Power plants maximizing boiler efficiency

Power Production. Steam cycles for generation of electric power use various types of boilers, steam generators, and nuclear reactors operate at subcritical or supercritical pressures and use makeup and often also condensate water purification systems as well as chemical additives for feedwater and boiler-water treatment. These cycles are designed to maximize cycle efficiency and reliability. The fuel distribution of sources installed in the United States from 1990—1995 are as follow coal, 45% combined cycle, 27% miscellaneous, 14% nuclear, 11% solar, oil, and geothermal, 1% each and natural gas, 0.3%. The 1995 summer peak generation in the United States was 620 GW (26). The combined cycle plants are predominantly fired by natural gas. The miscellaneous sources include bagasse, black liquor from paper mills, landfill gas, and refuse (see Fuels frombiomass Fuels fromwaste). 

---