The most common problem with aging coal-fired units involves erosion of the steam turbine’s blade path. More efficient blading will increase the steam output and improve the unit’s overall heat rate.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a huge role in heat rate optimization. In some cases, AI-driven models have analyzed operational data to recommend control settings that reduce heat rates by ...

Between 2006 and 2015, annual average heat rates from the nation’s natural gas–fired power plants plunged 7%, while only decreasing 1% for coal plants, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) ...