Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 9/2013

Power plant construction in Europe between challenges, imminent supply gaps, climate protection and investment opportunities

Dirk Briese, Jens Gatena and Andreas Herden

The European power plant market is currently undergoing profound changes. While some countries withdraw from nuclear energy, other countries develop the sector even further. In the reference scenario presented, increased extension of renewables and distributed solutions are expected. Individual new build projects with combined generation are also being realised. The power plant market is insecure for utilities and manufactures alike.

Hydro power – A flexible and dynamic source of energy

Jean-Claude Riesterer, Mirjam Sick, Manfred Sallaberger, Robert Schürhuber and Peter Nowicki

Hydro power is the source of approximately 16 % of electrical energy production worldwide. In this manner, it is the most significant producer of electricity amongst all renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources available. Hydro power is also the most sustainable means of electricity production, taking into account its lifetime, high efficiency, flexibility, and economic viability. Founded on decades of research and development, hydro power has proven to be an ideal source of energy.

Recommendation for design and operation of components in hydro power plants exposed fatigue

Wolfgang Kofler

The VGB Technical Committee “Hydro Power Plants” founded an expert group to provide a standard for the design and operation of highly-stressed components in hydro power plants. The focus is on fatigue and lifetime assessment. Numerical calculation methods in combination with high-capacity materials are taken into account.

Upstream fish migration – Report of the hydro power panel of experts

Sebastian Roger, Sabine Käfer, Jochen Ulrich and Friedrich Zemanek

In recent years, ecological regulations and environmental demands have steadily increased on European, national, and on Federal State level. One key issue of Federal implementations of the European water framework directive is to achieve the environmental targets by establishing the passability for fish. In support of its member companies, VGB (TC “Hydro Power Plants”) set up a transnational expert group. This group was to analyse, compare, and evaluate different essential guidelines for fish passes and residual flows including the exchange of experience and the provision of practical examples.

Challenges and perspectives of the technical management of wind turbines and wind farms

Gerrit Schmidt and Yvonne Mosler

The professional technical management of wind energy plants is an important and necessary prerequisite to integrate these plants into the power market. Due to the entry of the classical utilities in the wind energy market, the demand on technical management has changed. The paper provides an overview about the duties of the technical management of wind energy plants and also what requirements are stipulated, especially when wind energy plants are not only used as financial investments but also as energy conversion plants.

Increasing the competitiveness of wind energy – New technologies for advanced wind predictability

Fabio Bertolotti

The performance of thermal and nuclear power plants is assessed routinely and precisely, whereas the performance assessment of wind turbines is lagging far behind. This increases operational costs, reduces energy capture, and makes wind energy less competitive. The paper presents a technology and system with improved 24-h power forecasting, as well as condition monitoring of the rotor blades. The system can be employed by any wind power plant and offers potentials to increase the competiveness of the power industry.

Enhancements in wind energy technology and system integration by the example of the new GE 2.5-120 WTG

Stephan Wachtel

The development of the GE 2.5-120 WTG demonstrates in an exemplary manner how the divagating requirements for cost reduction and meeting increased grid connection requirements can be fulfilled. New developments enable utilisation of a rotor with 120 m diameter leading to an increase in efficiency of up to 25 % and annual energy production of up to 15 %. This further development shows that today’s but also future technical and economic requirements for wind power and its integration into the power system can be met.

Extension of the scope of Condition Monitoring Systems (CMS) for multi MW and offshore wind turbines

Thomas Gellermann

Over several years, vibration-based condition monitoring systems (CMS) have become well established for monitoring the mechanical drive train condition of wind turbines. As a result of the large investments required for multi MW and offshore turbines and the necessity for cost-optimised maintenance, information pertaining to the condition of the mechanical drive train is becoming increasingly important The high expectation of operational availability and the rising values of wind turbines, as well as their restricted accessibility provide important arguments for extending condition monitoring to other wind turbine components.

Preventive maintenance of gear boxes in wind power plants

Achim Oebel

Gear boxes are among the most costly components in wind power plants. Therefore, operators are to take all measures to avoid failures of these components. Progress has been made through special maintenance concepts reducing the risk of sudden damage and high subsequent repair and outage costs. Qualified maintenance, early detection, and preventive maintenance are the keys to avoid unexpected damage and high cost.

Studies on the self-heating process in biomass deposits (HOSEP)

Klaus Meissner, Victor Torres Toledo and Dorothee Kiefer

Electricity and heat from biomass contributes to the worldwide renewable energy supply. The current policy guidelines underline the importance and contribute significantly to the development of energy generation with solid bio fuels in Germany. Technically, the corresponding combustion processes have been well studied thus allowing an efficient use of the energy contained in the fuel. The processing of biomass, however, which includes storage and drying, causes substantial qualitative as well as quantitative losses due to the metabolic activity of ubiquitous micro-organisms. By adopting the approach described in the paper, the parameters that are crucial for the decomposition of biogenic fuels can be determined in fuel deposits. From the results, strategies can be developed leading to a reduction of storage loss and thus to more efficient operation.

Impact factors that influence the annual electricity generation of a simulated solar tower power plant

Ernst Sattler, Peter Pechtl, Josef Petek and Christoph Hochenauer

The design of a preferably realistic simulation model of a base-load capable solar tower power plant in EBSILON Professional is described. Furthermore in a time-series simulation, the factors that influence the annual electricity generation are analysed. Also the function of the model under different weather conditions is investigated. All time series analyses are based on weather data from Al Mirfa in the United Arab Emirates and confirm the resutls and show aspects of further optimisation.

Training and qualification for renewable energy – The example of wind energy

Jörg Schulte-Trux, Michael Schuhmacher and Rainer Zobel

Renewable energies will play a large part in the energy supply of the future and will increase their market share steadily. KRAFTWERKS­SCHULE E.V. responds to this development and presents a training programme for renewable energies. In addition to the training focus on wind energy, hydro energy and bio energy also find attention in the training programme. The new challenges cover construction and operation as well as service and maintenance.

Perspectives of the German lignite industry 2013: Lignite – partner and shaper

Johannes Lambertz and George Milojcic

Two years after Fukushima, the chances and risks in the energy industry and energy policy have become much clearer. The energy system is getting more complex. Unexpected side-effects are occurring and acceptance can become a factor resulting in bottlenecks. Actions are needed in the area of energy and environmental policy. Acceptance is also vital for the lignite industry and this acceptance does not exist as a matter of course. It has to be fought for; credibility is to be maintained.

Start-up optimisation of two 600 MW steam generators at the Niederaußem power plant through process and fatigue analysis

Jürgen Grabig, Tobias Linke, Piotr Olkowski, Guido Ingrisch, Jens Hälbig, Bernd Voß, Bernd Heidicker and Christian Fielenbach

The aim of the study was to assess the consequences of flexible operation of power plant units designed for base load operation on the lifetime of thick-walled boiler parts. First, the admissible quasi-stationary load change rates pursuant to TRD 301/TRD508 were determined. Within the framework of the study, these were used to limit the required calculation efforts. The results of the assessment show that the existing lifetime reserves of the thick-walled boiler parts are sufficient to sustain an increase in temperature gradients during start-up and shutdown operations. Thus, a foundation was laid for start-up optimisation measures.

Brief report on the activities of VGB PowerTech in 2012/2013

VGB PowerTech

VGB PowerTech e.V. is the European technical association for heat and power generation. The work of VGB largely depends on the many supporters and employees in the companies and the VGB office which manages the activities of the committees of VGB´s Competence Centres “Nuclear Power Plants”, “Power Plant Technologies”, “Renewables and Distributed Generation”, “Environmental Technology, Chemistry, Safety and Health” and “Technical Services”. VGB is also involved in power plant research through its research foundation and promotes important topics with funds from its member companies. In addition to this work, VGB organises seminars, symposia, conferences, and the annual Congress “Power Plants”. These conferences are further platforms for the international exchange of experience – just like the journal at hand.