MHD/steam combined cycle power plant: A technology update.

摘要

The MHD/steam combined cycle power plant concept involves burning fossil fuel at high temperatures ((approximately)5000 F), generating power with an MHD generator from the high temperature exhaust products and using a steam plant for conversion of the remaining thermal energy to electricity. The MHD portion is called the topping cycle and the steam plant is called the bottoming cycle. The system uses potassium seed, burned with coal and preheated and/or oxygen enriched air to achieve temperatures sufficient to provide some electrical conductivity in the combustion products by thermal ionization of the potassium atoms. conversion efficiency of the MHD generator is much higher that a steam cycle, typically 85--90%. The appeal of the combined cycle plant is much higher overall plant efficiency than other known technologies (up to about 55% in the mature plant), inherent control of SO2, NOx and particulates. SO2 can be reduced to a few parts per billion if desired and NOx can be reduced to 15--20% of current New Source Performance Standards. The purpose of this paper is to report the current status of development of the technology needed for the commercialization of plants using this concept. 9 refs., 11 figs.