A thermodynamic study of an cogeneration plant located in the United States is presented in this paper. The feedstock for this actual plant is culm, the waste left from anthracite coal mining. Before combustion in circulating fluidized bed boilers, the usable carbon within the culm is separated from the indigenous rock. The rock and ash waste from the combustion process fill adjacent land previously scared by strip mining. Trees and grass are planted in these areas as part of a land reclamation program. Analyses based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics using actual operating data are first presented to acquaint the reader with the plant’s components and operation. Using emission and other relevant environmental data from the plant, an externalities study is outlined that estimates the plant’s effect on the local population. The results show that the plant’s cycle performs with a coefficient of utilization of 29% and an approximate exergetic efficiency of 34.5%. In order to increase these values, recommended improvements to the plant are noted. In addition, the externality costs associated with the estimated and discharge from the culm fed plant are approximately produced. This is considerably lower (85–95%) than those associated with a similarly sized coal fed plant. The plant’s cycle efficiencies are lower than those associated with more modern technologies; such as an integrated gas turbine combined cycle. However, given the abundant, inexpensive supply of feedstock located adjacent to the plant and the environmental benefit of removing culm banks, the plant’s existing operation is unique from an economical and environmental viewpoint.
Skip Nav Destination
e-mail: margaret.bailey@rit.edu
Article navigation
February 2006
Research Papers
Exergetic, Thermal, and Externalities Analyses of a Cogeneration Plant
Margaret B. Bailey,
Margaret B. Bailey
Rochester Institute of Technology,
e-mail: margaret.bailey@rit.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering
, Rochester, NY 14623-5604
Search for other works by this author on:
CPT Paul H. Blanton,
CPT Paul H. Blanton
United States Army
, 305 Longfellow Ave., Worthington, OH 43085
Search for other works by this author on:
CPT Thomas B. McBrayer
CPT Thomas B. McBrayer
United States Army
, Springmeadow #5, Midland, TX 79701
Search for other works by this author on:
Margaret B. Bailey
Rochester Institute of Technology,
Department of Mechanical Engineering
, Rochester, NY 14623-5604e-mail: margaret.bailey@rit.edu
Peter Curtiss
CPT Paul H. Blanton
United States Army
, 305 Longfellow Ave., Worthington, OH 43085
CPT Thomas B. McBrayer
United States Army
, Springmeadow #5, Midland, TX 79701J. Sol. Energy Eng. Feb 2006, 128(1): 98-103 (6 pages)
Published Online: February 2, 2005
Article history
Received:
July 23, 2003
Revised:
February 2, 2005
Citation
Bailey, M. B., Curtiss, P., Blanton, C. P. H., and McBrayer, C. T. B. (February 2, 2005). "Exergetic, Thermal, and Externalities Analyses of a Cogeneration Plant." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. February 2006; 128(1): 98–103. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2148973
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Numerical Investigations on Minimization of Convective Heat Losses From Hemispherical Cavity Receiver Using Air Curtain
J. Sol. Energy Eng (June 2025)
Related Articles
Environmental Impact of Fossil Fuel Fired Co-Generation Plants Using a Numerically Standardized LCA Scheme
J. Energy Resour. Technol (March,2003)
Advanced Coal-Fired Power Plants
J. Energy Resour. Technol (March,2001)
Reduction of Sulfur Dioxide Emissions by Burning Coal Blends
J. Energy Resour. Technol (May,2016)
A Coal-Fueled Combustion Turbine Cogeneration System With Topping Combustion
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (January,1997)
Related Chapters
Combined Cycle Power Plant
Energy and Power Generation Handbook: Established and Emerging Technologies
ASME Section VI: Recommended Rules for the Care and Operation of Heating Boilers
Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Codes, Volume 1 Sixth Edition
Performance and Mechanical Equipment Standards
Handbook for Cogeneration and Combined Cycle Power Plants, Second Edition