Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 7/2004

Agenda of the EU – new Challenges for Electricity Producers

Jean-Guy Bartaire

An important programme, the CAFE Programme (Clean Air for Europe Programme), is being developed at European level and is very closely related to the UN-ECE Geneva work on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. The CAFE Programme is one of the seven "Thematic Strategies" proposed in the Sixth Environmental Action Programme (Community's 2002 to 2012 Programme for Environment).

The Future of Power Generation in the Liberalized German Market

Maren Hille and W. Pfaffenberger

This paper describes the upcoming capacity gap in the German power market, analyses possible solutions to the investment paradox and shows the possible future contribution of relevant energy sources to power generation. Options for a future "energy-mix" are discussed and evaluated in consideration of security of supply, profitability and environmental compatibility.

Climate Protection with New Technologies

A. Willeke

Technical progress is the key for solving the conflict between economic growth and climate protection. The emission of greenhouse gases is today one of the most important aspects in the assessment of new technologies in the energy sector. One third of the German generation capacity must be replaced within the next decade. Fundamental decisions concerning the future generation portfolio have to be made. Research efforts to develop low emission power plant technology have to be intensified. There are good indications for a new era of thermal power plant technology.

Roadmap for Climate Protection

Chr. Schneller

A year ago, the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU), in its report "World in Transition - Towards Sustainable Energy Systems" pleaded for a radical change in energy supply to limit climate change. The proposed strategy to turn energy systems towards sustainability and climate protection however ignores crucial factors that conflict with its realisation. Key element of an alternative climate protection strategy is a research and development policy that is generally open for any technology with the potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Damage Results at Flat Header Endcaps of Headres and High-pressure Resulting Testing Measures

G. Lüdenbach

In the recent past some spectaculars failures of flat endcaps of high pressure headers have occured. The failure caused by the conjunction of exceeding stresses and reduced mechanical properties of the heat affected zone of the flat end to cylindrical shell connection. A testing concept was developed by VGB. Presently the experience from the testing of all relevant endcaps will be collected by VGB for further testing.

Reduction of Costs with Recurring Examinations in Conformity with the Working Reliability Regulation

J. Grabig, B. Lipinski, J. Kahlert, G. Weiß and H. Altmann

With the new working reliability regulation the task is posed to operators of pressure-technical plants, for example boiler plants, to determine in the context of the recurring examinations inspection periods for the entire plant and its components. Relevant evaluation criterion is the condition of the entire plant and its components.

PC Software for the Lifetime Assessment of Pipe Bends in the Creep Range - Results of the FDBR-VGB-Research Project 201

J. Weber

In order to consider material non-linearity such as creep, in most cases calculations are carried out with a Finite-element programme. In spite of the availability of powerful computer-hardware, non-linear analyses are expensive and time consuming. The objective of the FDBR/VGB research and development project "Pipe Bends in the Creep Range" was to create an easy to use PC-programme to approximate the stress and strain calculation as well as the creep life prediction for pipe bends.

CONTHERM - Thermal Utilisation of Waste in a Power Plant by Integrated Waste Pyrolysis of High Calorific Residual Derivate Fuels

R. Hauk, O. Spindeldreher, N. Usdrowski, J. Stadtmüller, F.-J. Zimmer and C. Marsico

Future-oriented waste management concepts combine economic and environmental requirements. Against this background, Technip Germany has developed a concept in which a process for pyrolysis of municipal solid waste or high calorific value waste fractions is operated in combination with existing or also projected new coal fired power plants. This integration enables thermal utilisation of waste with some main advantages.

New Material Developments for Modern High Capacity Power Plants

W. Bendick, B. Hahn, and B. Vandenberghe

The first industrial use of X10CrMoVNb9-1 (T/P91) with the implicit possibilities to increase plant efficiency has started an active phase of developing new steels for tube and pipe. The modification of T/P91 - basically by addition of tungsten - has led to the steel grades T/P92 and X11CrMoWVNb9-1-1 (E911) allowing to increase the steam temperature up to 625°C. The paper reports on the development of a new 12% Cr-steel called VM12 which combines the good creep properties of E911 and T/P92 with a sufficiently high oxidation resistance.

Vibration instabilities on a steam turbine generator line

J. Lenz

During the startup of an 8.5 generator line in Austria consisting of a steam turbine, a single-stage spur gear and a generator, considerably increased shaft vibrations were detected in the partial load range. Two problem areas with regard to increased vibrations were determined. Independent of the load range, locally limited increased bearing pedestal vibrations occurred at the output-side bearing of the low pressure part. The vibration excitation was effected by the slow-running gear shaft by way of the common frame structure. A modification of the journal bearing system was proposed as a remedial measure.

Noise Control Design of Power Plants - Noise transmission and mutual influence of power plant components

J. Gilg

When planning a power plant it is important to consider requirements on the maximum admissible noise, as well. After completion of the plant it often shows that the sound pressure levels aimed at in the planning will be exceeded, although the individual aggregates that were ordered comply with the applicable standards and guidelines for the determination of the sound power levels. The reason for exceeding these levels may be found in the noise transmission and the mutual influence of power plant components among each other. The information elaborated by the VGB working group "Lärmminderung" helps to formulate noise control warrantees.

Exfoliation of steam side oxides from austenitic superheaters

O.H. Larsen, R.B. Frandsen and R. Blum

In USC-boilers, ferritic superheater steels are inadequate for the final superheaters, as the high material temperatures will lead to unacceptable steam side oxidation rates resulting in further temperature increase and finally in creep degradation and rupture. Therefore austenitic steels are required for the final superheaters as well as for superheaters located in high heat flux areas. Material selection should be made not only according to design rules but also according to calculations of real temperature conditions.

Health protection in power stations

B. Schubert

The topic health protection in power stations is inseparably linked with the topic industrial safety. Workplace protection understands itself as sum of industrial safety and health protection. The importance of health protection and industrial safety in modern enterprises documents itself in enterprise guidelines. Activities in health protection can not demonstrate early successes. Therefore it is necessary to maintain a consistent allowance to health protection topics with lastingness.