From: AtomicRod@aol.com [mailto:AtomicRod@aol.com]
Sent: Monday August 25, 2003 6:50 PM
In a message dated 8/24/03 7:11:19 PM, adam.mclean@utoronto.ca writes:
Officials have said Romania will seek to increase power generation at coal-based power plants to make up for the closure of the Cernavoda reactor.
So what do the coal plants use for cooling water? Have they found a way to operate without a heat sink? Has the 2nd law of thermodynamics been repealed when I was not looking ?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Rod
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Rod,
Here's an update of sorts.... (sorry, nothing about repealing the 2nd law of thermodynamics :-(
Jaro
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Six Additional Romanian Thermal Power Plants Put into Operation
Romanian News Digest, 26 August 2003
The Romanian Ministry of Economy and Trade approved, on August 25, 2003, putting six domestic thermal power plants into operation to compensate for the closure of the nuclear power plant in Cernavoda.
(Editor's note: Romania shut down its only nuclear reactor on August 24, 2003 due to drought in the region, which resulted mainly in a lack of water to cool the reactor.) The thermal power units, which were put into operation, require high operating costs, are designed to operate on natural gas and black oil, and are more efficient during the winter season, when they are used to generate electric and thermal power. Their operating cost during summer doubles, compared to other thermal power plants. One of the units is located in Iernut, with a 100 MW capacity, one in Mintia, with 80 MW, in Braila, with 80 MW, Galati, with 100 MW, Turceni, with a total 300 MW, and one in Doicesti, with a total 150 MW capacity. The Cernavoda reactor has a capacity of 700 MW, 10 pct of the country's electricity output. Electricity consumption in Romania on August 25, 2003 stood at an average 5,003 MW per hour. Of the total, 3,128 MW was produced at coal-fired plants, and 897 MW at hydrocarbon-fired units. Hydropower plants produced 735 MW, and the remaining megawats were generated by independent producers.