China has set a new world record for the fastest load ramping rate in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) power unit, marking a major breakthrough in flexible peak-shaving technology.
Source: China Energy Network
China has set a new world record for the fastest load ramping rate in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) power unit, marking a major breakthrough in flexible peak-shaving technology. The achievement was announced on March 31 by the Shanxi Research Institute of Huairou Laboratory, which led the development of this technology as part of a provincial-level major science and technology project. The first implementation took place at Jibian Shouyang Thermal Power Co., Ltd., in a 350MW unit.
As China pushes to build a new power system in pursuit of its dual carbon goals, coal-fired power plants face increasing demands for flexibility. However, most existing CFB units struggle to exceed a load ramping rate of 1.5%Pe/min (Pe = rated power), making it difficult for them to respond to fluctuating grid demands. New technological innovations are urgently needed to improve peak-shaving capabilities.
To tackle this challenge, Professor Ma Suxia’s team at Taiyuan University of Technology developed a hybrid combustion method that combines CFB coal with pulverized coal (PC), significantly enhancing load-following performance. The technology, which was successfully demonstrated in China’s first CFB hybrid combustion peak-shaving project, enables “rapid combustion with mild heat transfer.” As a result, the average load ramping rate has reached 3.71%Pe/min, with a peak rate of 4.05%Pe/min, putting it at the forefront of global industry standards.
“Our team developed a precision powder injection system that precisely controls the volume and flow rate of high-calorific-value coal powder, enabling near-instant ignition and rapid combustion—similar to adding a turbocharger to a conventional car,” said Professor Ma.
Beyond its technological advantages, the system is cost-effective and delivers substantial economic and environmental benefits. For a single 350MW unit, the initial investment in the peak-shaving system is just 0.2% of the total plant investment, yet it reduces CO₂ emissions by approximately 330,000 tons per year. This breakthrough not only modernizes coal-fired power plants with cleaner, more flexible operations but also provides a critical technical foundation for integrating thermal power with renewable energy sources—a key step in coal power’s low-carbon transition.
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