Alternative Power Generation

Energy Related Applications. Much research, with regard to the use of cesium in energy related processes, has resulted in Httle commercial apphcation. The heightened awareness of the environmental degradation caused by fossil fuel power stations has resulted in increased research both into efficiency improvements for existing plants and into alternative power generation (qv) methods. 

Overall costs for coal power stations are usually lower than for alternative power generation, and coal will remain one of the key choices for baseload electricity generation. Furthermore, the geographical diversity of coal reserves means that some power stations can be located at mine-mouth and still be close to demand centers, thereby also minimizing transmission and distribution losses. 

Alternative Power Generation Technologies for Data Centres and... 

APC, Alternative Power Generation Technologies for Data Centres and Network Rooms , APC White Paper 64, 2003... 

Research and development activities pursued by various fuel cell companies and research organizations indicate that PEM-based fuel cells offer simple design, improved reliability, low operating cost, lower procurement cost, and a small footprint. Dow Chemical Company and Ballard Power Systems played a key role in commercializing the PEM-FC as alternate power-generating sources [13]. The fuel cells have demonstrated the following unique capabilities ... 

The efficiency of a fuel cell depends on fhe overall kinetics of the electrochemical process and the performance of its components such as MEA and bipolar plate. As we have mentioned before, the success of fuel cells as an alternative power generation system requires reduced cost, reduced volume and weight, and improved performance and durability of both MEA and bipolar plates. Other components that contribute significantly to these requirements in a fuel cell are gaskets or seals, current collector, end plates, and gas flow manifolds. 

Industrial use of cogeneration leads to small, dispersed electric-power-generation installations—an alternative to complete reliance on large central power plants. Because of the relatively snort distances over which thermal energy can be transported, process-heat generation is characteristically an on-site process, with or without cogeneration. 

Tall stacks are no longer considered to be an acceptable alternative for controlling emissions from electric power generating plants. (See further discussion in Chapter 26, Section V.)... 

Ultimately, pollution can only be avoided by complete removal of SO2 from the effluent gases, but this council of perfection is both technologically and economically unattainable. Many processes are available to reduce the SO2 concentration to very low figures, but the vast scale of power generation and domestic heating by coal and oil still results in substantial emission. SO2 can be removed by scrubbing with a slurry of milk of lime , CafOH) . Alternatively, partial reduction to H2S using natural gas (CH4), naphtlia or coal, followed by catalytic conversion to elemental sulfur by the Claus process can be used ... 

One alternative to planning in this environment of unknowns is called scenario planning. Utility planners in 2000 continue to estimate resource requirements for five to ten years into the future. These resources could be constructed indigenous to their systems or external to their systems, or purchased from off-system. By considering multiple alternatives for generation sources, the planner can simulate power transfers from within and outside each system. The results of these scenario analyses can be used to estimate where critical transmission might be constructed to be most effective for wide-area power transfer. Similarly, analyzing multiple transfers across a system can provide further justification for a new transmission path. 

English engineer Charles Algernon Parsons improves the turbo-alternator for generating electricity in power stations. 

The basic schemes for electrical power generation and combined heat and power have been identified in the earlier sections of this chapter. When assessing the alternatives to meet a specific project need, many factors will strongly influence the size, number, and type of generator as well as its specification and scope. While it is not intended to cover all of these aspects, the more important issues are discussed. 

It should be borne in mind that there is no single answer as to which configuration of equipment is best for any individual power-generating scheme. Each alternative must be considered on its own merits, including the use of all available fuels. 

Alternatively, the option that a steam plant offers of the provision of process steam coupled with power generation may be the key element in the selection of generating plant. The turbo-generators and their auxiliaries for use in such applications tend therefore to be relatively unsophisticated, with no feed heating, except for probably the provision of a deaerator. Again, in the turbine itself, machine efficiency tends to be sacrificed for robustness and the ability to accommodate varying load conditions. 

Where a.c. supplies do not exist, other sources of power can be used such as d.c. generators, and either diesel or gas driven. Alternatively, thermoelectric generators may be considered if the power requirement is relatively low. Thermo-electric generators are available in relatively small outputs only as shown in Table 10.28. They have the advantage of being completely self-contained since they are powered by taking off some of the gas which passes through the pipeline. 

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