USE OF LNG FOR WORLD HIGH-EFFICIENCY THERMAL POWER GENERATION

摘要

Japanese electric power companies have adopted combined cycle power generation which combines gas turbines and steam turbines since the latter half of the1980s to efficiently convert liquefied natural gas (LNG) into electric energy. This is an effective power supply measure for preventing global warming. Chubu Electric Power Company has held first place in the thermal efficiency of thermal power generation in Japan for five years since 1997. This is a result of operations that give priority to high-efficiency power generation plants, in addition to the adoption of high-efficiency apparatus for power generation plants. This paper first introduces power generation efficiency-improving measures from the viewpoint of equipment and operation, and then introduces actual examples of efficient power generation using LNG to elucidate why Chubu Electric can maintain high thermal power generation efficiency. As deregulation of the gas business and flexibility of LNG procurement progress throughout the world, the paper provides various highly suggestive findings concerning the efficient use of energy from the viewpoint of equipment and operation.