Thermal Power Plants In China Research Articles

Economic analysis of coal price–electricity price adjustment in China based on the CGE model

In recent years, coal price has risen rapidly, which has also brought a sharp increase in the expenditures of thermal power plants in China. Meantime, the power production price and power retail price have not been adjusted accordingly and a large number of thermal power plants have incurred losses. The power industry is a key industry in the national economy. As such, a thorough analysis and evaluation of the economic influence of the electricity price should be conducted before electricity price adjustment is carried out. This paper analyses the influence of coal price adjustment on the electric power industry, and the influence of electricity price adjustment on the macroeconomy in China based on computable general equilibrium models. The conclusions are as follows: (1) a coal price increase causes a rise in the cost of the electric power industry, but the influence gradually descends with increase in coal price; and (2) an electricity price increase has an adverse influence on the total output, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Electricity price increases have a contractionary effect on economic development and, consequently, electricity price policy making must consequently consider all factors to minimize their adverse influence.

Study on the Water Conservation Management Measures in Thermal Power Plants

First, the water consumption actuality of the electric power industry of China is analyzed in this article, and the necessity of the water-saving transformation in thermal power plants is proposed. Second, the type of water consumption in thermal power plants is analyzed, and eight parts of water consumption in thermal power plants are summarized in the production of thermal power plants. Finally, aiming at the characters of thermal power plant in China, the measures of water conservation and the methods of technical reform of water conservation are proposed to reduce the water consumption in the thermal power plants of China and offer solutions for the energy conservation and emission reduction.

Centrifuge modeling of an offshore water-intake project under ice loading

Sheet pile is a potential structural type for an offshore water-intake project for a thermal power plant in China because of its advantages of low cost and easy construction. However, the soil in offshore areas is under-consolidated and has a high water content. Therefore its bearing capacity is low, and the safety of water-intake structures under various loads is of major concern. Consequently the centrifuge modeling technique was used to study the stability of a structure in terms of its deformation, stress distribution, and bearing capacity under ice loading. The results show that the sheet pile structure works well under certain ice loads, and the earth pressure acting on the passive side contributes most of the bearing capacity. The lateral displacement of the structure increases significantly when the ice load exceeds the critical load. The position of the ice load has an obvious effect on the mechanical behavior of the structure, although increasing the structure’s embedded depth cannot improve the bearing capacity significantly.

Integrating LCA and LCC Study of FGD System at a Thermal Power Plant in China

This paper presents the integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) study of the Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) system in Fengcheng thermal power plant in China. The FGD systems have been installed in a power generation plant to reduce the large amount of SO 2 emission. Studies to appraise FGD system in power plant have mainly focused on economic analysis. This paper gives a way of combing LCA and LCC analysis, which can be used to evaluate ecological and economic benefits both before and after the installation of the FGD system. The focus of this study is to consider not only the LCA outcome but also the LCC factors. LCA provides a broad view by generating a model which links the industry to be assessed through all its material and energy resource flows to other environmentally significant processes in the wider industrial network. The Life Cycle Costing was used to provide a comparison between alternative before and after installation of the FGD system. LCC, as a powerful analytical tool, examines the total cost, in net present value terms, of a FGD system over its entire service lifetime. Comparative models of the power plant, before and after the installation of the FGD system, are evaluated using the LCA model. The results indicate that the installation of the FGD system can reduce the acidification problem associated with combustible fossil fuel plants by approximately 97%. The LCC estimation shows the major costs of the FGD system: capital investment, operating and maintenance, and miscellaneous costs. The modeling and model analysis of LCA and LCC for FGD system provide the foundation for assessing the selection of desulphurization technology for large thermal power plant in China; it is also helpful to optimize construction, operation and maintenance of FGD installation.

Experimental investigation on a parabolic trough solar collector for thermal power generation

Developing solar thermal power technology in an effective manner is a great challenge in China. In this paper an experiment platform of a parabolic trough solar collector system (PTCS) was developed for thermal power generation, and the performance of the PTCS was experimentally investigated with synthetic oil as the circulate heat transfer fluid (HTF). The solar collector’s efficiency with the variation of the solar flux and the flow rate of the HTF was identified. The collector efficiency of the PTCS can be in the range of 40%–60%. It was also found that there existed a specified delay for the temperature of the HTF to response to the solar flux, which played a significant role in designing the PTCS. The heat loss effect on collector efficiency was also studied, which was about 220 W/m for the receiver with a 180°C temperature difference between the collector temperature and the ambient temperature, amounting to about 10% of the total solar energy incident on the collector. The encouraging results can provide fundamental data for developing the parabolic trough solar thermal power plant in China.

Synthesis of nucleated glass-ceramics using oil shale fly ash

Nucleated glass-ceramics materials were produced from oil shale fly ash obtained from Huadian thermal power plant in China with the addition of analytic reagent CaO. On basis of differential thermal analysis (DTA) results, the nucleation and crystallization temperature of two parent glass samples with different alkalinity (Ak=m(CaO)/m(SiO(2)) were identified as Tn(1)=810 degrees C, Tc(1)=956 degrees C and Tn(2)=824 degrees C, Tc(2)=966 degrees C, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the produced nucleated glass-ceramics materials revealed that there was a coexistence phenomenon of multi-crystalline phase and the main crystalline phase was anorthite ([Ca,Na][AI,Si](2)Si(2)O(8)). The microstructure of the glass-ceramics materials was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM observation indicated that there was an increase in the quantity of sphere-shaped crystals when crystallization time increased. Furthermore, the increase of alkalinity caused more amorphous phase occurring in glass-ceramics materials. Through the tests of physical and mechanical properties, the glass-ceramics materials with more crystalline phase and fine microstructure had high density, fine performance of resisting compression (328.92 MPa) and negligible water absorption. Through chemical resistance tests, the glass-ceramics samples showed strong corrosion resistance. Overall results indicated that it was a feasible attempt to produce nucleated glass-ceramics materials for building and decorative materials from oil shale fly ash.

Exergetic Modeling of Oil Shale-fired Circulating Fluidized Bed Systems

In the recent years, exergy analysis has been widely used by many investigators in the design, simulation and performance evaluation of thermal systems. However, the studies conducted on exergetic assessment of oil shale-fired fluidized bed systems are very limited, although those on the design, operation and energetic evaluation of these systems are much in numbers. Oil shale has been successfully burnt in many circulating fluidized beds due to their values for the satisfactory desulphurization and combustion efficiency, low NOx emission as well as the adaptability to low-grade coal, appropriate capital and operation costs. In this study, the relations related to the exergetic evaluation of the oil shale-fired fluidized bed systems are given for modeling purposes first. Next, this model is applied to a highly efficient oil shale circulating fluidized bed system having a boiler with a steam mass flow rate of 65 t/h designed for Huadian thermal power plant in China using the actual operational data given in the literature. The exergy efficiencies of the system are then determined to assess its performance and to elucidate potentials for improvement. Finally, the results obtained are discussed, while some recommendations are made.

D211 POTENTIAL USE OF AQUEOUS AMMONIA ABSORPTION IN CO_2 CAPTURE FROM COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS(Environmental Protection-2)

Coal is the main fossil fuel of thermal power plants in China. CO_2 emission reduction is a key factor in supporting the continued use of fossil fuels, particularly coal consumption. Characteristics of coal-fired flue gas were presented, and four main technologies, solvent absorption, membranes, adsorption, and cryogenic were reviewed. With regard to the characteristics of each technology and coal combustion flue gas described in the above, chemical absorption process was regarded as the most promising to be put into large scale use. An aqueous ammonia based multi-pollutant control process for scrubbing SO_2, NOx, mercury, and CO_2 from flue gas was developed on the basis of relative literatures. The following advantages of the aqueous ammonia process over conventional amines were examined: lower heat requirement, more CO_2 absorption, lower chemical cost, and multi-pollutant control with by-products.

Influence of affectivity trait on relationships between occupational stress and subjective physical health and job satisfaction

To explore the influence of affectivity trait on relationships between occupational stress and subjective physical health and job satisfaction. Self-reports for psychosocial work conditions and health and well-being in a sample of 878 workers from a thermal power plant in China were conducted using the job demand-control model, the effort-reward imbalance model, job satisfaction, depression symptom, and physical health complaints questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used by controlling for age, sex, and educational level. Negative and positive affectivity were correlated with occupational stressors or strains (P<0.01). In the most equation of job dissatisfaction, psychosomatic complaints and depressive symptoms as dependent variables respectively, odds ratios decreased greatly when negative affectivity or positive affectivity was controlled; Odds ratios decreased greater when negative affectivity and positive affectivity were controlled simultaneously. Furthermore in some equation no variable entered. Affectivity trait has effect on relationships between occupational stress and subjective physical health and job satisfaction. According to the outcome category of study, the possible confounding role of affectivity should be controlled in the study of the relationships between occupational stress and health self-reports.

Pulverized coal combustion and NO x emissions in high temperature air from circulating fluidized bed

A new technique of achieving high temperature air was adopted by combustion in high excess air ratio in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB). Experiments on pulverized coal combustion in high temperature air from the CFB were made in a down-fired combustor with the diameter of 220 mm and the height of 3000 mm. High temperature air with lower oxygen concentrations can be achieved steadily and continuously by combustion in the circulating fluidized bed. Pulverized coal combustion in high temperature air shows a uniform temperature profile along the axis of the down-fired combustor and the combustion efficiency is 99.8%. The NO x emission is 390 mg/m 3, 13% lower than the regulation for thermal power plants in China. The HCN and NH 3 emissions, as well as N 2O, are about zero in the exhaust.

Psychosocial Work Environment and Well‐Being: A Cross‐Sectional Study at a Thermal Power Plant in China

To investigate the effects of the job demand-control (DC) model and the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model on worker's well-being, self-reports for psychosocial work conditions and well-being were made by a sample of 878 workers at a thermal power plant in China using the main dimensions of DC and ERI questionnaires. Logistic regression analyses were employed controlling for age, gender, and educational level, and negative and positive affection among others. Workers reporting high job demands and low job control or high efforts and low rewards had elevated risks of job dissatisfaction, psychosomatic complaints and depressive symptoms. Odds ratios were generally higher in workers reporting both high efforts and low rewards. Furthermore, low reward proved to be a stronger predictor of poor well-being when both job stress models were simultaneously adjusted. To some extent, interaction effects were found for social support, but no interaction effects were found for overcommitment. The findings indicate independent effects of both the DC model and the ERI model on well-being. Future work should explore the combined effects of these two models of psychosocial stress at work on health more thoroughly.

Job Stress, Gene Polymorphism of β 2-AR, and Prevalence of Hypertension

To study the interactive effect of job stress and genetic susceptibility (or gene polymorphism) on hypertension. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in 452 workers from a thermal power plant in China. Extrinsic effort, occupational reward, and over-commitment were measured. Hypertensive patients were defined by three phases of screening, reexamination, and final diagnosis. beta2-AR genotypes and allele frequencies at amino acid positions 16 (beta2-AR-16: Arg-->Gly) and 27 (beta2-AR-27: Gln-->Glu) were identified by PCR-RFLP. Job stress was related with the prevalence of hypertension in males (P < 0.05), whereas no significant relationship was found in females (P > 0.05). Differences in genotypes and allele frequencies of the beta2-AR-16 were statistically significant between the hypertension and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas those of beta2-AR-27 were not (P > 0.05). The prevalence of hypertension was higher in individuals carrying Gly16 allele than in those carrying Arg16 allele of the high job stress group (P < 0.01 or 0.05). High job stress and polymorphism of beta2-AR-16 have an interactive effect on the prevalence of hypertension in male workers.