Using Scenarios to Evaluate Technology Development Options for Power Generation Equipment

Author(s):  
Flavio J. Franco

The world of power generation is currently facing a number of challenges and uncertainties, caused by technical, economic, political, geographical and social factors. Manufacturers of power generation equipment have to design their strategies for technology development taking into account these challenges and uncertainties. They have to set goals for the medium and the long term, which involve the commitment of huge amounts of resources. At the same time, given the uncertainty of the future, they have to try to reduce their risks. Scenario-Based Planning is a methodology to deal with uncertainty in making decisions for the long term. It does not tell planners what will probably happen but helps them to understand what may happen through an understanding of the relationships of cause and effect within the environment of interest. Taking gas turbines as an example, this paper shows an application of the method to the evaluation of the markets related to different primary energy sources and different technologies, within power generation scenarios given by the IEA and scenarios proposed in previous papers by the author. Although current power generation gas turbines are predominantly designed to burn natural gas, developments based on other primary energy sources will require gas turbines to run with different fuels (synthetic gas or hydrogen, for example), helium or CO2 (in high temperature nuclear reactor systems) or hot air (in hybrid solar thermal power systems). Wind power may also require backup from gas turbines, probably incorporating significant fuel flexibility. An estimate of the value of the potential markets related to these different applications of gas turbines is made in this paper. Historical and estimated experience curves for the technologies of interest and their dependence relationships are used in this analysis, with a system dynamics model as described in [1].

Author(s):  
Flavio J. Franco

There is a large number of studies about energy long term trends and policies, published by national and international government organisations. Commercial companies, particularly manufacturers of power generation equipment, can take benefit of these studies to test the robustness of long term technology development strategies. Scenario Planning and System Dynamics have been used by the government organisations to study energy policies. In this paper an application of this methodology is proposed for manufacturers of power generation equipment, in particular gas turbine manufacturers. A generic company is used as an illustrative example, against scenarios produced by the International Institute for Applied System Analysis. A System Dynamics model is proposed, simplifications and assumptions are discussed, the type of results that can be obtained is shown and some recommendations are suggested for the construction of more realistic models.


Author(s):  
Flavio J. Franco

Several national and international organizations publish long term studies of possible future evolutions of primary and final energy consumption, installed power generation, adoption of new energy technologies and greenhouse gas emissions, for example, in the form of ‘scenarios’. Which scenario or combination of scenarios will come true depends on many factors, not least the choice of technologies to be developed and the amount of resources put into the development of the chosen technologies. Power generation equipment manufacturers thus have a strong influence on how the future of the energy world will unfold, through their technological choices and the investments they make to develop the technologies. However their own future also depends on how external factors evolve, including, for example, public opinion, economics, population growth, competitor technologies etc., which are also considered in the aforementioned scenarios. In this paper a discussion is made of the aspects of scenarios described in the literature that are relevant for technology strategic management within the time scales usually considered by commercial organizations. As a result, two scenarios are proposed, based on those presented by the International Energy Agency and on data from other sources.


Author(s):  
J. E. Donald Gauthier

This paper describes the results of modelling the performance of several indirectly fired gas turbine (IFGT) power generation system configurations based on four gas turbine class sizes, namely 5 kW, 50 kW, 5 MW and 100 MW. These class sizes were selected to cover a wide range of installations in residential, commercial, industrial and large utility power generation installations. Because the IFGT configurations modelled consist of a gas turbine engine, one or two recuperators and a furnace; for comparison purpose this study also included simulations of simple cycle and recuperated gas turbine engines. Part-load, synchronous-speed simulations were carried out with generic compressor and turbine maps scaled for each engine design point conditions. The turbine inlet temperature (TIT) was varied from the design specification to a practical value for a metallic high-temperature heat exchanger in an IFGT system. As expected, the results showed that the reduced TIT can have dramatic impact on the power output and thermal efficiency when compared to that in conventional gas turbines. However, the simulations also indicated that several configurations can lead to higher performance, even with the reduced TIT. Although the focus of the study is on evaluation of thermodynamic performance, the implications of varying configurations on cost and durability are also discussed.


Author(s):  
David Chiaramonti ◽  
Anja Oasmaa ◽  
Yrjo¨ Solantausta

Biomass fast-pyrolysis oil (PO) is a liquid biofuel derived from lignocellulosic biomass: it offers several advantages compared to the direct us of solid bio fuels, such as high energy density, storability and transportability typical of liquid fuels, possibility to use the fuel in engines and turbines, easier downscaling of plants (which is a very important aspect for decentralized energy generation schemes). In addition, PO is the lowest cost biofuel, thus offering the possibility to penetrate also the large scale power generation market. Biomass POs have been studied and applications tested for many years, either for heat generation in medium-scale boilers or power generation. The present works reviews and analyses the most relevant experiences carried out so far and published results in power production from biomass PO. Power generation systems (PGS) which are here examined are gas turbines, diesel engines, stirling engines, as well as co-firing applications in large scale power plants (coal or natural gas plants). The main techniques for upgrading this biofuel and their impact on technologies are also shortly introduced and considered. The current status of development for each PO-based power generation option is discussed. This review work showed that long term demonstration (either technical or economical) is however still needed, even for the most developed technologies (use of PO in modified gas turbines and cofiring in natural gas stations): projects are on going to achieve long term demonstration.


Author(s):  
Michel Moliere ◽  
Matthieu Vierling ◽  
Rich Symonds

As investments in power additions are under scrutiny, the viability and sustainability of generation projects are increasingly challenged by planners, and the debate about the most appropriate primary energy and prime mover is renewed with a sharper focus. Faced with limited forecasts on future growth, today’s power generators are looking cautiously at power addition blueprints and placing increased emphasis on equipment versatility and fuel flexibility in a move to eliminate single fuel reliance. Heavy duty gas turbines (HDGTs) can mitigate the uncertainty about operation factor and plant capacity thanks to versatile and modular installation schemes; in addition, they open the door to large clusters of alternative primary energies. In this context, it is important to note that liquid fuels are making a comeback in the power generation scene. This is due to the tactical advantages inherent to liquid fuels such as multiple sourcing, ease of transportation, and existing infrastructures. Liquid fuels as primary energies cover a wide product range from Super Light Hydrocarbons (naphtha, gas condensates and natural gas liquids) to ash forming fuels through aromatic cuts (BTEX, C9+), heavy distillates, synfuels, gasification derivatives (methanol & dimethyl ether: DME) and biogenic fuels (ethanol, biodiesel). This paper stresses the importance of fuel flexibility as a requirement for plant versatility and offers a review of the main liquid fuels that are accessible to gas turbines.


2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Kasperek ◽  
Mirosław Wiatkowski

Abstract Adopted in 2009, the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources sets out the rules for how Poland is to achieve the 15% target of total primary energy from renewables by 2020. However, there are fears that the goals set out in this Directive may not be met. The share of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in national energy consumption (150 TWh) is estimated at 8.6 TWh in 2009 and 12 TWh in 2011 (5.7 and 8% respectively). The level of RES in Poland until 2005 was approx. 7.2%. The analysis of RES technologies currently in use in Poland shows that in terms of the share in the total capacity, the 750 hydro-electric power plants which are currently in operation (with the overall capacity of almost 0.95 GW) are second only to wind power stations (2 GW). The authors have studied the Nysa Klodzka River in terms of possible locations for hydro-electric facilities. Eight locations have been identified where power plants might be constructed with installed capacities ranging from 319 to 1717 kW. The expected total annual electric power generation of these locations would stand at approx. 37.5 GWh.


2014 ◽  
Vol 716-717 ◽  
pp. 1156-1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Xing Zhang ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Zhi Hui Cao ◽  
Jin Song Liu ◽  
Xin Xin Gu

At present, China has built a number of DG (distributed power generation) demonstration projects as part of intelligent cities, intelligent business parks, university campuses and residential areas. The interaction mechanism, among DGs-especially those with energy storage, the users and the distribution grid need to be clear; i.e. how to unify the coordination among solar power systems, small wind power generation systems, the battery energy reserve systems, and electrical vehicles, so as to optimize resources allocation, cut peak and compensate trough loads; how to enable future homes and business users has more flexibility, controllability on electricity usage thus to advance the technology development in the field of electricity usage. The above mentioned problems can be solved smoothly by researching on the comprehensive use of modern power electronic technologies, communication technologies, computer and network technologies, advanced sensor and measurement & control technology, to combine them together for monitoring, protection control, cloud computing , and management of power supply department for active distribution network after DG access, to constitute the comprehensive dispatching system based on the DG of cloud computing. Dispatching of DG for distance dispersion location and a huge number of terms, to based on the cloud computing is very cost-effective, and it is worthy of further study and application.


Author(s):  
Dohee Hahn ◽  
Yeong-Il Kim ◽  
Yong Wan Kim

In order to provide a consistent direction to long-term R&D activities, the Korea Atomic Energy Commission (KAEC) approved a long-term development plan for future nuclear reactor systems which include sodium cooled fast reactor (SFR) and very high temperature reactor (VHTR) on December 22, 2008. The SFR system is regarded as a promising technology to perform actinide management. The final goal of the long-term SFR development plan is the construction of an advanced SFR demonstration plant by 2028. The nuclear hydrogen project in Korea aims at designing and constructing a nuclear hydrogen demonstration system by 2022 to demonstrate its hydrogen production capability. This paper summarizes the overall long-term project plans for SFR and VHTR technology development and explains results of detailed design studies with supporting R&D activities.


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