What is the efficiency of an Average Nuclear Power Plant?

Do coal fuel additives improve power plant efficiency?

• There are several coal fuel additive manufacturers that claim to improve efficiency of coal combustion process in power plant. Since power plants consume huge quantities of coal, even 2% efficiency improvement can imply significant savings. However, none of these solid fuel additive manufacturers have grown and become large players. Which begets the questions Q. Do these coal fuel additives actually work i.e. are efficiency gains as promised? Q.Which companies are the best players in this space globally/ in Asia? Certain such companies: Pennar Enviro Thermax (Coalmix and Biomix products) Innospec Abhitech Energycon

• Answer:

  I know very little, actually next to nothing, about this subject and was planning to decline this A2A. Then I became curious about the trends in my region, which is part of the TVA network. So, thanks Sam (and Quora) for encouraging me to do a bit of research. Apparently, the overall trend in the United States is toward the reduction and eventual elimination of coal fired plants. In an article published Monday on the Allen Plant in Memphis, I found the following: For more than a half-century, TVA's Allen Fossil Plant has been a reliable, if dirty, presence on Memphis' southwestern edge as it consumed towering piles of coal to make electricity. All that could change, however, as a result of a decision expected early this year. The Tennessee Valley Authority is slated to announce whether it will install costly air-pollution controls at the Allen facility or add it to the growing list of coal-fired plants that are being retired.... Coal-fired units such as those at Allen once produced 80 percent of TVA's power. But during the fiscal year 2013, which ended Sept. 30, the fuel accounted for just 38 percent of the agency's electricity. And TVA's goal is to gradually whittle that figure to 20 percent over the next decade, Johnson [TVA Pres/CEO] said. Within the past ten years, a significant supply of LP gas was discovered in Eastern Arkansas, along a geological formation known to locals as Crowley's Ridge. In places, this deposit is within 20 miles or so of Memphis, by direct pipeline. Easy access to this fuel would reduce costs significantly and encourage the power authority to convert its existing gas-fired turbines and add to their number, to generate adequate electricity for this city and surrounding areas. The cost savings would be far greater than the 2% mentioned in the OP's question for using an additive in coal-fired facilities. The improvement to the environment would be substantial, as well. I still have no idea if "coal fuel additives improve power plant efficiency," but it looks like the question may be irrelevant, given the trend toward using other cleaner and less costly fuels. Sources: http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/TVA-decision-on-Memphis-plant-approaching-5118048.php http://www.tva.com/sites/allen.htm