Published December 2008
Coal has consistently accounted for about 40 percent of the world’s total electricity generating capacity since the early 1970s and it will most likely remain an important fuel source for electrical power generation for many years. However, there is growing awareness of the environmental impact associated with its use. This review examines major technical and economic aspects of coal-fired power plants based on our conceptual design of a supercritical pulverized coal (SCPC) plant employing a state-of-art steam generator firing PRB coal, an air quality control system and a steam turbine. The study is based on a nominal 550 MW (net) pulverized coal (PC) unit without carbon capture.
This review is designed to help technology providers and electrical power producers select state-of-the-art and emerging technologies for PC plants suited to meet near-term market needs of low cost power generation and reducing emissions to meet latest state and federal air quality requirements while also anticipating future limits on carbon dioxide emissions.
