Fossil-fuel power plants account for the majority of worldwide power generation. Increasing global energy demands, coupled with issues of ageing and inefficient power plants, have led to new power plant construction programmes. As cheaper fossil fuel resources are exhausted and emissions criteria are tightened, utilities are turning to power plants designed with performance in mind to satisfy requirements for improved capacity, efficiency, and environmental characteristics.Advanced power plant materials, design and technology provides a comprehensive reference on the state of the art of gas-fired and coal-fired power plants, their major components and performance improvement options. Part one critically reviews advanced power plant designs which target both higher efficiency and flexible operation, including reviews of combined cycle technology and materials performance issues.Part two reviews major plant components for improved operation, including advanced membrane technology for both hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) separation, as well as flue gas handling technologies for improved emissions control of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), mercury, ash and particulates. The section concludes with coverage of high-temperature sensors, and monitoring and control technology that are essential to power plant operation and performance optimisation.Part three begins with coverage of low-rank coal upgrading and biomass resource utilisation for improved power plant fuel flexibility. Routes to improve the environmental impact are also reviewed, with chapters detailing the integration of underground coal gasification and the application of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage. Finally, improved generation performance is reviewed with coverage of syngas and hydrogen (H2) production from fossil-fuel feedstocks.With its distinguished international team of contributors, Advanced power plant materials, design and technology is a standard reference for all power plant engineers and operators, as well as to academics and researchers in this field. - Provides a comprehensive reference on the state-of-the-art gas-fired and coal-fired power plants, their major components and performance improvement options - Examines major plant components for improved operation as well as flue gas handling technologies for improved emissions control - Routes to improve environmental impact are discussed with chapters detailing the integration of underground coal gasification

Materials for Ultra-Supercritical and Advanced Ultra-Supercritical Power Plants provides researchers in academia and industry with an essential overview of the stronger high-temperature materials required for key process components, such as membrane wall tubes, high-pressure steam piping and headers, superheater tubes, forged rotors, cast components, and bolting and blading for steam turbines in USC power plants. Advanced materials for future advanced ultra-supercritical power plants, such as superalloys, new martensitic and austenitic steels, are also addressed. Chapters on international research directions complete the volume. The transition from conventional subcritical to supercritical thermal power plants greatly increased power generation efficiency. Now the introductions of the ultra-supercritical (USC) and, in the near future, advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) designs are further efforts to reduce fossil fuel consumption in power plants and the associated carbon dioxide emissions. The higher operating temperatures and pressures found in these new plant types, however, necessitate the use of advanced materials. - Provides researchers in academia and industry with an authoritative and systematic overview of the stronger high-temperature materials required for both ultra-supercritical and advanced ultra-supercritical power plants - Covers materials for critical components in ultra-supercritical power plants, such as boilers, rotors, and turbine blades - Addresses advanced materials for future advanced ultra-supercritical power plants, such as superalloys, new martensitic and austenitic steels - Includes chapters on technologies for welding technologies

Advances in Steam Turbines for Modern Power Plants provides an authoritative review of steam turbine design optimization, analysis and measurement, the development of steam turbine blades, and other critical components, including turbine retrofitting and steam turbines for renewable power plants. As a very large proportion of the world's electricity is currently generated in systems driven by steam turbines, (and will most likely remain the case in the future) with steam turbines operating in fossil-fuel, cogeneration, combined cycle, integrated gasification combined cycle, geothermal, solar thermal, and nuclear plants across the world, this book provides a comprehensive assessment of the research and work that has been completed over the past decades. - Presents an in-depth review on steam turbine design optimization, analysis, and measurement - Written by a range of experts in the area - Provides an overview of turbine retrofitting and advanced applications in power generation

Due to their continuing role in electricity generation, it is important that coal power plants operate as efficiently and cleanly as possible. Coal Power Plant Materials and Life Assessment reviews the materials used in coal plants, and how they can be assessed and managed to optimize plant operation. Part I considers the structural alloys used in coal plants. Part II then reviews performance modelling and life assessment techniques, explains the inspection and life-management approaches that can be adopted to optimize long term plant operation, and considers the technical and economic issues involved in meeting variable energy demands. - Summarizes key research on coal-fired power plant materials, their behavior under operational loads, and approaches to life assessment and defect management - Details the range of structural alloys used in coal power plants, and the life assessment techniques applicable to defect-free components under operational loads - Reviews the life assessment techniques applicable to components containing defects and the approaches that can be adopted to optimize plant operation and new plant and component design

This book presents the evolution toward advanced coal-fired power plants. Advanced power plants with an efficiency level of 45% are today commercially available and even more efficient plants are in their development phase. Considering that presently many pulverized coal-fired power plants operate with an efficiency of about 32%, an improvement of more than 40% specific coal consumption and CO2 discharge can be achieved. Before trying to apply as a secondary measure the use of carbon sequestration, it seems that this 40% specific CO2 discharge reduction as a primary measure can much easier be achieved. The effect of power generation on the environment can be drastically improved by the use of flue gas cleanup systems in advanced pulverized coal-fired power plants (SO2 emission reduction from 40 to 1.4 lb/MWh and NOx emission reduction from 7.5 to 0.64 lb/MWh). With an increased number of coal-fired plants, CO2 discharge and emissions can be reduced, even with an increase of electric power generation in the US by 38% over the next 20 years. Even though the book concentrates on pulverized coal-fired power plants, it also discusses and compares other options like fluidized-bed combustion and coal gasification.

Operating at a high level of fuel efficiency, safety, proliferation-resistance, sustainability and cost, generation IV nuclear reactors promise enhanced features to an energy resource which is already seen as an outstanding source of reliable base load power. The performance and reliability of materials when subjected to the higher neutron doses and extremely corrosive higher temperature environments that will be found in generation IV nuclear reactors are essential areas of study, as key considerations for the successful development of generation IV reactors are suitable structural materials for both in-core and out-of-core applications. Structural Materials for Generation IV Nuclear Reactors explores the current state-of-the art in these areas. Part One reviews the materials, requirements and challenges in generation IV systems. Part Two presents the core materials with chapters on irradiation resistant austenitic steels, ODS/FM steels and refractory metals amongst others. Part Three looks at out-of-core materials. Structural Materials for Generation IV Nuclear Reactors is an essential reference text for professional scientists, engineers and postgraduate researchers involved in the development of generation IV nuclear reactors. - Introduces the higher neutron doses and extremely corrosive higher temperature environments that will be found in generation IV nuclear reactors and implications for structural materials - Contains chapters on the key core and out-of-core materials, from steels to advanced micro-laminates - Written by an expert in that particular area

Membrane materials allow for the selective separation of gas and vapour and for ion transport. Materials research and development continues to drive improvements in the design, manufacture and integration of membrane technologies as critical components in both sustainable energy and clean industry applications. Membrane utilisation offers process simplification and intensification in industry, providing low-cost, and efficient and reliable operation, and contributing towards emissions reductions and energy security. Advanced membrane science and technology for sustainable energy and environmental applications presents a comprehensive review of membrane utilisation and integration within energy and environmental industries.Part one introduces the topic of membrane science and engineering, from the fundamentals of membrane processes and separation to membrane characterization and economic analysis. Part two focuses on membrane utilisation for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture in coal and gas power plants, including pre- and post-combustion and oxygen transport technologies. Part three reviews membranes for the petrochemical industry, with chapters covering hydrocarbon fuel, natural gas and synthesis gas processing, as well as advanced biofuels production. Part four covers membranes for alternative energy applications and energy storage, such as membrane technology for redox and lithium batteries, fuel cells and hydrogen production. Finally, part five discusses membranes utilisation in industrial and environmental applications, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and forward osmosis, as well as water, wastewater and nuclear power applications.With its distinguished editors and team of expert contributors, Advanced membrane science and technology for sustainable energy and environmental applications is an essential reference for membrane and materials engineers and manufacturers, as well as researchers and academics interested in this field. - Presents a comprehensive review of membrane science and technology, focusing on developments and applications in sustainable energy and clean-industry - Discusses the fundamentals of membrane processes and separation and membrane characterization and economic analysis - Addresses the key issues of membrane utilisation in coal and gas power plants and the petrochemical industry, the use of membranes for alternative energy applications and membrane utilisation in industrial and environmental applications