Annual brief overview
Fiscal 2008 Status of Demonstration Test
The rated output of 250 MW was achieved in March 2008. Efforts to achieve long-term continuous operation, the key goal of IGCC development efforts, began on June 10. A cumulative operating time of 2039 hours was achieved on September 17. This marked the achievement of the expected goal—plant reliability during non-stop operations over a period of three months during summer, a time of peak power demand—and represented a major step toward the commercial application of the IGCC process.
[Coal Gasification Adjustment Test (RUN-7)]
- <Test Objectives>
- ・Confirm the facility’s load-following capabilities and controllability through load variation test.
- ・Confirm plant efficiency and environmental characteristics through performance test.
- <Results of Test>
- ・Operational stability was confirmed for increasing and decreasing loads.
- ・The plant met environmental target values for SOx, NOx, dust concentrations, and exhaust gas amounts.
[Test to Confirm Absence of Defects] (RUN-8)]
- <Test Objectives>
- ・Confirm the absence of defects in parts of the facility modified before the 2000-hr continuous operation (RUN-9).
- <Results of Test>
- ・Tests confirmed the absence of defects in the modified sections. Tests also confirmed the operational stability of the plant.
[2000-hr Sustained Operation Test and Operations Optimization Test (1) (RUN-9)]
- <Test Objectives>
- ・Confirm aspects related to 2000-hr sustained operations.
- ・Perform confirmation test to improve plant efficiency and operability.
- <Results of Test>
- ・Tests confirmed plant reliability for a cumulative operating time of operation of 2039 hours.
- ・Tests gave basic data to support upcoming operations optimization test (2).
[Operations Optimization Test (2) and Coal Type Replacement Test (RUN-10)]
- <Test Objectives>
- ・Confirm plant efficiency and improve plant efficiency and operability through confirmation test.
- ・Confirm pertinent aspects of operation using coal types other than designed one for the plant.
- <Results of Test>
- ・Tests confirmed net thermal efficiency (LHV) exceeding the target value (42%). They also confirmed compatibility with coal types other than designed one for the plant.
