Hey All,
Coal Powered Electricity Generators hate the uncertainty of solar and especially wind production. Up or none.
Like your car engine there is a sweet spot, say 90kph. 120kpm revving a little harder, poor fuel economy, more heat, more wear, tyres get hotter and wear more etc. 80kph you’ll have to labour it on hills or go back a gear, more wear on the clutch and throw out bearings, gearbox third gear etc. and poor fuel economy!
Running a steam powered turbine/generator is just the same. Pulverised mills, condenser pumps, induction and exhaust fans need to run harder, added fuel causes ash on the boiler tubes, goes on and on.
Running them out of this sweet spot is only deteriorating them faster.
Generators may have to pull a unit offline and slowly rotate the long shafts to keep then straight and then go back online later in the day, time and money consuming!
Coalmines may be told by the Generators, we have enough coal this week so you’ll have to stockpile your coal (expensive dropping it on the ground and then reloading it) or slow production, they do you know, contracts are on a monthly basis, detrimental to Longwall Faces, basically roof weight moving from behind the supports to in front of the supports causing Face, Maingate and Tailgate collapses. Very dangerous! To the point the total longwall face may have to be stopped, supported and a new face cut.
If that would happen, tens of millions of dollars would be lost and it’s an extremely dangerous occurrence.
No wonder Coalmines can’t get Capital Investment.
Just remember everything you have is because of coal, gas and petroleum.
Your Car body, Engine block, electrical, exhaust system, vinyl seats, wheels and tyres, dash pads and upholstery.
Your house, Bricks, concrete, steel girders, the roof, tin or tiles, copper wires, gutters and pvc pipes.
Don’t give up on Coal yet, Yet till we go nuclear, because Solar, Wind and Hydro won’t sustain us!
Cheers Phil.