Dry Cooling Technology in Chinese Thermal Power Plants

Abstract

Design of efficient dry cooling system is of critical importance for geothermal power conversion technologies. In fact, dry cooling may be the only option for most geothermal power plants planned to be established in areas with limited access to water. The heat exchange performance, flow geometry optimisation and cost are key factors in determining suitability of dry cooling towers for geothermal power plants. China has made advances in recent years in R&D, manufacturing, and utilisation of dry cooling towers in its coal rich but water scarce Northern provinces. One driver for the surge in applications of dry cooling systems is the government regulation that requires all new coal fired power plants built in Northern China region to use dry cooling systems. Northern China has plenty of coal but no water for wet cooling in its coal-fired power plants. A straightforward copying of the technology from coal-fired power industry to geothermal power industry is not expected to deliver a cost-effective solution and should be avoided. Benefits would be gained by reviewing the development of dry cooling technologies in Chinese coal-fired power plants. The Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence (QGECE) has supported Dr Zhiqiang Guan to apply for the Queensland International Fellowship aiming to review the advance of the dry cooling technology in China. In this paper a summary of dry cooling technology will be given with a focus on the Chinese practice.