Transcript Document

Millennium Technology Prize
Symposium
Espoo, Finland 14 June 2004
Big Green Energy Machines
Jesse H. Ausubel
Program for the Human Environment
The Rockefeller University
http://phe.rockefeller.edu
Bankside Power Station, London
Opened for power generation in 1953, became Tate Gallery in 2000
100m tall
“Footprint”
covers 3.5
hectares
Comparably powerful plant built today
could fit in 1/10th the space
Hydrocarbon fuels ranked by heat value
Hydrocarbon fuels ranked by heat value
60
Natural Gas
LPG
Crude Oil (HHV)
40
MJ/kg
Heat Value
50
Crude Oil (LHV)
Black Coal A
30
Black Coal B
Black Coal C
Black Coal D
Firewood (dry)
Brown Coal A
20
10
Brown Coal B
0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Rank
Source: N. Victor & J. Ausubel, 2003
Basic ZEPP configuration, 400 atm case
1133º C
70 atm
790º C
400 atm
O2
CH4
combustor
regenerator
120º C
70 atm
1500º C
400 atm
80º C
400 atm
1133º C
70 atm
condenser
30º C
70 atm
pump
80º C
400 atm
gas turbine
generator
Source: After Ichihara, Tokyo Electric Power
Efficiency increases with higher pressure and temperature.
Power Generation Efficiencies for Power Plants
1700
Temperature, Celsius
1500
1000
Gas Turbine 50~55%
ZEPP 63% (projected)
Gas Turbine 48%
ZEPP 59% (projected)
ZEPP 70%
(projected)
Gas Turbine 43%
Steam Turbine (Ultra Supercritical) 42~43%
500
Steam Turbine (Conventional) 38~40%
100
200
400
600
800
Pressure, atmospheres
1000
Source: After Ichihara
USA: Hydrogen production, 1971-1999
semi-log scale
Millions of cubic feet
106
105
104
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
Year
Source: N. M. Victor and J.H. Ausubel, 2002
Major fuels ranked by heat value
10
8
Natural uranium in FBR
Uranium enriched to 3.5% in LWR
Natural uranium in CANDU
6
MJ/kg
Heat Value
10
Natural uranium in LWR
Natural uranium in LWR
with U & Pu recycle
10
4
Hydrogen
LPG
10
2
Black Coals
Natural Gas
Firewood
Crude Oils
Brown Coals
10
0 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Rank
Source: N. Victor and J. Ausubel, 2003
Hypothetical SuperGrid energy pipe
± 50,000 Vdc
100,000 A
10 GW
Thermal
Insulation
Electrical
Insulation
Liquid H2
@ 21 K
Vacuum
MgB2
MgB2
Source: P. Grant, EPRI
Energy SuperGrid pipe could share tunnels
with high-speed, long-distance trains
Source: EPRI
Like computers that comprise the Internet,
power plants become more powerful AND SMALLER
Dell laptop, 2004
US Ballistic Research Lab computer, mid 1950s
Tennessee Valley Authority coal plant
(date unknown)
Delivery of General Electric
480 MW natural gas turbine, 2000