Dynamic modeling and comprehensive analysis of an ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant integrated with post-combustion carbon capture system and molten salt heat storage

Reducing carbon footprints and enhancing operational flexibility are crucial for the future development of coal-fired power plants (CFPPs). This necessitates the deployment of post-combustion carbon capture (PCC) and molten-salt heat storage (MSHS) systems. Given the various integration schemes and complex interactions, understanding the comprehensive performance of the integrated CFPP-PCC-MSHS system is important. This paper proposes an integration scheme for 1000MWe ultra-supercritical CFPP, solvent-based PCC and MSHS, achieving cascade energy utilization. A dynamic simulation model for the CFPP-PCC-MSHS system is developed to understand the dynamic couplings between subsystems. Comprehensive performance analyses are conducted to evaluate the thermodynamics, flexibility and safety of the integrated system under various operating conditions. Simulation results indicate that deploying MSHS reduces the thermal and exergy efficiencies of the CFPP-PCC system by 0.18 % and 0.19 %, respectively, but effectively expands the adjustable power load range by 6.08 % under the fixed 90 % CO2 capture rate mode. Meanwhile, the integration of MSHS offers alternative pathways to improve the power ramping rate to 13.33 MW/min. The heat charging/discharging process of MSHS induces fluctuations in temperature and pressure within the turbine, potentially affecting plant operating safety. This paper provides useful insights for the design, retrofit and operation of new generation of CFPPs.