Carbon dioxide production in electric power plants depends strongly on the fuel and power cycle efficiency. Coal and natural gas generate approximately one mole of CO2 for each mole of fuel burned, but they differ in their plant conversion efficiency. Table 10.1 shows average data for CO2 production when using either fuel for electricity generation. The absolute majority of pulverized coal plants operate on steam Rankine cycles. The most efficient natural gas plants operate on combined cycles, although some operate on simple cycles.
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