I just offered the coal link. Read it also, but goin' nowhere unless somebody else speaks up pro or con. Can expect hkmb but apparently he is working. I really want that wood-fungus paper in my inbox. But apparently some Yalie is taking the evening off.
This is an icky disease to be sure. Nearly loops back to bisco's North Korea comment because first cases were around Hantan River in South Korea. Anyway, if we are not all that into China coal, could yuse guys just wear a dang mask for these cleanups?
24% less coal for the same energy output as our best existing plants, that is certainly a good performance. But I glazed over tonight on the rest of it, especially the construction bubble situation.
Nobody has to try too hard to convince me our USA coal plants are less efficient...I am also a USA utility industry critic. But the more end-of-pipe clean air equipment you put on there, the less heat-efficient the plant will be. So the data seems a little questionable to say China has better heat-efficiency and better eco-performance...I'd be skeptical. But quality of coal comes into the picture, as well as better utilization of the wasted heat energy (co-gen), which is an enormous advantage that we do not favor in our USA utility structure. Let's face it, China potentially has more heavy industry to be co-gen partners ("dirty" industry that the Center for American "Progress" does not want to have in the USA anymore). I do have some very limited China coal plant experience, and they are dual purpose - energy + chemicals manufacture plants. Not like our USA electric scenario.
As I read the article, it reminded me of the Prius conundrum: efficient cars drive more miles. In like fashion, the Chinese coal economy is also finding more efficient coal plants lead to more power at lower prices. So I'm reminded of the rolling, road blocks, those huge, inefficient vehicles that many of my co-workers commute, single-driver, to work and back. In contrast, I'll drive on a whim, just for fun, or curiosity. I'm actually putting more miles on the road because I can without having to worry about 'breaking the bank.' Thanks, I enjoyed reading about the ultra-critical coal plants. Way to go China! Bob Wilson
I've suggested elsewhere nearby that growing global electricity may require keeping fossil burn at or near current levels. Probably better with a shift away from coal and towards methane. But with continued coal, do it as nicely as possible. I wonder if 'western' technology is in these ultracriticals, or if it's more like public domain. I did not catch that in the first link.
Agreed. I've never been a 'purist' about no-gas or no-diesel but hard-on about efficiency. My biggest disappointment in the 1970s when the EPA started was how engine compartments became 'plumbers nightmares' and the fuel efficiency took a dive. The fastest way to improved emissions has always been taking the high-efficiency path. All others are foolishness. Undergraduate thermodynamics classes cover the basics. So as the article discussed the higher temperatures, I saw applied Carnot efficiency. Bob Wilson
"My biggest disappointment in the 1970s" Well yeah that was tough teenage years. But try to see it in service to larger goal: Vehicle exhaust catalytic converters. Man oh man. No Nobel Prize for that?
Efficiency is good. Multi-dimensional optimization is harder. Bob and I both drove 60s-era VWs that were efficient, but they were also nitrogen-oxide emission devils. They still are, those that haven't flipped on their sides and burned
A poster here years ago (@JackDodge perhaps) once explained that China oil refineries being build were using electronic controls that could allow the product to reach specification in hours. In the US, refineries were still using pneumatic controls, and could take days to reach product spec. Overhead efficiency is another factor to consider when looking at a power plant. China is building new coal, and we are still running coal plants that are a half century or more old. Co-gen was once a thing in US cities. Buildings in Manhattan still use outside steam for heating and hot water. I can't say for sure if it is still produced in conjunction with power at this point. There are home to small building sized co-gen heat and electric units available. Most run on NG, but likely aren't cost efficient for most of the US. Honda makes one that uses a true Atkinson cycle engine. Didn't VW still make those in Mexico up into the late '90s?
Apparently the last (Mexico) VW beetle lacking catalytic converter was 1990. Later than I would have guessed.
How will coal go in India? Gujarat Cancelling 4 Gigawatt Coal Power Plant As India Moves Away From Coal | CleanTechnica
And such a Mexican market Beetles can be legally registered in all fifty states now. With cat, the model made it to 2003, with the last one built supposedly being serenaded by a mariachi band during production.
