Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 10/2013

Energy-only and capacity markets and the economics of the power sector in a simulation of the North-West European Power Market

Sebastiaan Hers, Christian Redl, Peter van der Wijk and Thijs Slot

Rising concern with regard to generation adequacy and the ability of energy-only electricity markets to deliver required investments induced debates, regulatory interventions, and consideration of new market mechanisms in several EU member states. Results based on model simulations concerning guaranteed supply safety are presented.

Impact of energy trading on O&M and vice versa

Rudolf Zauner

Wind energy is growing up, and in more and more markets is being traded the same as any other energy source. This imposes a number of challenges on the wind turbine operators. However, a comparison of various European countries shows that this is the way forward: a market-oriented subsidiary system is set to replace the inflexible feed-in tariffs. To trade wind energy, wind must be forecast as accurately as possible a day in advance in an at least hourly resolution. This leads to a decrease in balancing energy costs and plays a key role in bringing wind energy closer to the market.

Historical changes for coal-fired power plants and the resulting consequences for FGD operation - Fine particle elimination as a central control instrument

Kazimierz Szynol, Harald Schmitt and Jörg Demmich

The article presents a summarised history regarding origins of the flue gas desulphurising installation in TAURON Wytwarzanie - Jaworzno III Power Plant and the Gypsum Processing Plant Knauf Jaworzno III. In 2008 and 2009 there were changes introduced in the flue gas desulphurising technology as the third line of the FGD installation. The above-mentioned changes occurred when the quality of gypsum produced in the FGD installation also deteriorated. Analyses and tests carried out in order to determine causes why the gypsum crystal structure was changed allow for a conclusion that the main reason of the phenomenon can be the occurrence in the FGD installation circulating water of fine ash particles coming from agro biomass co-firing. In order to eliminate ash impurities from the FGD installation circulating water, TAURON Wytwarzanie issued a call for tenders regarding the design and construction of circulating water treatment plant.

Modernisation of a lignite-fired steam generator – Reduction of NOx emission

Ralf Kriegeskotte, Quinto Di Ferdinando, Hans-Ulrich Thierbach and Bernhard Zimmermann

ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3 is a lignite-fired power plant with an electrical total output of 4 x 227 MW. The four steam generators of Russian design have a steam capacity up to 730 t/h each and were commissioned between 1978 and 1981. According to EU requirements, the NOx emissions have to be reduced reliably by 2015. The consortium Steinmüller Engineering GmbH Gummersbach and Siemens EOOD, Sofia, successfully redesigned the furnace of boiler 4.

Operating experience of circulating fluidised bed scrubbing technology in utility power plants and refineries

Robert Giglio, Rolf Graf and Tobias Bönse

The paper summarises the operating experiences made in recent years with the application of fluidised bed scrubber technology. Apart from technical advantages it is also shown what is possible and achieved yet. Plant examples of different application like waste- or oil residue incineration are given, and the currently worldwide largest plant with single circulating fluidised bed scrubber will be presented.

The new low NOx burner

Masato Saito, Kazuhiro Domoto, Ryuichiro Tanaka and Keigo Matsumoto

Burner design requires good ignitability, high burn-up rate and low NOx emissions. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) developed a low-NOx burner which meets the aforementioned requirements. It also needs less combustion air, the burner nozzle is subjected to less thermal stresses, and the potential of NOx corrosion is being reduced.

The removal efficiency of wet electrostatic precipitators for aerosols with focus on particles in the submicrone range

Margot Bittig, Jörg Lindermann, and Stefan Haep

Starting 2020, the European Union foresees stricter limit values for CO2 as well as solid and liquid particle emissions from power plants. The usage of wet ESP for dust separation is an established method for flue gas cleaning in power plants and is an appropriate technology in view of CO2-capture-ready-design. In the present work, a CFD model for the optimisation of wet ESP has been developed based on the finite volume method.

SCR catalyst management and improvement to achieve and maintain mercury oxidation levels

Christopher Bertole and Scot Pritchard

The co-benefit of oxidising elemental mercury in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reactor for subsequent capture by desulphurisation systems is an effective and economical method to achieve compliance with mercury emission limits recently established by the USEPA. Investigations and operating experience for optimum catalyst management are being presented in order to maximise Hg reduction and catalyst lifetime. Concentrations of halogens and reducing species are major parameters influencing the reactions.

Controller integrated Condition Monitoring Systems (CMS) for wind energy converters in on- and offshore environment

Bernd Höring

Twelve years of application experience with vibration-based Condition Monitoring System (CMS) on wind energy show success. However, CMS is not considered a core competence. Currently the market of CMS suppliers is radically changing. In future, operators with different CMS in use or wind turbine manufacturers, who use different control systems with integrated CMS, can serve their different CMS hardware with a uniform software. The software was specially designed for the Chinese market and is already in operation in the on- and offshore environment.

Proven fire protection concept ensures reliable transformer protection

Thorsten Roth

The issue of efficient and effective fire protection for transformers is of growing importance. There has not been an approved protection concept up to now, which takes special requirements into consideration. The paper introduces the fire protection system TraFoProtect specially designed for transformers, which takes into consideration the parameters of wind and the environment. It is a prime example of progressive and innovative fire protection.

Recirculation of anthropogenic CO2 into the natural carbon cycle by means of lime products

Andrew Berry, Egon Erich, Dieter Bathen, Sonja Hass, Norbert Weber and Sven-Olaf Schmidt

As an alternative to the somewhat controversial Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) technology, investigations were performed on an environmentally-friendly process that is also suitable for capturing waste carbon dioxide (CO2) from point sources, such as the emissions of combustion processes. The method simulates the natural geochemical separation of CO2 from the air, where CO2 from the flue gas reacts with an aqueous suspension of limestone powder. The CO2 originally contained in the exhaust stream is converted into solved calcium bicarbonate. This is a natural buffer substance which is in a stable equilibrium in the resulting wash water.

Training 4 Future – Building set for competences, practical applications and concrete planning aids

Thomas Bölz

The VGB Working Panel “Training of Power Plant Personnel“ is dealing with in all subjects related to training and advanced training of power plant personnel.
A working group was set up in 2011 that considers holistically the competences of power plant personnel. The group developed 4 fields of activities and focal targets. A competence management system for power plant personnel was developed. This model also emphasises an interdisciplinary approach.