Study of the combined cycle power plant as a generation expansion alternative

Analysis of future alternatives for US utilities is needed as a part of evaluating the impact of combined cycle and phased-construction of integrated coal gasifier power plants on generation expansion. The study encompassed both large and small electric utilities and long-run, least-cost expansion plan for the generating system and studies of the short-run production cost of electrical generation for selected years. The long-run studies were carried out using the Wien Automatic System Planning Package (WASP-II). The optimal combined cycle penetration level was determined for a set of assumptions that involve economics, new technology trends, and feasibility as well as the utility's existing capacity and load forecast. Additional cases were run to account for phased construction and coal gasification. Two electric utilities were selected in this study. These are a U.S. southeastern utility the Bangladesh Electric Utility. The former was chosen as the large utility. The latter was considered a small size utility. WASP-II enhancements enabled us to run cases using IBM-RT and to account for phased construction. The sensitivity studies involved the penetration levels, the fuel supply (oil and natural gas), and economic dispatch of coal gasifiers in particular, and combined cycle power plants in general. Load forecast, and availability of hydroelectric energy were kept uniform. However, adding new power plants and retiring old ones were considered to achieve a more economical and reliable planning strategy while considering issues of technical feasibility.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Electrical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1987

Author dc:creator

• Bouzguenda, Mounir

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/101165

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/101165