Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 3/2005

Future Prospects of the European Electricity Market

Günther Rabensteiner

The gradual deregulation of national electricity markets within the EU is bringing about some major changes in the European electricity market. New market players, products and ways of trading have evolved; the establishment of electricity exchanges and the entrance of new market participants have provided energy supply companies with purchasing and sales channels that are considerably more flexible, and a fair number of companies have founded electricity trading units. Besides the EU’s efforts to create an internal electricity market, there are currently certain EU acts that have an enormous impact on the electricity market. Challenges for the European electricity market not only arise from regulatory changes but also due to technical aspects.

Expansion of Wind Energy – Requirements for the Generation Mix as a Whole

Albrecht Tiedemann and Lars-Arvid Brischke

To fulfil the German government’s objectives concerning the role played by renewable energy sources and wind power in particular, it will be necessary to develop a strategic partnership between those operating renewable energy plants and those operating conventional power stations. We will need to develop management strategies for renewables, such as strategies for managing the generation of power and grid feed-in. This will be required to ensure the optimum technical and economical integration of these plants. The results from the dena grid study create a basis for political decision-making regarding the integration of larger wind energy capacities into the German grid and the associated challenges for the generation mix as a whole.

CHP and Emissions Trading Directive: Current Aspects, Challenges, and Opportunities with Special Reference to CHP Plants

Stefan Bockamp and Christian Folke

The CHP Directive of the European Commission that is being implemented envisages determination of CHP products (CHP electricity, CHP heat, etc.) without any time limit. The currently valid CHP calculation methodology for Germany is defined in the AGFW Worksheet FW 308. At the European level, a methodology of this type is still being discussed. If the allocation of emission rights for CHP plants is based solely on typical values for specific emissions from separate electricity and heat generation, significant deviations are to be expected between actual CO2 emissions and the allocated emission rights. The question of whether this possibility could be of interest for CHP plants, even if the typical values are based on the best available technology, must be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Sustainable Power Supply from Hard Coal

Wolfgang A. Benesch and Jens Reich

The power supply of the future must fulfil the criteria of sustainability, this also applies to hard coal-based electricity generation. The coal-fired power plant of the future must unconditionally fulfil the market demands, i.e. “Lowest costs of ownership“, as well as the remaining factors for sustainability. STEAG makes a contribution to this with its CCEC-power plant concept. It shows how coal can be converted into electricity with state-of-the-art technology according to the sustainable principles of supply safety, economic viability, environmental safety and the social acceptance.

Retrofit of Babcock DS Burner Technology to the Furnace of the 680 MW Weiher III Steam Generator of SaarEnergie

B. Jochum and A. Reidick

Within a plant stop, serious damage at the coal dust burners was repaired. In this connection a retrofit concept was developed to change the design of the existing burners according to the characteristics of Babcock’s DS-burner technology. The burners were retrofitted within a four weeks period between July and August 2002. Since then the burners have been in commercial operation for 10 000 operating hours without any problems. The reduction of the initial NOX emissions was even better than forecast.

Conceptual Design, Planning and Construction of the Industrial Cogeneration Plant at the Jülich Sugar Factory, Combined Heat and Power Generation with Lignite Firing System

Markus Lorenz and Andreas Knapp

In October 2004, a new cogeneration plant with Europe’s largest lignite-fired, travelling-grate boiler was commissioned on the premises of the sugar factory in Jülich. The combined heat and power (CHP) plant supplies up to 130 t/h of steam and, at live steam parameters of 85 bar and 520 °C, generates 25 MWel in the downstream steam turbine generator set with a back pressure turbine.
The decision for the new power plant was preceded by comprehensive investigations dealing with the design of the cogeneration plant, fuel selection and alternative furnace and steam generator types.

Modernisation of Control and Actuating Systems on Steam Turbines

Roland Schilling and Friedrich Hofmann

High-capacity control and actuating components for the control of steam mass flows on steam turbines offer advantages not only for new equipment. Modernisation of the mechanical hydraulic control system clears problems in spare parts purchasing and improves the control behaviour. Depending on the condition of the former actuating system, various modernisation alternatives are available. Redundant versions of I/H converters are offered for applications with critical availability. In close co-operation with the operator the most sophisticated solution in regard to both economy and technology will be found.

Fouling and Slagging in Furnaces Fired with Coals and Secondary Fuels

Stefan Paul, Jacek Zelkowski, Herbert Lindner and Markus Neuroth

The ashes of the combustion of coals and blends of coals and secondary fuels can lead to scalings that are depositing on the heating surfaces of combustion systems, which may result in operating failures. Depending on the temperature range, these deposits can either be similar to scalings or have a more fouling-like character.
A survey was conducted among VGB members of the VGB Working Panel “Fuel Technology and Furnaces“. Here plants with a total furnace thermal rating of some 50 000th MW were recorded. The survey results as well as a short report on the existing laboratory investigation methods are presented.

Status of Flue Gas Desulphurisation in China as Illustrated by Three Backfitted FGD Absorbers

Ludwig B. Raible, Heinz-Georg Beiers and Klaus-Joachim Frost

For about 10 years, the Chinese government has attached great importance to monitoring emissions causing e.g. acid rain through sulphur dioxide. In this connection, coal, as the main energy source in China, plays a major role. In their efforts to cut SO2 emissions and reduce the consequences of acid rain, the Chinese government has implemented a number of instruments and measures including the promotion of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) technologies with the aim of continually expanding the application of this technique. Three examples are presented in the paper.

Training and Further Education in the Field of Thermal Waste Utilisation

G. Papa and J. Liebhardt

The extensive modernisation and adaptation of waste-to-energy thermal power plants against the background of environmental protection and the increasing plant size and complexity result in higher demands to be met personnel. For more than ten years KWS has been complying with these requirements by offering special tailor-made training programs for the needs of waste incinerating plants. Apart from the practical orientation, a viewing of the facilities conveys additional impressions of the respective host power plant to the participants.

Influence of Bonding and Micro Structure on the Oxidation Resistance of SiC-based Refractory Linings in Water-steam Atmosphere

Thorsten Tonnesen, Manfred Breuers and Rainer Telle

The oxidation resistance of different bonded silicon carbide refractories was the aim of these examinations. A testing method in steam atmosphere according ASTM was used to evaluate the oxidation resistance. 23 different silicon carbide materials were exposed to a constant steam rate at 900 °C and 1000 °C for a period of 500 h. The investigation results area being documented and discussed in detail.

Application of the Fish Egg Test in Power Plant Waste Waters

Thomas Meinelt, Roland Weiss, H.-D. Dreischer and Fritz Peters

The recirculation of cooling water and of FGD process water (FGD – Flue Gas Desulphurisation) as well as the evaporation of process water in fossil-fired power plants causes an enrichment of different salts in discharged waters. The fish toxicity of FGD waste water has been determined by the chloride-profile in past. The research project was initiated to originate a data base to ensure the exact characterisation of the discharged water of coal-fired power plants. The project had to clarify if the fish test and the fish-egg-test adduce similar results to ensure the comparability while testing waste water originating from coal-fired power plants.