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Megawatt-Scale Application of Thermoelectric Devices in Thermal Power Plants

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Abstract

Despite the recent investment in renewable and sustainable energy sources, over 95% of the UK’s electrical energy generation relies on the use of thermal power plants utilizing the Rankine cycle. Advanced supercritical Rankine cycle power plants typically have a steam temperature in excess of 600°C at a pressure of 290 bar and yet still have an overall efficiency below 50%, with much of this wasted energy being rejected to the environment through the condenser/cooling tower. This paper examines the opportunity for large-scale application of thermoelectric heat pumps to modify the Rankine cycle in such plants by preheating the boiler feedwater using energy recovered from the condenser system at a rate of approximately 1 MWth per °C temperature rise. A derivation of the improved process cycle efficiency and breakeven coefficient of performance required for economic operation is presented for a typical supercritical 600-MWe installation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK

    A. R. Knox, J. Buckle, J. Siviter & A. Montecucco

  2. Doosan Power Systems, Crawley, UK

    E. McCulloch

Authors
  1. A. R. Knox
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  2. J. Buckle
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  3. J. Siviter
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  4. A. Montecucco
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  5. E. McCulloch
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Correspondence to A. R. Knox.

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Knox, A.R., Buckle, J., Siviter, J. et al. Megawatt-Scale Application of Thermoelectric Devices in Thermal Power Plants. J. Electron. Mater. 42, 1807–1813 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-012-2434-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-012-2434-6

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