Electricity generation operating cost

As of this writing (1996), 354 MWe of privately funded, paraboHc-trough electric generating capacity was operating in California. These trough systems operate in a hybrid mode, using natural gas. Collectively they accounted for more than 90% of worldwide solar electric capacity. The cost of these systems fell steadily from 0.24/kWh for the first 14-MW system to an estimated 0.08/kWh for the 80-MW plant installed in 1989 (5). 

Kennedy describes a method using an ultrasonic nebulizer to generate a fog of water droplets w hich is used in the same way as smoke to visualize airflows. Several types of nebulizers are available but they require an electrical connection and are not hand-held. Food dye can be added to the water to produce colored fog. The nebulizers are expensive (about 1500 ECU) but have negligible operating costs. Although the amount of smoke produced is small, it is nontoxic and nonirritating. 

The choice of whether to purchase or generate electricity and decisions on generator or cable configuration and sparing are often not obvious. An economic study evaluating capital and operating costs and system reliability of several alternatives may be required. 

Very large, modem WT boilers with sophisticated heat-recovery auxiliaries may attain efficiencies approaching 88 to 90%. However, the overall efficiency of a fossil fuel utility power generation plant system falls to only 32 to 38% when the efficiency of electricity generation and condenser cooling is included. Nevertheless, it only requires 10% more in fuel costs to operate a boiler at 1,250 psig than... 

Heavy industrial boilers operating in continuous processes may be online for perhaps four or even five years before shutting down for maintenance and inspection. Here, correct boiler plant materials selection is critical, and the quality of the various utility support functions must be outstanding if forced outages are to be avoided. A heavy industrial or utility boiler that is unintentionally offline may cost 1 million a day in lost production or electricity generation. 

TES-based systems are usually economically justifiable when the annualized capital and operating costs are less than those for primary generating equipment supplying the same service loads and periods. TES is often installed to reduce initial costs of other plant components and operating costs. Lower initial equipment costs are usually obtained when large durations occur between periods of energy demand. Secondary capital costs may also be lower for TES-based systems. For example, the electrical service equipment size can sometimes be reduced when energy demand is lowered. 

A major cost in the operation of a dryer is in heating the air or gas. Frequently, the hot gases are produced by combustion of a fuel gas or atomised liquid, and considerable economy may be effected by using a combined heat and power system in which the hot gases are first passed through a turbine connected to an electrical generator. 

Whether produced from fossil or non-fossil sources, the widespread use of hydrogen will require a new and extensive infrastructure to produce, distribute, store and dispense it as a vehicular fuel or for stationary applications, such as electric generation. Depending on the source from which hydrogen is produced and the form in which it is delivered, many alternative infrastructures can be envisioned. Tradeoffs in scale economies between process and distribution technologies, and such issues as operating cost, safety, and materials can also favour alternative forms of infrastructure. 

The capital cost of an installed SAL-80 generator, which can treat 1.2 million gallons per day at 1 part per million (ppm) [production of 10 lb free available chlorine (FAC) per day], is 22,347.88. Operating costs for this unit are 15.36 per day, or 5,606 per year, including the costs of salt, electricity, and replacement cells (D157986, p. 6). 

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