Comparative Economics of Indirect and Direct Dry/Wet-Peaking Cooling-Tower Systems. Final Report

摘要

The results of studies performed to determine the comparative economics of indirect and direct dry/wet-peaking cooling tower systems for 200-MW to 1000-MW coal-fired power plants at a semi-arid western United States site are presented. Comprehensive computer analyses were performed to optimize the design and evaluate the performance and economics of the alternative dry/wet-peaking cooling tower systems for a range of fuel and water costs and makeup water requirements. The direct dry/wet-peaking tower system evaluated better than the indirect dry/wet-peaking tower system over the entire range of design and economic criteria considered. The use of direct dry/wet-peaking tower systems requiring less than 40% of the makeup water required by a conventional wet cooling tower system was estimated to increase total busbar energy production costs by as little as 1.2% to 3.3%, depending on fuel and makeup water costs, compared to a base case conventional wet tower system. A preliminary economic comparison showed little difference between the economics of a direct dry/wet-peaking cooling tower system and the most promising advanced concept ammonia-based dry/wet cooling system currently under development. The results of these studies should add significantly to the data base available to utilities for use in the preliminary evaluation and selection of the most economically viable water-conserving cooling for a given application. (ERA citation 08:031598)