Yuhuan Power International, which operates China's first 1,000MW/unit ultra-supercritical coal-fired plant, has awarded Emerson Process Management a "supplier award of excellence" for the implementation of Emerson's Ovation expert control system at the plant.

Emerson won the US$7 million (RMB54 million) contract to automate the four unit, 4,000MW coal-fired Yuhuan Power Plant in April 2005, and Ovation was succesfully implemented at Units 1 and 2 ahead of schedule. Start-up for Units 3 and 4 is slated for 2008.

Yuhuan Power Plant will feature four of the most advanced coal-fired units in the world

The plant’s thermal efficiency is more than 45% (compared with a typical subcritical plant thermal efficiency of 30-38%), and it features a fuel conversion rate of less than 288.5g/kWh (0.64 lbs/kWh). The main steam pressure is 26.25Mpa, and the main steam/reheat steam temperature is 600℃.

The plant, the first of its kind in China, is owned by Huaneng Power International, a power plant developer subsidiary of one of China's "big-five" utilities, Huaneng Group.

"As we anticipated, we found the Ovation system to be reliable, user-friendly and efficient – factors that contributed to our ability to put the plant into commercial operation eight months ahead of schedule,” said Wu Hechun, a supervisor in Huaneng Power International’s Instrument & Control division. “In recognition of Emerson’s exceptional products and dedicated field engineers, Yuhuan Power International has honored the company with a supplier award of excellence,” he said.

“Over the years, Emerson has been honored to play a role in a number of pioneering power projects,” said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson’s Power & Water Solutions division. “We are especially pleased to be involved in this project, which in addition to meeting the growing electricity needs of China, marks a significant accomplishment for the power generation industry in general, and Yuhuan Power International in particular.”

Ultra-supercritical technologies are expected to become more prevalent in China because they can boost the efficiency of coal-based electricity generation by more than 50%, while maintaining superior environmental performance.