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Electricity Generation From Lignite John Weeda Director ND Plant Operations June 18, 2013. Reliable, low-cost electricity. Great River Energy 2 nd largest utility in MN 28 member cooperatives 850+ employees (MN and ND) 2,751 MW owned generation 469 MW wind
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Electricity GenerationFrom LigniteJohn WeedaDirector ND Plant OperationsJune 18, 2013
Reliable, low-cost electricity • Great River Energy • 2nd largest utility in MN • 28 member cooperatives • 850+ employees (MN and ND) • 2,751 MW owned generation • 469 MW wind • 4,500+ miles transmission lines • $868.5 million 2011 operating revenue • $3.35 billion total assets • Capital markets
Our triple bottom line… Reliability Rates Environment • Affordable rates • Reliable electric service • Environmental stewardship
Types of Generation • Baseload power is available for 24-7 demand • High-capacity generating plants • Plants cost less to operate when at full efficiency • Peaking power is available when demand is highest • Higher cost to operate, but quick start-up to react to demand changes • Intermittent power is available when supply allows • Cannot be relied upon to react to level of demand
Lignite A low-cost abundant resource for generation of electricity
Fort Union Lignite Over 2.0 million U.S. customers served – 850,000 Canadian customers
Economic Impact Every 4 megawatts of Lignite-based Electric Generation requires about 3 jobs
Agenda • Basics of generating electricity • Commercial generating technologies • Lignite as a fuel source • Controlling emissions • Generating electricity • Summary
Magnetic Field Around Bar Magnet Lines of force (Flux) N S Magnet
Producing Electricity From Magnetism Coil Meter (Galvanometer) Magnet
Basics of How Electricity is Made Producing Electricity! Which spins a magnet inside a coil of wire A source of energy such as lignite To push blades on a shaft
Electricity Savings The same amount of electricity used to light up one incandescent light bulb will light up how many LED bulbs? • 2 LED bulbs • 5 LED bulbs • 10 LED bulbs • 20 LED bulbs • 50 LED bulbs
Electricity Savings The same amount of electricity used to light up one incandescent light bulb will light up how many LED bulbs? • 2 LED bulbs • 5 LED bulbs • 10 LED bulbs • 20 LED bulbs • 50 LED bulbs
Primary Sources of Energy for Generation of Electricity • Thermal generation - coal fired • Nuclear generation - reactors • Water - water wheel or water turbine • Wind Generators- wind turbines • Diesel - diesel engine • Natural gas - gas turbine
Wind Generators Renewable, clean but intermittent
Basics of How Electricity is Made A source of energy such as wind To push blades on a shaft Which spins a magnet inside a coil of wire Producing Electricity!
Basin Electric’s Wind Facilities PW 1 713 MW Minot Baldwin Edgeley Wilton Day County Hyde County SMSC Wind SD WindPartners Pipestone Chamberlain Lakota PWSD1 Hancock Superior Oaklane Crosswinds
Water-Hydro Generation Renewable, clean and reliable….but expensive and hard to build today
Basics of How Electricity is Made A source of energy such as water To turn blades on a shaft Which spins a magnet inside a coil of wire Producing Electricity!
Wind and Water Renewable but intermittent Load characteristics impact base-load units – follow the wind and water High water or wind generation – base-load units drop off
Diesel Generator Used for short term peaking – expensive
Basics of How Electricity is Made A source of energy such as a diesel engine To turn a shaft Which spins a magnet inside a coil of wire Producing Electricity!
Gas Turbine Natural gas is cleaner but pricing is volatile
Basics of How Electricity is Made A source of energy such as burning gas Which spins a magnet inside a coil of wire To turn blades on a shaft Producing Electricity!
Exploring lignite as a fuel sourcewith steam turbine generators
Most Common Commercial Technology for Large-Scale Electrical Generation Affordable, reliable, increasingly clean
How Electricity is MadeUsing a Steam Turbine Emissions Control Steam Equipment Turbine Generator Steam Pulverized Coal Water Condenser Boiler Hot Air
Lignite-Fired Boiler Bunker Burners Coal Feeder Lift Line Pulverizer
Photo of pulverized coal Photo of oil during startup
2,400 PSI Steam Pressure 2,400 Pounds 2,400 pounds per square inch
Plant Transformers • Auxiliary transformers for plant power • Step-Up transformers for sending power out
Lignite has some challenging characteristics COAL COAL H O 2
Other Challenging Characteristics • Parameters of ND Lignite as found in nature • Heating value 6,000 to 7,000 BTU / Lb (other coals 8,000 to 12,000 BTU / Lb) • Ash content in ND lignite - 6% to 12% as burned • Sodium content high in many areas – contributes to challenges • Deposits in boiler • Other mineral constituents
DryFineCan Improve Lignite Coal Creek Station • Low temperature waste heat is being used to reduce moisture in lignite • System segregates unwanted portion of fuel • Increases plant efficiency and reduces emissions
Lignite boiler emissions in North Dakotaare controlled with up-to-date technology