Integrated Solutions

Plant|Flexibility
Peak Power

The integration of increasing renewable capacity is one of the main challenges in many power markets. Due to limited predictability of generation from renewable energy sources as well as the intensified volatility of the electricity prices, the operation mode of conventional steam power plants changes. Existing steam power plants have to be adapted regarding frequency support, improved minimum load and overload capability to improve the financial performance. Peak Power improves the operational flexibility by storing thermal energy for release to the thermal cycle when necessary. Peak Power enables the temporary supply of additional power as well as temporary reduction of minimum load. In addition, power limitations due to the supply of primary and secondary control, can be reduced.
Customer Benefits Increase of load operation range Improvement of overload capability Improvement of minimum load capability Reduction of power limitations due to supply of frequency support

Solution
ALSTOM developed a selfcontained thermal energy storage system, which is connected to the main condensate system. Heat storage tanks are installed in parallel to the low-pressure heaters. During periods of low electricity prices (e.g. at night) additional cold water from the storage tanks are heated up in the low pressure heaters to 180C and stored in the storage tanks. More extraction steam for the low pressure heaters is required, and the power output decreases. During periods of high electricity prices the low-pressure heaters are bypassed and the previously stored hot water is pumped into the feed water tank. Little or no extraction steam is needed, and the power output increases. Both operation modes are carried out without any interventions with the control regime of the steam generator. Over a customerdefined period of several hours the

solution is able to supply overload power or to reduce the minimum power output up to 5% of the nominal power. With its high degree of operational flexibility it even gives the possibility to reduce power limitations due to the supply of frequency support.

Background
Steam power plants are necessary to integrate renewable generation into the power grid. Every single megawatt of new wind or solar capacity needs at least 0.9 megawatt of fossil-fired capacity as back-up. Especially from coal-fired steam plants more operational flexibility is required. The impacts on the mode of operation are: More starts and shut-downs More suboptimal part load operation More uneconomical minimum load operation More load changes

Figure 1: Thermal energy storage system integrated in existing steam power plant

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THERMAL POWER

Integrated Solutions

Product Description
ALSTOM offers a turnkey thermal energy storage system, which mainly includes following equipment and services: Storage plant, including heat storage tanks, insulation and covering, pipework, etc. Storage interface structure, including pumps, valves, devices, measurement equipment, piping, safety equipment, etc. Instrumentation and control system Engineering and design Installation and commissioning Documentation and training

Additional revenues during periods of high electricity prices Temporary reduction of minimum power Reduction of power limitations due to supply of frequency support

Figure 3: Reduction of power limitations due to supply of frequency support

Figure 2: Storage tanks

Benefits
Flexible modular storage tank concept with optimised charging and discharging system More competitive and advantageous in comparison to other storage technologies (see Figure 4) Increase of load operation range (see Figure 3) Temporary supply of additional peak power into the grid

Investment Cost per Peak Capacity (/MW )

Figure 4: Comparison of energy storage technologies

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ALSTOM 2010. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties without ALSTOMs express written authority is strictly prohibited.

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THERMAL POWER