The demonstration project for the transformation of peak load regulation flexibility through extracting steam and molten salt heat storage at the Hebei Longshan Power Plant of CHN Energy Investment Group (CHN Energy) started construction recently.
This project is the first significant scientific and technological innovation demonstration project in China to use molten salt for large-scale heat storage to achieve deep peak regulation for power units. It is also a national key scientific research support project for the clean and efficient utilization of coal.
The project has a total investment of 320 million yuan($44.6million), covering an area of about 7,800 square meters. It adopts high-temperature molten salt energy storage technology, uses existing power units, and adds a molten salt energy storage system consisting of low-temperature molten salt tanks, heat exchangers, and high-temperature molten salt tanks.
When the power grid requires deep peak regulation, the surplus steam heat from the boiler can be stored in the heat storage system, decoupling the boiler and the power generation units. This allows the units to meet the needs of grid load regulation and make room for new energy power generation.
When the power grid is at peak load, the heat stored in the heat storage system during the load regulation can be released to increase the peak load capacity of the power generation units.
Upon completion, the plant's unit peak load regulation capacity will increase by 100 MW, for up to four hours; the peak load capacity will be increased by 47 MW, and the heat release time will be no less than six hours.
In addition, this project will effectively enhance the peak load regulation capacity of the power grid in southern Hebei, increase the proportion of new energy consumption, and promote new energy development and energy structure transformation in Hebei Province. It will also provide technical reference for significantly improving the peak load regulation capacity of existing coal-fired power units nationwide with a demonstration effect.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
