Increasing the steam parameters

Less fuel input, less CO₂ emissions – a generation of lignite- and hard coal-fired power plants with efficiencies of more than 50% constitute huge progress within the meaning of sustainable and environmentally sparing developments. With the "Component Test Facility for a 700°C Power Plant" (COMTES700) in Gelsenkirchen-based hard coal-fired power plant Scholven, this aim has come a good deal closer. 

Acting jointly with partners inside Germany and from abroad, and promoted by the European Union, our engineers are testing in COMTES700 the materials and power plant components of tomorrow – components that can be reliably used even at temperatures of more than 700°C and under high pressure. 

Targets set  

Why 700°C? Anyone out  to increase – compared with today's standard – the steam conditions in coal-fired power plants to such a temperature level while reaching a pressure of 350 bar will also drive up efficiency: theoretically, by four percentage points. In previous plants, like the new hard coal-fired twin unit in Hamm, max. 46% is possible. Future power plants will reach efficiencies beyond 50%. Europe's average of approx. 36% is well below this value. This being so, the development of efficiency-boosting technologies for a 700°C power plant is an important goal for RWE. 

Gaining insights 

COMTES700 E Besides RWE's own plants, the test facilities in Gelsenkirchen play a crucial role in developing corresponding components. For three years, our engineers have been trialling special pipes, valves/accessories and thick-walled components. To withstand the high temperatures, they are mostly made of materials on a nickel basis. In addition, RWE is collecting important findings about the expansion, steam oxidation and flue-gas corrosion behaviour of the components. The comprehensive evaluations will be completed by 2011.

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