what are some disadvantages of natural gas fired plants?

Answer 1

Compared to the other available fossil fuels, there are no disadvantages to using natural gas for fired electric power plants. However, most large power plants being built now and in the planning stages for future construction are what are called combined fuel power plants, which can use either natural gas, coal, or oil to fire the boilers that produce the steam for the turbines. The power plants can then use whatever fuel is the most economical, because based on demand and availability, the cost of the various fuels can very widely. Right now coal is still the most economical fuel.

The most efficient fossil fuel power plants are the natural gas "combined cycle" type where the natural gas is fired to a turbine to generate power directly, and then the waste heat from the turbine is directed into a boiler where it generates steam that is then fed into a separate set of steam turbines to generate additional power.

Answer 2

The gas turbine machinery is very expensive to procure and rather expensive to maintain. Gas powerplants tend to not be as efficient as coal plants or nuclear plants, the only real disadvantage is that it's a fossil fuel and a producer of Carbon Dioxide when burned.

See the top five world biggest natural gas fired power plants

Answer 3

The only real disadvantage is that it's a fossil fuel and a producer of Carbon Dioxide when burned.
(It is otherwise a very clean, easily combusted with little preparation. It's easily distributed and, at the moment, a plentiful source of energy.
It can also be reduced in volume by about 630 times and liquified for transportation of large quantities anywhere in the world).

Answer 4

Natural gas is easy to handle and clean burning fuel with lower CO2 emissions than other fossil fuels. I suppose like all fossil fuels it does have the disadvantage that it is a net producer of CO2, unlike biomass where CO2 is absorbed when it grows. Other disadvantages maybe dwindling reserves or other supply or price problems if gas is imported.

Answer 5

Natural gas is an excellent fuel but the gas fired plants have some inherent disadvantage too. Some of them are :
1) Hazardous : Easy to catch fire and elaborate safety interlock system/ Gas leak detection system / fire protection systems are necessary . Whole plant area becomes a hazard zone . Inert gas purging system / intrisically safe equipment / instruments / costlier explosion /spark proof enclosures for motors and other equipment are required to prevent explosions .
2) Gas has lower calorific value than coal and oil and renders less thermal efficiency for boiler and turbines as moisture is one of products of combustion .
3) Air pollution : Since main product of combustion of natural gas is Carbondioxide , plants burning natural gas contribute to global warming .

Answer 6

The gas turbine machinery is very expensive to procure and rather expensive to maintain. Gas powerplants tend to not be as efficient as coal plants or nuclear plants, though their startup cycle is very short, which makes them ideal for use as "peaking plants"--powerplants that operate during peak consumption times.