycles are now
  being developed. For example, a 350 MW PFBC is
  under construction in Japan.

8

• The indications are that HRSGs will
  progressively move to once-through technology
  and then to supercritical pressures as GTs become
  larger and exhaust temperatures rise. The first
  full-scale subcritical demonstration Benson
  design HRSG is nearing completion in the UK.
• Supercritical technology is expected to
  progressively displace subcritical designs due
  to its better environmental performance and
  lower associated fuel costs. Asia is expected
  to generate the significant demand. Current
  estimates suggest a steady rise in new
  supercritical plant from 5GW pa now to perhaps
  25-40GW pa in 20 years time.