Electricity power generation casings

Table 23.7 outlines briefly the extent of operations which need to be undertaken. This is intended only as a guide, as in the majority of installations a program will be evolved to suit individual cases. In certain instances (for example, where electrical power generation is involved) the boilers may not shut down on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, and all controls are then fully automated. Also, watertube boilers may operate for longer periods before fireside shutdown is necessary. 

Nuclear and magneto-hydrodynamic electric power generation systems have been produced on a scale which could lead to industrial production, but to-date technical problems, mainly connected with corrosion of the containing materials, has hampered full-scale development. In the case of nuclear power, the proposed fast reactor, which uses fast neutron fission in a small nuclear fuel element, by comparison with fuel rods in thermal neutron reactors, requires a more rapid heat removal than is possible by water cooling, and a liquid sodium-potassium alloy has been used in the development of a near-industrial generator. The fuel container is a vanadium sheath with a niobium outer cladding, since this has a low fast neutron capture cross-section and a low rate of corrosion by the liquid metal coolant. The liquid metal coolant is transported from the fuel to the turbine generating the electric power in stainless steel... 

The significance of the measured properties of residual fuel oil is dependent to a large extent on the ultimate uses of the fuel oil. Such uses include steam generation for various processes, as well as electrical power generation and propulsion. Corrosion, ash deposition, atmospheric pollution, and product contamination are side effects of the use of residual fuel oil, and in particular cases, properties such as vanadium, sodium, and sulfur contents may be significant. 

Sometimes the opposite is also the case, that is, the boiler itself restricts the type of flue gas treatment system that can be installed. Most electric power generating facilities have coal specifications required by the boiler design and the manufacturer s warranty. These sulfur and ash specifications are designed to optimize boiler performance and avoid fatigue of boiler materials. Boiler design and coal specifications can limit the type of system that can be applied. The construction date of a boiler determines the level of pollutant control required, and it also goes far toward determining the type of flue gas treatment system that can achieve this level of emissions control. 

The actual heat consumption is several times higher than the above theoretical values, as a result of heat losses. The thermal efficiency of glass tanks heated with gaseous or liquid fuels is then in the range of 20 — 35%, that of all-electric furnaces amounts to 60—80% (not taking into account the efficiency of electric power generation). In the case of pot furnaces the thermal effiency is very low, about 10% or less. 

The expectation of high fuel cost escalation rates will probably not be borne out as much for electricity as for fossil fuels. Fuel costs are only a portion of the total cost of electric power generation, and cheaper solid fuels are In any case expected to displace oil In electric power generation. 

Beam pumping and electric submersible pumps (ESP) require a source of power. On land it may be convenient to tap into the local electricity network, or in the case of the beam pump to use a diesel powered engine. Offshore (ESP only) provision for power generation must be made to drive down hole electric pumps. 

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