Application of Reliability Techniques to Mature, Near-Term and Future Coal Utilization Technologies

Power Plant Reliability and availability are important performance indices that have a bearing on the economic viability of energy technologies. In recognition of this, Reliability techniques are finding increased application in the Electric Utility Industry. A wide variety of energy technologies, some conventional and some developmental, are being examined as potential parts of the solution to the energy crisis. Because of the disparity in the state of development of different energy conversion processes, it is necessary to employ different reliability techniques in analyzing them. The need to tailor the reliability technique to individual energy technologies based on the degree of maturity is demonstrated in the paper. Case histories of application of the technique to three energy technologies are included to illustrate the difference in treatment needed while evaluating mature (conventional fossil), near-term (coal-derived fuels) and advanced (MHD) energy conversion methods.