Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 5/2016
Editorial: Preserving, sharing and expanding knowledge
Dr. Astrid Petersen
One of the central challenges in the field of nuclear technology is to preserve competence and technical know-how as well as the expertise born of experience, and to ensure knowledge exchange and transfer. It is only in this way that our high level of national safety and security can be guaranteed, and quality and safety improved throughout the world.[more...]
European design, Chinese hardware and Indian operators – Case study in Africa
Jacob T. Verghese
Power plant equipment manufactured in China dominates the new installed power generation capacity in South East Asia, India, Africa and Central Africa. The bulk of the main plant equipment are originally based on European designs. Indigenous production including design based on reverse engineering has increased the technological risks associated with the major plant equipment such as boilers and steam turbine and HT motors. STEAG Energy Services (India) has direct experience of operating a large plant in India and a medium sized plant in Botswana.
Influence of power-to-heat systems on the German energy system
Michael Salzinger and Simon Remppis
In the context of the German energy system transformation, the electricity production is increasingly characterized by the feed-in of renewable energy sources (RES). Until the present date, conventional power plants have been mainly used to cover the required flexibility within energy system. In order to integrate further RES based electricity generation the Power-to-Heat (P2H) technology is an available option, which represents a connection between the electricity and heat sector and introduces new substitution potentials. Further investigations are needed to determine the optimal amount of P2H capacities regarding the maximum economic and ecological benefit at the same time.
The ENTSO-E network code requirements for grid connection of generators
Eric Dekinderen
An overview is given of the requirements imposed by this network code. Many requirements have to be specified later at the level of each member state. Comments regarding the quality and fairness of the code are impossible now because both depend on the national implementation in each member state and it is impossible to predict what each member state will decide. The interests of generators and the interests of grid operators are completely opposite in the items described in this network code. A final conclusion about the quality of the code is only possible after the national implementation. More details are available in the network code itself at the web-address mentioned below in the Preface.
Between German phase-out and Chinese new-build rally: The situation of the nuclear industry worldwide five years after Fukushima
Uwe Stoll
Fukushima was a turning point for the nuclear industry, especially in Japan and in Germany, but also in other European countries and worldwide. Plants were shut down in Japan and Germany, new-build projects were postponed, and stress tests were carried out in most of the countries operating nuclear power plants. Five years later, the time has come to draw a picture of the impact of Fukushima on the nuclear industry. Japan has started to bring its nuclear capacity back online after implementing a comprehensive retrofit program. In most of the international markets, lifetime extensions of up to 60 years are on the agenda while the US is even starting to discuss operational lifetimes of 80 years. This trend brings a need for more upgrade projects.
Increasing nuclear safety and operational reliability by upgrading the charging pump mechanical sealing system
Gerard van Loenhout, Peter Nilsson and Magnus Jehander
For the Ringhals-2 nuclear power plant, three installed centrifugal pumps were designated to have a combined High Head Safety Injection function, as well as a Chemical Volume Control System function. The pumps were originally installed with rubber bellow type mechanical seals, which over time had demonstrated an unreliable sealing performance by displaying high leakages. In 2002, the Ringhals Maintenance engineers initiated to identify a more reliable and robust shaft sealing solution. In 2007, the project was launched and the installation of the first, new mechanical sealing solution took place in the autumn of 2011. In October 2014, these mechanical seals were dismantled and inspected. The inspection confirmed the expected reliability of the new solution.
Improving automated load flexibility of nuclear power plants with ALV
Andreas Kuhn and Peter Klaus
In several German and Swiss Nuclear Power Plants with Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) the control of the reactor power was and will be improved in order to be able to support the energy transition with increasing volatile renewable energy in the grid by flexible load operation according to the need of the load dispatcher (power system stability). Especially regarding the mentioned German NPPs with a nominal electric power of approx. 1,500 MW, the general objectives are the main automated grid relevant operation modes. The new possibilities of digital I&C (as TELEPERM® XS) enable the automation of the operating modes provided that manual support is no longer necessary. These possibilities were and will be implemented by AREVA within the ALFC-projects. Manifold adaption algorithms to the reactor physical variations during the nuclear load cycle enable a precise control of the axial power density distribution and of the reactivity management in the reactor core. Finally this is the basis for a highly automated load flexibility with the parallel respect and surveillance of the operational limits of a PWR.
Multi-pollutant control technology assessment: Circulating fluidised bed scrubber vs. spray dryer absorber
Matthew Fischer and Greg Darling Strengere
Many utilities are under pressure to add flue gas desulfurisation to their coal-fired units in response to more stringent air emissions regulations. There are a number of multi-pollutant compliance options available that have an edge over wet flue gas desulfurisation systems. This article sorts out the difference between state-of-the-art circulating fluidized bed scrubber and the latest advanced spray dryer absorber designs.
Removal of contaminants from flue gas
Holger Fuchs
The emission of pollutants in the flue gas of industrial plants is restricted by the Industrials Emissions Directive (IED, Directive 2010/75/EU). For power plants, this is enacted in German law by the 13th BImSchV. It regulates the emission standards for plants using different kinds of fuel and for different electrical generating capacity. Different types of pollutants are listed in the regulation. Beside dust, carbon monoxide and acidic pollutants like sulphur oxides and oxides of nitrogen are regulated. Mercury emission is part of the regulation for some kinds of fuel. If waste is used as a fuel, the 17th BImSchV specifies emission limits for pollutants like hydrocarbons (including PCB and dioxins/furans) and additional heavy metals.
Fate of ammonia on exhaust gas and residue pathways of selected municipal solid waste combustion plants with SNCR: First results
Stefan Vodegel, Sabine Weineck and Torsten Reindorf
The amended 17th version of the German Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV), which came into force in May 2013, reduced the nitrogen oxide limit (daily average) for waste incineration plants from 200 mg/mN3 to 150 mg/mN3. At the same time, it restricted emissions of ammonia from SCR and SNCR plants to 10 mg/mN3 for the first time. Particularly for waste incineration plants with SNCR and dry or semi-dry exhaust gas cleaning, it is anticipated that simultaneously complying with both limits will require significant efforts. To identify the status quo and highlight potential for optimisation, a research project has conducted metrological investigations of several plants with different SNCR systems. The results to date reveal that the SNCR plants have high levels of efficiency.
Producing FGD gypsum with low Hg content
Frans van Dijen
Legislation in the EU regarding more stringent emission limits for Hg with flue gases is making progress. When Hg emissions to the air of coal- and lignite-fired power plants are reduced, more Hg ends-up either in the fly ash, in the flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) gypsum and/or in the FGD effluent. The goals are reducing Hg emissions to the air at low/zero costs, which means using the existing equipment for flue gas purification; keeping marketable residues: fly ash, bottom ash and FGD gypsum; and using the existing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) as Hg sink. These three goals seem feasible.
Operating experience with nuclear power plants 2015
The VGB Technical Committee “Nuclear Plant Operation” has been exchanging operating experience about nuclear power plants for more than 30 years. Plant operators from several European countries are participating in the exchange. A report is given on the operating results achieved in 2015, events important to plant safety, special and relevant repair, and retrofit measures from Germany. The second part of this report will focus on nuclear power plant in Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain.