1) European Working Group "Biomass Ash" established
2) Round-robin test of FGD-gypsum
5) Chemistry in power plants - VGB PowerTech Journal 03/2013
Due to the increasing use of biomass for power and heat production the European Technical Committee "Environment" has established a European Working Group "Biomass Ash" (EWG BMA) to deal with the options of ash utilisation based on technical and environmental regulations.
In some European countries a number of smaller units are being operated with pure biomass combustion. Due to the legal support systems the number of bigger plants with biomass combustion is increasing, also elder coal-fired power plants are being switched to 100 percent biomass fuel.
A group of interested parties started the work on a status report regarding biomass fuels and the legal background for production and use in the European members states. This work will be continued in the European Working Group "Biomass Ash".
Further information:
mailto:hansjoachim.feuerborn@vgb.org
The VGB Working Panel "Analytics" is organizing a round robin test this year for the analysis of FGD gypsum together with the company r-concept according to VGB instruction sheet M701e. The participation can be further extended by few interested parties. The registration deadline is March 22, 2013.
More information
mailto:andreas.wecker@vgb.org
http://www.vgb.org/index.php?site=vgbmultimedia&id=6700
The VGB-FORSCHUNGSSTIFTUNG (Research Foundation) has rewarded outstanding achievements by young university graduates (age limit: 35 years) working in the field of power and heat generation with the Heinrich-Mandel Prize for 30 years. The prize is endowed with 10,000 Euro and is awarded annually on the occasion of the VGB Congress POWER PLANTS. The work that is to be honoured in this way can relate either to new findings in the operation of power and heat generation plants, or to important research results.
Based on the award guideline, all VGB member companies as well as the Board of Directors, and the Technical and Scientific Advisory Boards of VGB have the right to propose candidates by April 30, 2013.
http://www.vgb.org/en/research_mandel.html
Also this year, current technical issues in the context of changing national and European energy markets are of outstanding importance. These topics will be presented and discussed in VGB’s international conference "Power Plants in Competition 2013". This important conference takes place on April 24/25, 2013, in Neuss (nearby Duesseldorf) and is aimed at any power plant manufacturers, suppliers and power plant operators. Simultaneous interpretation into English and German will be provided.
VGB PowerTech will offer again its proven platform where you can share your experiences, increase your knowledge and get in touch with operators and plant manufacturers.
http://www.vgb.org/en/pp_competition_2013.html
Main topics of the March issue are: Can we save our world? Energy and climate as key issues for securing our future; PT Schemes - An instrument of quality assurance in power plant chemistry; Integrated flue gas cleaning system for a CO2 purification process applicable in an oxyfuel power plant; Fukushima two years after the tsunami - the consequences worldwide.
Abstracts of all articles are available here:
http://www.vgb.org/en/current_issue.html