Supercritical Steam Generator: A Seminar Report On
Supercritical Steam Generator: A Seminar Report On
Supercritical Steam Generator: A Seminar Report On
Seminar Report
On
By
RAJAT GUPTA
(Roll No.: 1519240175)
April-2019
Table of Content
S. No. Description Page No.
Table of content 2
Abstract 3
01 Introduction to Steam Generators 4
1.1 Classification of boilers according to pressure of steam generated
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Abstract
As the science and technology is developing by each passing day. The main focus
of all sectors using these technologies is on increasing the efficiency without
leaving any negative effect on the environment. In the same way, the power
generating units are focusing on to increase the efficiency of power plants by
using advanced technologies. One such technology in power sector is
supercritical steam generators. These works on pressure and temperature which
is above critical point of water. In the current scenario in India about 11.35% of
the total installed capacity is produced using supercritical steam generators in
powerplant. As we know, each thing has its advantages and limitations, in
supercritical technology metallurgical limits is one of the biggest challenges for
the developers of supercritical steam generators as they are subjected to very high
temperature. This report will give you a brief introduction about supercritical
steam generators and how they are different from the existing sub-critical steam
generators.
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1. Introduction to Steam Generators
Steam generators are used to generate steam by burning of fuel in furnace at desired
temperature and pressure. Steam generators are used in power stations in which turbines are
operated with the help of steam produced by them. It is a complex system made up of different
units like furnace, reheater, evaporator, economizer, superheaters, burners, dust collectors, etc.
Traditionally, the term “boiler” is used to define the whole steam generator.
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The developed benson boiler was first operated in 1930 without using pressurizing valve
between 40-180 bar. This operation gives the birth of modern variable pressure Benson boiler.
Philo Power Plant in Ohio was the first commercial supercritical steam electric generating unit
in the world,
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Fig. 3 Enthalpy-Pressure diagram to differentiate subcritical and supercritical zones.
In subcritical boilers, water passes through saturation phase before water completely changes
its phase to superheated steam. Thus, subcritical boilers require an additional component called
steam drum which act as a separator between liquid water and saturated vapor which is further
converted to superheated steam. While conversion of water into steam in supercritical boiler
doesn’t pass through phase change process. Thus, supercritical boilers don’t require steam
drum. This is one of the economic advantages of supercritical boilers.
In traditional subcritical boilers, the net heat supplied to boilers from fuel to convert water to
steam is used in three means i.e., sensible heating in economizer, latent heat of vaporization in
evaporator, and heat required for superheating in superheater.
Qsupplied = Qeconomizer + Qevaporation + Qsuperheater
In case of supercritical boilers, Qevaporation which means less heat is required in supercritical
boilers for same heating effect as in subcritical boilers.
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through boilers i.e, Single fluid flow will be observed by boiler which means water entering
the boiler will pass only once through the boiler pipes in absence of working of circulating
pumps.
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5. Advantages of Supercritical Steam Generator
Following are the advantages of supercritical boilers over conventional subcritical boilers.
a. Improvement in plant efficiency
Since, mean temperature of heat addition is more than that of sub-critical Rankine cycle
thus it has more efficiency.
10. Conclusions
If supercritical & ultra-supercritical power generation technology is to become one of
the preferred choices in new power plant construction, it has to become economic
against the alternative technologies such as subcritical coal-fired conventional power
plants.
Advanced austenitic stainless steels for use as superheater and reheater tubing are
available for service temperatures up to 650°C and possibly 700°C. Ni base superalloys
would be needed for higher temperatures.
Ferritic materials will be replaced by nickel-based superalloys for ultra-supercritical
applications as steam conditions are increased. This changeover point is an issue still
to be resolved.
Better understanding of maintenance needs of the ultra-supercritical boiler and related
auxiliary systems is essential for long-term, reliable operation.