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The Changing Picture of Water Consumption By Power Stations
Author(s) -
Martin P. C.,
Todd I. J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1999.tb01064.x
Subject(s) - combined cycle , fossil fuel , electricity , environmental science , electricity generation , thermal power station , power station , waste management , gas turbines , sustainability , environmental engineering , engineering , power (physics) , mechanical engineering , electrical engineering , ecology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Recent advances in open‐cycle gas‐turbine technology have resulted in station thermal efficiencies which are comparable with the large fossil‐fired stations built in the 1970s. The combination of a steam cycle to the gas turbine culminating in the ‘combined cycle gas turbine’ station has led to even greater generating efficiencies. These advances in power‐station design have led to reductions in water demand per megawatt of electricity generated. However, water usage still contributes significantly to increasing fuel efficiency in (a) the electrical generating process, (b) reducing atmospheric emissions from stations burning fossil fuels, and (c) utilizing gas turbines. Considerations arising from the competitive electricity market and wider issues of sustainability and environmental improvements, in general, suggest that water will continue to be required for power generation in the foreseeable future.