What percentage of U.S. power plants can run on either natural gas or residual fuel oil?

January 16, 2009 9:26 AM

What percentage of U.S. power plants can run on either natural gas or residual fuel oil? Please cite source.
posted by zembla3 to Technology (4 answers total)

Existing Generating Capacity by Energy Source
posted by milkrate at 9:35 AM on January 16, 2009

I doubt that very many can. Power plants that use natural gas usually are gas turbines. Power plants that run on bunker oil use boilers and steam turbines.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:46 AM on January 16, 2009

Some of the heavy frames (an industry term for a large gas turbine) can be run on distillate, which is the lightest form of fuel oil. It can cause damage to the turbine, so is generally used sparingly. But running on bunker C? No chance without gasification and scrubbing.
posted by scruss at 10:17 AM on January 16, 2009

Milkrate's got it. And the only source caring about as well.
posted by General Malaise at 10:24 AM on January 16, 2009