A Probabilistic Analysis of The Impact of Emission Regulation on The Economic Operation of A Cogeneration Plant

摘要

As the power technology evolves and regulatory environment changes, new generations of power production facilities are also being designed and placed into service. After the demand for large-size nuclear plants disappeared in the 80's, a new fleet of smaller combined-cycle or cogeneration stations joined the force of power production. At the same time, more stringent environmental regulations have gradually become effective, especially after early 1990's. To meet these stricter environmental requirements, new technologies for emission control have regularly been introduced to fossil plants. With the use of improved combustion gas turbines, the capacity factor for many of these new plants can easily exceed 90%. Furthermore, air-conditioning equipment is also used to enhance the thermal efficiency of these gas turbines by providing a more optimal level of gas turbine inlet air temperature. To ensure that the plant can achieve an economic operation while coin-plying with the environmental regulations, a probabilistic analysis of the impact of emission control limits on the plant capacity factor was performed during the design stage of a natural gas-fueled combustion turbine combined-cycle cogeneration facility. The plant was planned to be used in standby peaking operation on a demand or continuous basis. The primary purpose of the analysis was to determine the expected capacity factor, which was then compared with the minimum capacity factor required contractually. The analysis was first performed without considering the emission control limits. Then, it was analyzed again with consideration of the emission regulation. This stuciy was also aimed to identify the major contributors to plant unavailability, to recommend actions to improve the plant capacity factor, and to provide basis for economic tradeoffs of design, operation, and maintenance options.