Our Technology & The Environment
Process Technology
From fuel delivery to ash removal, Longview Power is designed for efficiency.
Fuel Transportation
Longview is a "mine mouth" project which means that Longview's fuel arrives by overland conveyors from a nearby coal mine. The fuel conveyors reduce the need for local transport traffic and related impacts, supporting greater project efficiency.
SCPC Boiler Technology
The centerpiece of the Longview plant is the 695 MW (net) supercritical pulverized coal ("SCPC") boiler. "Supercritical" is a thermodynamic expression describing the state of a substance where there is no clear distinction between the liquid and the gaseous phase. Water reaches this state at a pressure above 3200 pounds per square inch (psi).
Supercritical coal-fired power plants are significantly more fuel-efficient than older sub-critical plants that form the majority of coal-fired generating facilities in the U.S. SCPC technology has become the technology of choice for new coal projects in Europe and Asia where high coal costs and strict environmental requirements have driven the need for cleaner, more efficient technology.
Steam Turbine
The steam turbine-generator is manufactured by Siemens and is engineered to most efficiently transfer the thermal energy from the steam produced by the boiler into mechanical energy that drives the generator. The generator then converts the turbines' mechanical energy into electrical energy that is transmitted by wires for consumer use.
Heat Rate
Similar to energy efficient automobiles that consume less gasoline per mile, Longview Power consumes less fuel per megawatt hour, and consequently produces lower air emissions. A power plant's "heat rate" is the measure of heat (fuel) input to energy output. The lower the heat rate, the more efficient the power plant.
Heat Rate -
US Coal Plants > 200MW
At 8,728 Btu/kWh, Longview's net plant heat rate will be the lowest of all coal plants in the 13 state PJM regional interconnection, and in the lowest 0.3% in the entire U.S.
Longview's Rank: 1 out of 343
More information about Longview's Benson boiler can be found on the Siemens web site here.
Proximity to Ash Disposal
The ash disposal facility is located adjacent to Longview. This short distance minimizes transportation costs and keeps ash trucks off public roads, further supporting Longview's overall project efficiency.
Collectively, Longview's process efficiencies allow it to enjoy the lowest cost of dispatch (delivery of electricity) of any pulverized coal plant in the region.