Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 5/2005
Pleading for a Sensible Energy Mix
Opening Address at the 2005 Winter Meeting of Deutsches Atomforum
W. Hohlefelder
The question on the sources of primary energy to be used for future electricity generation by far exceeds any national framework of assessment. A sensible energy mix can only be defined in the light of global aspects, which are becoming more and more important. Nuclear power will continue to contribute a major share to electricity generation in Germany also in the next few years. However, this contribution will cease to exist in the next decade, as stipulated by nuclear energy legislation. This implies a large number of open questions and of consequences foreseeable even now, which makes it not only legitimate but imperative to discuss also the role of nuclear power in tomorrow's energy supply.
Operating Experience with Nuclear Power Plants 2004
VGB Technical Committee Nuclear Engineering
The members of the VGB Technical Committee “Nuclear Engineering” have been exchanging operating experience with nuclear power plants for more than 30 years. 36 nuclear power plants from Germany, Finland, France, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain are participating in this exchange. The report provides information on the 2004 operating results, safety-relevant events, important repairs, special retrofits and the annual amount of radioactive waste.
Overview on Advanced Nuclear Reactors: Research and Deployment in the United States
L. Sandell and S. Rohrer
The Energy Policy Act of 2003 is an important legislative frame for the further development of electricity supply. Effective energy use and secure and diverse energy mix are to be supported by research programes and initiatives. The Nuclear Power 2010 Program, jointly launched by government and industry, is aiming at the further development of advanced nuclear technology and the demonstration of licensing procedures for new nuclear power plants.
Wai Gao Qiao – European Export Technology for the Global Market
G. Gasteiger, W. Kessel and B. Epple
In Asia, the electricity demand is increasing rapidly, mainly due to the similarly rapid development of the Chinese economy. This is also reflected by the volume of new orders for coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of over 100 000 MW in 2003. In this context, technology has been transferred to the P.R. of China during recent years. The largest coal-fired power plant in China is the plant Wai Gao Qiao Phase II (2 x 900 MWel) in Shanghai, which is now in commercial operation.
Customer Benefit and Power Plant Development
W. Drenckhahn and K. Riedle
In recent years, many aspects of the power market and customer needs in plant operation have been changing more rapidly than manufacturers could launch new products on the market. As a result, flexibility is required not only in the operation of power plants, but also in drawing up product specifications and in the ensuing engineering. The familiar major objectives of development work, such as low specific investment cost and high efficiency, remain important. Also in the context of reducing CO2 emissions and trading with CO2 certificates, improving the efficiency of power plants is a measure that, over and above today's cost optimum, represents the “action of least regret” with a view to sustainably meeting the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol.
Impact of Distributed Generation on System Operation
P.-F. Bach
The share of distributed generation (DG) has developed rapidly in the Western part of Denmark. As a result of the increased share of DG, about 50 % of the production capacity has moved to the local grids. Consequently it has become more difficult to predict and to control the total electricity generation. Different measures have to be taken to solve the various problems.
Experience with Continuous Measurement of Noble Gas Release Rates in Boiling Water Reactors
H. Loner, B. Schnurr and H. Neder
The incidence and further development of fuel failures are tracked by measuring the noble gas release rates. The operational experience shows that the continuous measurement gives better indication for the beginning of a fuel failure with a high uranium background or during load following operation. This way, appropriate counter measures can be taken earlier. Furthermore the on-line measurement gives results much faster, which can be important e.g. for flux tilt tests.
Steam Generator Blowdown Demineralisation Plant (DARA)
H. Venz, I. Reimer, F. Gärtner and G. Ziffermayer
A constant reduction of the silica retention efficiency of the ion-exchanger has been observed in the steam-generator blow-down demineralisation plant (DARA), following resin-renewal. The reason for this phenomenon, as well as for the increased silica content of the processed water cannot be attributed to the ingress of foreign silica. Instead, the cause has been determined to be a blockage of the ion-exchanger by organic substances. The source of these substances has been pinpointed to activated hydrazine a component of which, hydrochinone, plays a major role. Tests have shown that the role of the blowdown as a means of reducing the deposition of corrosion products transported into the steam generator (SG) has hitherto been underestimated.
Overview on Advanced Nuclear Reactors: Research and Deployment in the United States
L. Sandell and S. Rohrer
The Energy Policy Act of 2003 is an important legislative frame for the further development of electricity supply. Effective energy use and secure and diverse energy mix are to be supported by research programes and initiatives. The Nuclear Power 2010 Program, jointly launched by government and industry, is aiming at the further development of advanced nuclear technology and the demonstration of licensing procedures for new nuclear power plants.
Investigation of Alkali Removal in the Second Generation of Circulating Pressurised Fluidised Bed Combustion to Minimise the Risk of Hot Corrosion
M. Müller, K.-J. Wolf, Ch. Fricke, K. Hilpert and L. Singheiser
A necessary prerequisite for the implementation of second generation circulating pressurised fluidised bed combustion is the decrease of the alkali concentration in the hot flue gas to values compatible with the gas turbine blading (<< 1 ppm). Thermodynamic calculations and laboratory experiments reveal that alumosiliceous sorbent materials with an Al2O3/SiO2 ratio of about 0.17 have the highest potential to fulfil these demands. The calculations show that there is only a theoretical risk of hot corrosion in a small temperature range using lignite mainly depending on the sulphur content of the coal.
Interrelationship Between Moisture, Breakdown Voltage and Temperature in Oil and in the Solid Insulation Physics or A Black Box
I. Höhlein
Humidity in oil and in the solid insulation, breakdown voltage in oil and temperature are strongly interdependent. The knowledge of the physical relationship between these parameters is indispensable for the reliable evaluation of the insulation system in transformers. In the presented paper the decisive role of the equilibrium condition, as well as the temperature for the evaluation of the breakdown voltage in transformer oil and humidity in the solid insulation are discussed.
Cause and Risk Evaluation for High-temperature Chlorine Corrosion
M. Born
The damage of heat exchanger surfaces in steam generators in incineration plants for waste and biomass by high-temperature chlorine corrosion has been known for a long time. The use of alternative fuels in coal-fired boilers causes similar reaction conditions as known in waste incineration facilities. Thermodynamical calculations can supply parameters, which enable to assess the corrosion potential. Plant concept and plant operation are of major importance for corrosion rates. Experiences on difficult operational conditions are provided.
Electrodeionisation (EDI) for Make-up Water Treatment in Power Plant Applications
R. Nagel
The generation of make-up water for power plant applications was usually realised by using ion exchange systems, regenerated with chemicals. This technique has been implemented and proven a successfully for more than 50 years. The known disadvantages of ion exchange systems are the necessity of using hazardous chemicals for regeneration and the resulting chemical load in waste water, requiring neutralisation before waste water is discharged. During the past ten years reverse osmosis systems have increasingly been applied in power plants for pre-treatment and for a virtually complete removal of ions, organic compounds and particle contamination upstream of ion exchange system. With such systems the chemical consumption could be minimised. The EDI (Electrodeionisation) with thick cells and stratified-bed ion exchange modules has attained a stable position among the well-established processes for make-up water treatment in power plants since the market launch in 1997.