A Comparative Study of Cooling System Parameters in U.S. Thermoelectric Power Plants Lamya Badr Thesis submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science In Environmental Engineering Gregory D. Boardman John E. Bigger Virgilio A. Centeno 30 August 2010 Blacksburg, VA Keywords: Cooling Water, Power Plant, Cost of Water, Once-through, Recirculating, Dry Cooling System, Hybrid Cooling System © 2010 by Lamya Badr A Comparative Study of Cooling System Parameters in U.S. Thermoelectric Power Plants Lamya Badr Abstract As the importance of water use in the power generation sector increases across the nation, the ability to obtain and analyze real power plant data is pivotal in understanding the water energy nexus. The Navajo Generating Station in Arizona and the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama are examples of where water shortages have threatened the operation of power generators. The availability of freshwater in the United States is beginning to dictate how and where new power plants are constructed. The purpose of this study is to provide and analyze cooling system parameters using 2008 data provided by the Energy Information Administration. Additionally, the cost of water saved among different categories of power plants is calculated. In general, the conditions which cause cooling systems to withdraw less water are not necessarily the more expensive conditions, and vice versa. While not all the variability in the cost of cooling systems is being accounted for, the results from this study prove that nameplate capacity, capacity factor, age of power plant, and region affect the costs of installed cooling systems. This study also indicates that it would be most cost effective for once-through cooling systems to be replaced with recirculating- pond instead of recirculating- tower systems. The implications of this study are that as power plant owner’s struggle in balancing cost with water dependence, several parameters must first be considered in the decision-making process. Acknowledgements This research is based on the study “Non-Navigational Benefits of Lock and Dam Systems” funded by the National Waterways Foundation study Project Number NWF-NNB-001. The author would like to thank Dr. Gregory Boardman, Dr. John Bigger, and Dr. Virgilio Centeno for their guidance, mentoring, and encouragement without which this study could not have been completed. The author would also like to thank the correspondents at the Energy Information Administration for answering questions and providing information necessary for this project. Additionally, many thanks to Dr. Tamim Younos, Dr. Carlos Elias, Dr. Stephen Schoenholtz, and Dr. Sunil Sinha. iii Table of Contents List of Figures................................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................1 Chapter 2. WATER USE IN U.S. THERMOELECTRIC POWER PLANTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW......................................................................................................................................... 4 Abstract ................................................................................................................................. 4 CE Database subject headings............................................................................................... 4 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 4 Power Generation in the U.S................................................................................................. 5 Water Use in Thermoelectric Power Plants........................................................................... 6 Non-Cooling Water Uses ............................................................................................. 6 Cooling Water Uses ..................................................................................................... 8 Thermoelectric Power Plant Cooling Technologies............................................................ 10 U.S. Water Withdrawals ...................................................................................................... 14 Comparisons of Cooling Technologies ............................................................................... 16 Water Use Comparisons............................................................................................. 16 Cost Comparisons...................................................................................................... 17 The Impact of Drought........................................................................................................ 21 Projections........................................................................................................................... 24 Energy Demand, Electricity Generation, and Required Capacity ............................. 24 Water Use................................................................................................................... 25 Summary and Conclusions.................................................................................................. 28 References ........................................................................................................................... 29 Chapter 3. A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COOLING SYSTEM PARAMETERS IN U.S. THERMOELECTRIC POWER PLANTS ................................................................................... 32 Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 32 Key Terms ........................................................................................................................... 32 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 32 Methods............................................................................................................................... 35 Database Development .............................................................................................. 35 Combining Data......................................................................................................... 36 Size and Scope of Database....................................................................................... 39 Calculating Categories and Cooling System Parameters........................................... 42 Categorizing and the Cost of Water Saved ................................................................ 44 Results and Discussion........................................................................................................ 47 Database Analysis...................................................................................................... 47 Cooling System Parameters....................................................................................... 50 The Cost of Water Saved ........................................................................................... 54 Dry & Non-Operating Cooling Systems Analyses .................................................... 64 Shortcomings ............................................................................................................. 65 Summary and Conclusions.................................................................................................. 66 Recommendations ............................................................................................................... 67 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 67 Literature Cited ................................................................................................................... 67 Chapter 4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................... 70 iv References..................................................................................................................................... 72 Appendix A. EIA Parameters & Codes ........................................................................................ 75 Appendix B. MySQL Queries....................................................................................................... 82 Appendix C. Power Plants Included in Database ......................................................................... 90 Appendix D. Example Calculations............................................................................................ 102 Appendix E. List of Power Plants Included in Additional Dry Cooling Systems Study............ 107 v List of Figures Figure 2-1. Water Use in Power Plants with Wet-recirculating Cooling Systems (USDOE/NETL 2009b) ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Figure 2-2. Boiler Water and Cooling Water Loops in Power Plants (USGAO 2009)................. 9 Figure 2-3. Once-Through Cooling System (USGAO 2009) ...................................................... 10 Figure 2-4. Wet-recirculating Cooling System