Daryl wrote:I forgot. Coal is our least reliable source for a couple of reasons, definitely true.
As Anna says coal stations are generally older.
However, despite what Climate Change Deniers claim, Australia has had more than its share of raised temperatures. In summer, weeks of over 40 degrees C temperatures have broken thermal plants. Modern gas turbines and renewables are coping well, but steam plants (fueled by coal or gas) are dependent on temperature differentials, and are operating outside their design parameters.
No, 40C has zilch to do with anything regarding the coal plant. What is temperature of the fired boiler? Thot 1000C. What is Tcold? 40C for a short period everyday instead of 20C or 30C etc for air cooled. Water cooled is steady.
What is efficiency again? 1 - Tcold/Thot
40C water input instead of 20C... Vapor pressure is what again for water? Operating range between zero to 85C generally speaking. Higher temps just requires more water for same cooling effect, or in case of air cooled, superior radiators. Or in case of raised river temps; superior radiators. You, the plant operator can choose.
Playing the, Its the temperatures stupid is beyond hilariously rediculous as these plants were designed to operate in these conditions and have been doing so for the last 100 years. We did not invent radiator science yesterday..... Even if assume the initial installation were designed for lower input feed water, the fix only requires a larger radiator/pump to "fix" this "problem".