Feasibility of mobile barge-based advanced power generation systems

Emerging foreign economies need power generation infrastructure. Energy consumption in the developing world increased almost threefold during the 20-year period from 1973 to 1993, and is projected to increase by threefold again by the year 2010. A constraint on the electrification of these emerging economies is raising the huge sums required to finance capital-intensive power generation facilities. Encouraging the development of an energy-efficient infrastructure can reduce both the amount of financing required and the pollution generated, thus enhancing the global economy and environment. This paper describes a conceptual design for privately owned and operated mobile barge-based pressurized fluidized-bed combustion (PFBC) power systems (first generation, circulating bed), which have the potential to provide efficient power generation systems for developing countries operating on indigenous solid fuels. The power plant described herein is rated at 140 MWe at an efficiency of 37.8% (HHV basis), and is mounted on a barge platform 108 feet wide and 570 feet long. This concept is being developed into a series of designs spanning a power output range from 40 MWe to 300 MWe.