Coal Electricity Generation Efficiency

High efficiency low emission coal.

Coal electricity generation efficiency.

In a dcfc electricity is generated directly from coal through the chemical oxidation of coal which has been ground and purified of ash and other contaminants. Moving the current average global efficiency rate of coal fired power plants from 37 5 to 47 5 by deploying more advanced off the shelf technology could cut two gigatonnes of co2 emissions. Coal based power accounts for almost 41 of the world s electricity generation. In the early days of electricity generation from coal at the end of the 19th century the piston engines that were used at the time operated at about 1 efficiency according to schilling.

For example a coal power plant with a heat rate of 10 000 btu kwh has a thermal efficiency of 3 412 10 000 or 0 3412 34 12. For electricity generation based on steam turbines 65 of all prime energy is wasted as heat. Coal fired power plants operate on the modified rankine thermodynamic cycle the efficiency is dictated by the parameters of this thermodynamic cycle. Combined with ccs hele technologies can cut co2 emissions from coal fired power generation plants by as much as 90 to less than 100 grams per kilowatt hour.

This technology is widely promoted as being able to generate electricity with much higher thermal efficiencies 70 80 than engines and turbines 35 55. Most of the large power plants operate at steam pressures of 170 bar and 570 c superheat and 570 c. Coal fired power plants currently fuel 37 of global electricity and in some countries an even higher percentage. Coal fired power plants currently fuel 37 of global electricity and in some countries an even higher percentage.

The overall coal plant efficiency ranges from 32 to 42. Coal plays a vital role in electricity generation worldwide.