Parametric study of potential early commercial MHD power plants

A parametric study was performed to determine performance and cost of moderate technology coal-fired Open Cycle MHD/steam power plant designs which can be expected to require a shorter development time and have a lower development cost than previously-considered mature OCMHD/Steam plants. Three base cases were considered: Base Case 1 had an indirectly-fired high temperature air heater (HTAH) subsystem delivering air at 2700 F; fired by a state-of-the-art atmospheric pressure gasifier; Base Case 2 had an indirectly-fired HTAH subsystem delivering air at 3000 F; in Base Case 3 the HTAH subsystem was deleted and oxygen enrichment was used to obtain requisite MHD combustion temperature. Coal pile to bus bar efficiencies in Base Case 1 ranged from 41.4% to 42.9%, and cost of electricity (COE) was highest of the three base cases. For Base Case 2 the efficiency range was 42.0% to 45.6%, and COE was lowest. For Base Case 3 the efficiency range was 42.9% to 44.4%, and COE was intermediate. The best parametric cases in Base Cases 2 and 3 are recommended for conceptual design. Eventual choice between these approaches is dependent on further evaluation of the tradeoffs among HTAH development risk, O/sub 2/ plant integration and further refinements ofmore » comparative costs.« less