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rameshin
Protected: Q1 WHAT IS SUPERCRITICAL TECHNOLOGY?
SUPERCRITICAL TECHNOLOGY PLAYS VITAL ROLE IN
ENSURING ENERGY SECURITY IN INDIA COMMENT? [200
WORDS]
Introduction
Ultra Mega Power Projects [ approx 4000 MW capacity] in India are using supercritical technology
f or electricity generation.
Recently the f oundation stone of NTPC`s 2640 MW Bundelkhand Super Thermal Power Project was
laid at Barethi, Chattarpur District of Madhya Pradesh. Comprising of 4 units of 660 MW each and
with environment f riendly super critical technology, the project is expected to contribute signif icantly
to the economic and social development of the region.
National Thermal Poer Corporation [NTPC] being the largest power utility in the country has been
playing a major role in meeting the power needs of the country and contributing to the economic and
social development of the country.
What is supercritical technology
By using this technique, SUPERCRITICAL FLUID is generated
A supercritical f luid is any substance at a temperature and pressure above its CRITICAL POINT,
where distinct liquid and gas phases do not exist.
Critical point specif ies the conditions (temperature, pressure and sometimes composition) at which
a phase boundary ceases to exist. There are multiple types of critical points such as vaporliquid
critical points and liquidliquid critical points.
Supercritical f luid can ef f use through solids like a gas, and dissolve materials like a liquid. In addition,
close to the critical point, small changes in pressure or temperature result in large changes in density,
allowing many properties of a supercritical f luid to be f ine-tuned.
How supercritical fluid differs from other fluids
There is no surf ace tension in a supercritical f luid, as there is no liquid/gas phase boundary. By
changing the pressure and temperature of the f luid, the properties can be tuned to be more liquid-
or more gas-like.
One of the most important properties is the solubility of material in the f luid. Solubility in a
supercritical f luid tends to increase with density of the f luid (at constant temperature). Since density
increases with pressure, solubility tends to increase with pressure.
The relationship with temperature is a little more complicated. At constant density, solubility will
increase with temperature. However, close to the critical point, the density can drop sharply with a
slight increase in temperature. Theref ore, close to the critical temperature, solubility of ten drops with
increasing temperature, then rises again
Applications
Supercritical f luids are suitable as a substitute f or organic solvents in a range of industrial and laboratory
processes. Important uses are given below
Supercritical f luid decomposition
Dry-cleaning
Impregnation and dyeing
Nano and micro particle f ormation
Generation of pharmaceutical cocrystals
Supercritical drying
Supercritical water oxidation
Supercritical f luid in power generation
Biodiesel production
Carbon capture and storage and enhanced oil recovery
Ref rigeration
Application of Supercritical technology in our day to day life [ ensuring energy security in India]
In the globalized world, we need many products. To provide goods and services we need, continuous
electricity supply is essential. At the same time, method used f or producing electricity should be eco-
f riendly [ to the extent possible]
Here Supercritical technology f ulf ills both energy ef f icient method as well as eco-f riendly.
UMPP uses this technology
What is UMPP
Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPP) are a series of ambitious power projects planned by
the Government of India. With Indiabeing a country of chronic power def icits, the Government of
India has planned to provide power f or all by the end of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (20072012).
This would entail the creation of an additional capacity of at least 100,000 MW by 2012. Ultra Mega
Power projects, each with a capacity of 4000 MW or above, are being developed with the aim of
bridging this gap.