Similar term(s): SC and USC power plants.
Conventional coal-fired power plants, which make water boil to generate steam that activates a turbine, have efficiency of about 32%.
Supercritical (SC) and ultra-supercritical (USC) power plants operate at temperatures and pressures above the critical point of water, i.e. above the temperature and pressure at which the liquid and gas phases of water coexist in equilibrium, at which point there is no difference between water gas and liquid water. This results in higher efficiencies – above 45%.
Supercritical (SC) and ultra -supercritical (USC) power plants require less coal per megawatt-hour, leading to lower emissions (including carbon dioxide and mercury), higher efficiency and lower fuel costs per megawatt.
Source: GreenFacts, based on
Carbon dioxide (CO2) - Supercritical carbon dioxide
Español: Tecnología supercrítica y ultra supercrítica
Français: Technologie supercritique & ultra-supercritique
Nederlands: Ultra-superkritische technologie