Supercritical plants achieve higher cycle efficiencies, which translates directly into lower power costs through lower fuel costs and cleaner power through lower emissions per unit of power generated. The global power industry has made significant advancements in supercritical plant designs over the five decades these units have operated. Advancements include steady increases in steam temperatures/pressures, the introduction of sliding pressure operation and continuous material improvements. These gains have been proven over a range of installed units operating in both base load and two-shift mode operation at outputs up to 1000 MW electric.rnThe first supercritical boilers in Asia entered operation in the mid 1980s. These units successfully demonstrated the ability to achieve high performance and efficiency with a range of Asian coals. In the last 5 years, the Asian power industry has implemented plans to add a substantial number of supercritical boilers to the grid over the next 5 years. They have the potential to make significant contributions to the overall efficiency, reliability, and environmental performance of power generation in Asia.rnThis paper presents the latest advancements in supercritical boiler designs. Start-up, base load, and two-shift operating modes are discussed. Current materials and material developments necessary for advancing supercritical technology are also discussed. These are important issues for power plant owners and designers who are considering adding new supercritical units to their fleet. Finally, installed designs and field experience from recently commissioned 660 MW, 800 MW, and 900 MW units are reviewed.
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