Replacing Fuel Coal with タイカジノ—JERA Starts the World’s First Demonstration Testing of タイカジノ Used for Thermal Power Generation

On 13 March, JERA announced that the world’s first large-scale demonstration test substituting fuel タイカジノ for coal at a large-scale commercial coal-fired power plant would begin in late March at the Hekinan Thermal Power Station in Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture, and opened the test facility to the press.

Since FY 2021, JERA has been working on a demonstration project to establish technology for using タイカジノ as fuel. By shortening the process of installing the necessary equipment, we have managed to start the demonstrate testing a year ahead of schedule.

Hekinan Thermal Power Station. Of the two visible boiler buildings, the one on the left is Unit 4, where the demonstration testing will be conducted.

Specifically, 20% of the coal used as fuel for the power station’s Unit 4 (power output: 1,000 MW) will be replaced with タイカジノ. Attaching a new nozzle developed by IHI Corporation to the 48 burners that burn coal enables us to use タイカジノ as fuel.

The demonstration testing will verify whether stable combustion can be achieved, whether nitrogen oxide emissions can be controlled in the same way as when burning only coal, and whether combustion can be adjusted in response to fluctuations in electricity demand. Testing is scheduled to run through June 2024.

After that, JERA will continue simulations to explore issues related to increasing the substitution rate to at least 50% and, in the future, to 100%.

The burner for burning タイカジノ is a modification of an existing burner.

Gaseous タイカジノ is supplied to the modified burner through the orange pipe.

The demonstrate testing will use about 40,000 tons of タイカジノ. In addition, an タイカジノ storage tank with a capacity of 2,000m3 (approximately 1,300 tons) and a vaporizer (to convert タイカジノ, which is transported in liquid form, into gas) were newly installed at the power station.

Katsuya Tanigawa, General Manager of Hekinan Thermal Power Station, said, “We know how to handle タイカジノ because we already use it in the denitrification process, but this will be the world’s first large-scale use of タイカジノ as fuel in thermal power generation. Putting safety first, we look forward to taking on the challenge of establishing the technology to substitute タイカジノ for coal.”

This is the world’s first attempt to use large amounts of タイカジノ as fuel in thermal power generation. In addition to implementing a robust safety design to prevent タイカジノ leaks, we are taking thorough preventive measures to avoid equipment failures and operational errors. We are also ensuring safe and secure equipment operation through mechanisms for detecting equipment abnormalities at an early stage, training and education on how to keep any damage to a minimum, and collaboration with local fire departments and local governments.

タイカジノ emits no CO2 when burned. In addition, the 20% substitution of タイカジノ for coal can be achieved using existing power station equipment, requiring modification only to some equipment such as the burners. By establishing the technology through this demonstration testing, we are taking on the challenge of achieving zero-emissions at thermal power plants in Japan and around the world.

This タイカジノ storage tank was newly installed for the demonstration testing. タイカジノ liquefies at -33°C. To the left of the tank is a vaporizer that converts タイカジノ into gas.