Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Congressional Hearings Transcript

. . and
159
generator. The result is a highly efficient use of fuel, with significantly lower emissions
than from conventional coal burning facilities.
This is not a new concept. What is new, however, is the highly reliable and advanced
technology that enables higher output at even higher efficiency . . . today
approaching 55 percent compared to the average 35 percent efficient gas-fired plants
now operating in the CIS. It would represent a new direction in power generation
for the CIS . . . which now lacks any viable gas turbine technology.
Advanced combined cycle technology owes most of its advantages to the maturation
of gas turbine technology.
Today's advanced heavy-duty gas turbines are the result of four decades of technology
evolution. Over this time the combustion turbine has gone from a relatively
low output, high maintenance peak demand, power source ... to a highly reliable,
high-efficiency, low maintenance base load technology.
To put these advancements in perspective, GE's first gas turbine, delivered in
1949, was a 3.5 Megawatt unit with a firing temperature of 1400 degrees F and an
efficiency rating of 16 percent.
In contrast, today we're delivering 226 Megawatt gas machines with firing temperatures
over 2350 degrees F with combined cycle efficiencies of 55 percent. Quite a
difference.
Current combined cycle plants are an extremely efficient energy
option . . . operating at thermal efficiencies approaching 55 percent. And, we believe,
60 percent is an attainable goal within this decade.
Combined-cycle powerplants, using modern combustion turbines, are evolving as
the preferred generation technology . . . and one of the best examples of the
modem-£ige high efficiency combined-cycle powerplants is the 2000 Megawatt Futsu
complex in Japan.
Fueled by liquefied natural gas, it is the largest, cleanest—and one of the most
efficient, large-scale fossil-fueled powerplants in the world.
Korea Electric Power's Seoinchon Plant, currently under construction, is a new,
2000 Megawatt combined-cycle plant. When completed this year it will be the most
thermally efficient large powerplant in the world.
This plant is a prime example of how rapidly combined cycle technology can be
applied. The overall delivery cycle for this plant was two years from order to construction.
In addition to delivering efficient, cost effective and reliable power through the
use of combined cycle applications, impressive results can be also be achieved using
gas turbines to re-power old steam plants. This process is currently underway at
Virginia Power Company's Chesterfield station where we are converting a 130
Megawatt conventional oil-fired power unit to a 450 Megawatt, gas-fired, combinedcycle
plant.
In the new configuration power output will triple . . . without any change in
plant size, as all new equipment fits in the same plot that housed the former plant.
In addition there is no increase in cooling-water use . . . and NO, and SO, emissions
will be substantially reduced, while CO2 emissions remain virtually the same!
Up until now I've been speaking of combined-cycle systems operating on natural
gas or LNG, sometimes with oil as a backup fuel. But combined cycles are not limited
to these premium fuels. And in the CIS, even though we perceive significant
amounts of natural gas are readily available . they may wish to utilize their large
supply of indigenous coal. In this case, combined cycle . . . with its significant efficiency
and exceptional environmental performance . . . can prove beneficial.
Integrated gasification combined-cycle power generation ... or IGrCC has also
been demonstrated to be effective. One demonstration plant operated successfully,
extracting gas from a variety of coals, for 27,000 hours during a five-year
period . . . with emissions about one-tenth of those required by regulations.
An IGCC powerplant uses two-stage combustion, with cleanup between the stages.
In the first stage, a coal gasifier produces a gaseous fuel. After cleanup, this cod gas
is fed to the second stage: the gas turbine of a combined-cycle powerplant.
IGCC is a commercially available technology . we're seeing substantial interest
in IGCC around the world.
Overall, advanced combined cycle technology would be able to address the energy
needs of the CIS in a very quick and economical manner. For example, a host of
small 300 Megawatt packaged powerplants could be quickly placed into operation
that would not only address varying regional needs for power but also provide a
series of "test facilities," for this technology.
We strongly recommend this course of action in the near future as the best way
to take advantage of the "window of opportunity" I spoke of earlier.