■ Research Achievements

In order to strengthen the company's competitiveness and customer service, Taipower actively engages in the promotion of R&D projects. In 2010, the following items were completed: 160 technical reports, 73 papers, 22 product developments, 21 process improvements, 19 technical introductions, 25 technical innovations, 6 new patents, 63 technical services and 16 technical promotions.

■ Improvement in Thermal Efficiency

The study of heat rate improvement for fossil power units including:

● Root cause analysis of higher condenser back pressure to propose corrective measures and improve thermal efficiency.

● The study of operational parameters for combined- cycle unit to improve unit heat rate.

● The monitoring of heat rate controllable loss for coal and oil-fired units to provide optimal operation conditions.

● The balancing of pulverized coal flow and tuning of combustion parameters to improve combustion performance.

● The tuning of combustion parameters for gas turbine to prevent abnormal vibration and excessive deterioration of the components.

● The development of a coal quality impact model to improve the plant operation and maintenance work.

■ Promotion of Renewable Energy

● Completed technical investigation on concentrating solar power technologies.

● Completed planning and installation of a 10kWp silicon-based PV demo system at Pingtung District Office.

● Completed planning and installation of a 3 kWp thin-film PV demo system at TPRI Sulin Branch Office.

● Continued planning and installation of a 10 kWp HCPV demo system.

● Built a forecasting model for Chungtun wind power output.

■ Development in Clean Coal Technology and CO 2 Capture and Storage

● Development of Clean Coal Technologies

1. Continuous investigation on the current status of power generation by integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) and oxy-fuel combustion technology.

2. Thermodynamic performance simulation for air-blown IGCC power plant.

3. Thermodynamic performance simulation for oxygen-blown IGCC power plant.

4. Studies on characteristics for oxy-fuel combustion.

● CO2 Capture and Storage Technology

CO 2 has been recognized as one of the main causes of global warming.

With the goal of reducing CO2 emissions from power plants, two projects are being proposed and carried out:

1. Advanced CO 2 Capture Technology

Two main tasks are involved in this project: A. Progress of low-cost post-combustion CO 2 capture technologies conducted in developed countries, B. Development of novel CO 2 absorbent.

2. Off-shore Geological CO 2 Storage

Three main subjects included in phase 1 of the project (2008-2010) : A. Geological investigation and site selection of sub-seabed geological formation for CO 2 storage, B. Estimation of CO 2 storage capacity for off-shore geological CO 2 storage, and C. Measures and remedies for off-shore geological CO 2 storage.

■ Application of New Technologies

● Development and application of new technology on laser processes: The research on laser powder welding processes and their use in repair welding of gas turbine blades, tenon rebuilding of steam turbines, and new valve seal manufacture of steam control valve, and introduction of laser drilling technology and its application to hole drilling of efurbishment blades and vanes.

● Introduction of FIC (fluoride iron cleaning system) technology, and its application in cleaning the crack oxides of the refurbished vanes and improvement of the brazing quality and efficiency.

● The study on photocatalytic reduction of C0 2

There is considerable evidence that the earth's climate is indeed changing as a result of excessive greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. CO 2 is the most important of the greenhouse gases. Hence, effective CO 2 emission reduction has become an important issue for human beings. The aim of this program is focusing on the utilization and conversion of CO 2 into viable economic products by using photocatalysts.

From 2010, the nanostructure titanium oxide catalysts with high surface areas were prepared. Then the physical and chemical properties of the catalysts were determined. The research results show that the catalysts have high CO 2 adsorption capacity and a potential for CO 2 reaction. The activity and products selectivity of CO 2 photocatalytic reduction will be studied.