Energy Solutions
NEARLY 7 MILLION TONS of coal mined annually.
1,600 MEGAWATTS
of power.
PROVIDING
2.5 MILLION
families with electricity every day.
$785
MILLION
in economic activity contributed annually.
$1 BILLION
invested in the Best Available Control Technology (BACT).
Tomorrow's Tech Today
Supercritical Technology: The Power of 21st Century Clean Coal
Click on a number to learn about the technology behind each process.
Process 1: Boiler & Nitrogen Oxide Control
Supercritical power plants are highly efficient, creating more energy per ton of coal used. Within the boiler, low-NOx burners impede the formation of NOx by lowering the temperature of the flame to control the way coal combusts.
Process 2: Turbine & Generator
Turbines consist of fan-type blades attached to a shaft that are rotated by steam from the boiler, converting the kinetic energy of the steam into mechanical energy that is distributed over the grid.
Process 3: Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
An SCR further controls NOx emissions by injecting product into the air stream as it passes over a catalyst, causing the NOx to be converted to nitrogen and water. The SCR also assists with mercury control.
Process 4: Dry Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)
The dry ESP removes virtually all particulates from the air stream in addition to some mercury. The dry ESP uses electrodes to place an electric charge on the particles, which are captured on an oppositely charged plate. The particles are then shaken from the plates and collected.
Process 5: Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Scrubber
SO2 is dramatically reduced by "scrubbers," which inject a limestone and water mixture into the air stream, where it reacts to capture or "scrub" the SO2. Scrubbers also help control mercury.
Process 6: Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)
The air stream passes through the scrubber into a wet ESP, which will remove fine particulates and other constituents. Wet ESPs use multiple high-voltage fields to attract the particles to an electrode, which is then washed with water to capture the constituents, including some mercury.
Process 7: Cooling Tower
Condensed steam from the generators is cooled through a high-efficiency water evaporation system and recycled back to the plant for reuse. Water vapor is emitted from the cooling towers during this process.