【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】1745–2022: The World’s First Coal-Powered Coupled Molten Salt Heat Storage Pilot Project

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Happy May Day 2024! Safety first. Let’s give praise and support to the achievements in China’s chemical engineering technology and equipment. **********************【Ten Years of Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】A continuously updated summary post is available; feel free to join the discussions at https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Engineering Forum) ***************** The world’s first coal-power coupled molten salt heat storage demonstration project was put into operation in Jingjiang, capable of reducing 100,000 tons of coal consumption and 240,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. On December 17, 2022, the demonstration project involving “molten salt heat storage for frequency regulation, peak shaving, and secure steam supply in conjunction with coal power” was launched, funded by Jiangsu Guoxin Jingjiang Power Generation Co., Ltd. Developed independently by Guoxin Jingjiang Power Plant in collaboration with Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute, this project is the world’s first demonstration project for molten salt heat storage integrated with coal power generation. Once operational, it will enable a reduction of 100,000 tons of coal consumption and 240,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, contributing to the achievement of the \"dual carbon\" goals. The image shows the demonstration project for “molten salt heat storage technology for frequency regulation, peak shaving, and secure steam supply in combination with coal-fired power generation”. Photo by Zhu Qi. In recent years, new energy sources such as wind and solar power have developed rapidly, with their installed capacity continuing to increase. However, the instability of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power places higher demands on the grid’s capacity to absorb electricity. “Against this backdrop, we were the first in the country to take such a risk by applying the molten salt heat storage technology, which has been successfully used in concentrated solar power generation, to the coal power sector. This approach allows us to fully utilize the peak-shaving potential of power generation units, thereby creating more capacity for the integration of renewable energy sources and ensuring the safe and stable operation of the power grid. ”Qian Yongwu, general manager of Guoxin Jingjiang Power Plant, said that the \"molten salt thermal storage technology for frequency and peak load regulation, coupled with coal-fired power generation, as well as for ensuring stable steam supply,\" can maximize the energy utilization rate of the entire system, thereby contributing to the development of a new type of power system based on renewable energy sources. “As is well known, coal-fired power plants generally cannot be shut down at will once they are in operation. By utilizing molten salt heat storage technology, excess electrical energy generated by the power plant during periods of low grid demand can be stored in molten salt. Part of this energy is used to supply steam for industrial enterprises in Jingjiang, while the remaining part is released when the grid needs it, thereby helping to support the coal-fired power plants during peak times – essentially acting as a super ‘power bank’ for these plants. ”Ju Wenping, director of the Energy Conservation Center at Xi’an Thermal Power Institute, believes that this technology significantly improves the frequency regulation and peak-shaving capabilities of coal-fired power plants through the deep integration of a molten salt heat storage system with such plants. The demonstration project is the first of its kind in the world, featuring fully independent intellectual property rights with all core equipment being domestically produced. Thermal storage technology using molten salts features high safety, low cost, long lifespan, and large capacity, making it suitable for large-scale applications in enhancing the flexibility of coal-fired power plants. “Our steam supply network covers the entire area of Jingjiang; whenever the units are under maintenance, it leads to unstable steam supply. ”Zhong Zhikun, director of the Equipment Department at Guoxin Jingjiang Power Plant, explained that molten salt thermal storage technology effectively solves the problem of inconsistent steam quality in coal-fired units during low-load load regulation, improves the stability of steam supply under such conditions, and ensures the reliability of steam supply for industrial users. Compared with traditional technical approaches, Pu Jing’s technical route uses coal-based syngas to produce the intermediate product oxalate ester, which is then subjected to hydrodistillation to yield glycolate ester products, and subsequently hydrolyzed to obtain a glycolic acid aqueous solution. This route is more environmentally friendly and safer, offers higher product quality, and is more suitable for large-scale production.