Advanced 700{degree}C pf power plant (AD700): start of phase 2 of the European project

A large European group of manufacturers, utilities and institutes are co-operating in a phased long-term project dealing with 'Advanced 700{degree}C PF Power Plant'. The overall objective is the development of an economically viable and sustainable, coal-fired power plant technology with a net efficiency of more than 50%, which can ensure a future strategic important role for coal in Europe. These targets can be reached through development of a super-critical steam cycle operating at maximum steam temperatures in the range of 700 C. The demonstration programme will leave the possibility of any plant output between 400 and 1,000 MW. The phase 1 of the project started in January 1998 based on a grant from the Commission's Thermie programme under the 4th Framework Programme. Work to date has already demonstrated the economic viability of this concept and design concepts have been developed without encountering any significant technical obstacles. The phase 2 of the project started in January 2002 on another grant from the Commission's Energy programme under the 5th Framework Programme. 35 partners from 10 European countries are involved. This phase will focus on fabricability of new super-alloys, welding of thick walled super-alloys, dissimilar weldings and on testing, in operating boilers, of materials for super heaters in the range of 700{degree}C and for furnace walls. Potential for cost reductions will be addressed through boiler and turbine design work to minimise the use of expensive super-alloys. The second phase also deals with a dissemination programme and the financial and operational conditions for a separate demonstration facility and demonstration programme which will be applied for later as phase 3 of the project. Finally business plan for the full-scale demonstration plant to be applied for as phase 4 has been included. 7 figs., tabs.