Exergetic analysis and evaluation of coal-fired supercritical thermal power plant and natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant

The present work has been undertaken for energetic and exergetic analysis of coal-fired supercritical thermal power plant and natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant. Comparative analysis has been conducted for the two contestant technologies. The key drivers of energetic and exergetic efficiencies have been studied for each of the major sub-system of two contestant technologies. Overall energetic and exergetic efficiency of coal-fired supercritical thermal power plant are found to be 43.48 and 42.89 %, respectively. Overall energetic and exergetic efficiency of natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant are 54.47 and 53.93 %, respectively. The major energetic power loss has been found in the condenser for coal-fired supercritical thermal power plant. On the other hand, the major energetic power loss has been found in both the condenser and heat recovery steam generator for gas-fired combined cycle thermal power plant. The exergetic analysis shows that boiler field is the main source of exergetic power loss in coal-fired supercritical thermal power plant and combustion chamber in the gas-fired combined cycle thermal power plant. It is concluded that natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant is better from energetic and exergetic efficiency point of view. These results will be useful to all involved in the improvement of the design of the existing and future power plants.