Research topic for master thesis related to energy conservation at power plant
Research topic for master thesis related to energy conservation at power plant
(OP)
I am planning to get admission in master degree so I want suggestions from you guys for research thesis especially related to energy conservation at power plant.As it is better to conserve available energy rather than energy generation because it costs a lot.I am currently working at power plant that's why i want to pursue my master in energy related field.
Your suggestion will be helpful for me
Thanks
Your suggestion will be helpful for me
Thanks





RE: Research topic for master thesis related to energy conservation at power plant
RE: Research topic for master thesis related to energy conservation at power plant
"...when logic, and proportion, have fallen, sloppy dead..." Grace Slick
RE: Research topic for master thesis related to energy conservation at power plant
RE: Research topic for master thesis related to energy conservation at power plant
The higher cycle efficiency available for base load designed CCGT units was made posible by the use of high Tit ( made possible by advanced gas turbine blade materials and very high efficiency compressor blade designs) , high steam pressures, double reheat steam cycles, wet compression for the CTG compressor, recovery of compressor work energy by use of a fuel gas heater or LP evaporator, and a variable speed BFP drive . Few of these design factors can be retrofit onto an existing CCGT plant. Also, these same design factors also hinder fast startups and worsen the fatigue damage that occurs during very fast startups.
Fast startups and low fatigue damage is typically achieved by using thin wall pressure parts ( which implies either a lower design pressure or the use of a once thru steam generator in lieu of a drum type unit), using design codes that recognize fatigue damage ( en 12952-3 annex C), installing mid wall thermocouples in thick pressure parts to monitor thermal stress during fast startups, 100% capacity HRH vent to atmosphere, final attemporators, electrically heated SCR NH3 heating gas, oversized demin storage tank, and fully automated startups . Some of these items can be retrofit, but these design objectives are different than the objectives used for a base load designed unit with a high capacity factor and a high cost of fuel gas.
"...when logic, and proportion, have fallen, sloppy dead..." Grace Slick
RE: Research topic for master thesis related to energy conservation at power plant
Items that could be retrofit on existing CCGT plants to improve efficiency may include:
a) compressor wet compression fogger nozzles, if permitted by OEM
b) VS BFP drive
c) VS ACC fan drives
d) improved ACC blades, as per Braunswerk ( netherlands)
e) control stack exhaust temperature to equal 5F over the acid dew point temperature , based on the average of the exhasut temp and the lowest tube metal temperature.
Coal fired plants have many areas that can be improved, but they are a dying breed, as MFJewell pointed out.
"...when logic, and proportion, have fallen, sloppy dead..." Grace Slick
RE: Research topic for master thesis related to energy conservation at power plant
That depends on the ISO and who owns the plant (merchant versus regulated utility). Many new CCGTs startup and run baseload for years because the heat rate is good enough that they are much more economical than running older units. At the last utility I was at, most of our CCGTs ran 70% or more capacity factor, so of the newest units were in the 90%+ range.