Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 9/2005

Brief Report on the Activities of the VGB PowerTech in 2004/2005

Karl A. Theis

In order to meet the statutory tasks, the VGB Board of has set up honorary committees. The VGB Technical Advisory Board is responsible for the manning of and task setting for these committees. Over 1000 experts from all fields of power plant technology co-operate in the General Committees, Technical Committees and the many working panels and participate in the exchange of experience. The results of these activities are among others guidelines, information sheets and recommendations – last not least this journal.

Clean Coal in Tomorrow´s Energy Mix

Klaus Rauscher

In the energy mix of the future, (the fossil fuel) coal will play a significant role. In Germany both lignite and hard coal are available over the long term. This potential is now being utilised by Vattenfall to develop innovative technologies that satisfy the future demands.

Regulatory Disadvantages of German vs. Foreign Power Plant Sites

Peter Puppe and Thorsten Stritzki

Apart from engineering issues, political and regulatory outline conditions, too, have a significant impact on the site selection for the construction of power plants. Germany, as a location for power plants, suffers from a number of disadvantages in this context, which leave no room for additional burdens in the form of regulatory requirements, but on the contrary call for their reduction.

Siemens Reference Power Plants – Translating Customer Needs into Plants

Holger-Max Emberger, Peter Mürau and Lars Beckmann

Deregulation and liberalisation, high loads of renewable energies and high fuel prices change the requirements for new power plants. The customer focus is the optimisation of life cycle costs driven by features like high efficiency, high power output and operating flexibility.

Optimisation Potential for Power Plants Generating Electricity

Falko Weber, Rainer Alzinger and Ulrich Maschke

Optimisation of the so-called “low-end“ of the water-steam cycle is an important und sometimes underestimated part for definition of plant concept and main parameters of new power plant projects. The low end considered here comprises the low pressure part of the steam turbine, the condenser as well as the overall cooling supply and discharge system lined out for the different cooling principles of direct once-through cooling, outfall cooling system and closed cooling system. The low end has to be designed and optimised individually for the specific boundary conditions of the plant, because there is significant influence on the investment as well as the operation costs plus – even more important – the revenues generated by the plant. The article identifies those parameters with significant influence and gives recommendations for their specification according to real plant design and operational requirements.

Renovation Activities at Russian Coal-fired Power Plants - Current Status and Future Prospects

Emmanuel Kakaras, Nikolaos Koukouzas, Panagiotis Grammelis and Anatoly Tumanovsky

Coal plays an important role in the power generation mix of Russia and its share is expected to increase in the future. Towards the development of Clean Coal Technologies (CCTs) in Russia, the modernisation options of the coal-fired power plants with capacity larger than 100 MWe were investigated. Data were collected for 180 thermoelectric units and the probability of performing renovation measures on operating units was estimated.

The AP1000 Passive Plant Design Meet Power Company Needs Around the World

Ernst-Michael Züfle

In September 2004, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (U.S. NRC) granted a Final Design Approval (FDA) to Westinghouse for the AP1000 advanced reactor design. The Westinghouse AP1000 standard plant design is the first Generation III+ reactor to receive FDA. The U.S. NRC anticipates issuing a standard Design Certificate in the form of an Appendix to 10CFR52 by December 2005. If granted, a Design Certificate would be good for 15 years and renewable in terms of 10 to 15 years

German Lignite Industry Perspectives in 2005

Kurt Häge

The growing realism about the chances and risks in the energy supply industry, the EU enlargement with important coal producers, the apparent geopolitical risks, and, last but not least, the productive debate pertaining to the “Clean Coal“ topic are all aspects of coal's new position which make us feel more confident. Ever more people believe that coal is part of the solution. Because coal is an element in the future of energy, we have to remain realistic and work hard on creating this future. A competitive energy supply is indispensable for Europe and Germany. Lignite can make a vital contribution here.

Renaissance of Gasification Based on Cutting Edge Technologies

Karsten R. Radtke, Dave Battensby and Claudio Marsico

The introduction of stringent anti-pollution requirements and rising prices of primary energy carriers oil and gas as well as the resulting ever more costly disposal of production residues, such as in the refinery process, intensify the development and implementation of alternative technologies. This paper first introduces the main gasification technologies and then deals individually with their history. The Shell Gasification Technology, which is currently enjoying highly successful marketing, is particularly emphasised here.

Development and Operational Implementation of an Operating Mode Aimed at Minimising Heating Surface Fouling in a Lignite-Fired Power Plant at RWE Power AG

Eberhard Uhlig, Norbert Paßmann, Wolfgang Moll, Peter Moser, Hans-Arnold Hoffmann and Jörg Schubert

Lignite-fired power plants are usually linked to an open-cast mine. If the coal composition changes, the boiler equipment will possibly have to be adjusted as well. In the present case, the coal composition has for many years been trending towards low ash contents and higher heating values. These basically favourable changes are accompanied, however, by a changed boiler fouling behaviour. Presented are the results of utility boiler tests and the stepwise methodology applied for problem identification, solution development and operational implementation.

Assessing the Condition of Coating Systems in Flue Gas Desulphurisation Installations

Rolf Weber, Horst Kutzenberger and Gerhard Mohr

Many cases of damage were observed on rubber linings and glass flake coatings in flue gas desulphurisation installations at the end of the eighties. As the result of investigation into the damage mechanisms, improvements were achieved in the coating systems. Because, however, the coatings change as a consequence of operating influences and therefore exhibit a finite life, they should be subjected to regular inspections. In addition to the presentation of frequently observed damage mechanisms, the possibilities for ambulant tests on site and laboratory investigations are indicated. Unplanned shut-downs and the associated outage losses can be avoided by timely determination of the coating condition and the execution of appropriate measures.

COMSY – A Software Tool for an Efficient Plant Life- and Inspection Management

André Zander, Helmut Nopper and Roland Roessner

The core task of any service life management system is to maintain the integrity of systems, components and structures in a plant over extended operating periods. This is not possible unless a plant’s weak points are known. It is therefore essential that knowledge exists on the susceptibility of the various plant areas to specific degradation mechanisms. Once this information is available specific remedial action can be taken or items can be targeted for special monitoring.

Measures for the Prevention and Control of I&C Failures

Frieder Greiner

In the last decades power plant I&C has been proving to be a reliable and highly available tool for process control. Agreements between manufacturers and operators on the principles of power plant I&C as well as on the philosophies concerning design, automation and operation – apart from the protection of labour and equipment – focus on the up-keep of the power plant process. The lecture is providing an overview on the development of conventional I&C to digital systems and the related possibilities, besides, the paper is also reflecting on the related risks.