SPX Indirect Dry Cooling Towers Help China’s Power Plants
Increasing world population, coupled with the advancement of developing countries is driving demand for electricity, food consumption and vehicle service. These trends are expected to drive a significant investment in power and energy infrastructure over the next two decades.
This is especially true in China where, according to the Mackenzie Global Institute, the country middle class will grow to become 76% of its population by 2025.
Increased infrastructure investment is already being demonstrated by the construction of new power plants throughout the country. But meeting the ever-increasing demand for power generation requires more than an increase in the number of China’s power plants. There is growing pressure — internally and externally — to minimize environmental impacts.
SPX is providing equipment and technologies that meet both needs.
The Power Behind Dry Cooling
SPX's dry cooling technologies have been of particular interest in China where SPX has been awarded numerous contracts for dry cooling systems.
These contracts are consistent with China's commitment to expand its power generation capacity — directly supported by the Chinese government's stimulus plan — while minimizing water consumption.
Dry cooling technologies can reduce water usage by approximately 90% as compared to other types of cooling systems.
"Our dry cooling systems enable the operation of power plants with limited use of water, which aligns strongly with the efforts and policies of Chinese authorities to conserve water resources in many areas,” explains Drew Ladau, SPX segment president.
New Technology Holds Promise for Arid Regions
Among the most recent projects is the design and supply of an indirect dry cooling tower (IDCT) system at the Huaneng Qinling Power Plant in China.
The 2x660MW coal-fired power plant, owned and operated by Huaneng Shaanxi Qinling Power Generation Co. Ltd., is located in Huayin City, Luofu County, Shaanxi Province where water shortages are hindering the development of the central Shaanxi plain.
Expected to be operational in early 2011, the plant is being constructed near a coal mine, which will further reduce transport costs and pollution.
The indirect dry cooling tower product employs SPX’s patent-pending Mega Delta technology, which holds promise for arid regions like Shaanxi Province.
The tower utilizes a traditional steam surface or jet condenser and a circulating water system to transfer waste heat to the natural draft concrete cooling towers using air-cooled heat exchanger bundles.
As the unit size of China’s power plants continues to grow, modern power plants require higher cooling performance, necessitating larger cooling surfaces and tower sizes.
The system also employs a two-level cooling delta arrangement that is designed to provide higher cooling efficiency at a reasonable cost and a more economical system operation.
Other significant advances have been made over the past few years to SPX's indirect dry cooling tower technology, including welded steel tubes for product integrity and large tubes for economical and reliable operation.
"Our deep experience in dry cooling technology allows us to provide power plants of large size with advanced and innovative technologies," said Drew Ladau, SPX segment president. "The Mega Delta technology is a highly efficient solution and very effective in arid conditions. We view China, India and other parts of Southeast Asia as well as Africa as ideal markets for these products today."