Articles on Heat Rate

When it comes to commercial power generation, cogeneration (combined heat and power) or operating packaged boilers for process steam production, the recovery and storage of condensate plays an important role in overall operational cost and efficiency.

The hotwell is an important part of the turbine cycle and plays a role in determining the overall operating cost of a power plant as well as its ability to respond to fluctuations in electricity demand. It serves as a water reservoir for steam condensate coming from the condenser – a valuable resource when considering the cost associated with the treatment of make-up water.

For most power plants, 70 to 80% of their production costs are fuel expenses. Hence, any improvement in fuel efficiency can have a significant impact on a plant’s profitability. 

The steam loop is the process by which useable steam is created for its various industry applications. Level instrumentation impacts virtually every aspect of the steam loop in order to ensure greater efficiency, safety and accuracy.

Steam is today’s utility player in the industrial energy arena. It cleans and sterilizes, dries and concentrates, separates and evaporates. In cookery, it preserves flavor, texture, and retains nutrients.

A global outlook for the installed base of coal-fired and, to some degree, nuclear power generation can leave decision makers staring into a crystal ball when deciding whether or not to pursue investments in technologies that improve feedwater heater level control and ultimately plant efficiency (heat rate), while significantly reducing maintenance cost.