Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 10/2006

Hydropower: Challenges in Europe

Vogien, Michel; Sistenich, Hans Peter

IN EU-25, where other renewables are extensively supported, some 75 % of renewables-based electricity is generated in hydropower plants. The VGB Steering Committee Hydropower represents 20 companies from nine European countries that together operate some 45000 MW of hydropower. The article describes the challenges for hydro power in Europe. (EN)

Perspectives of Geothermal Energy from the View of an Energy Utility

Kölbel, Thomas; Kessler, Alois; Göttlicher, Gerold; König, Regina; Benz, Jochen

The experiences of international geothermal projects show the considerable potential of geothermal energy for heat and power production. In 2005 a total of 468 power plants with an electrical capacity of 8910 MW have been in operation. The utilisation of the geothermal potential seems in principle to be feasible also in Germany. Further comprehensive research and demonstration projects for optimisation of plant engineering are necessary.

Grid Connection Requirements for Wind Farms in Europe

Schlünder, Manuel; Koschinsky Markus

The total energy production from wind energy is rising nowadays, and also the size of single wind farms is rising, especially for offshore wind farms. Therefore, more and more wind farms are directly connected to the high and extra high voltage grids.
Facing this fact, it is essential to redefine the performance of wind turbines in case of grid faults as a matter of secure and reliable power supply [2]. These requirements are formulated in specially designed regulations, so-called grid codes, which are issued e.g. by grid operators. (EN)

Biomass-fired Power Plant in the City of Ulm – Concept, Realisation and Co-operation with Citizens

Humboldt, Peter

Apart from the cogeneration plant in the centre of the City of Ulm, FERNWÄRME ULM GMBH (FUG) is operating two heating stations. FUG is also operating a net system of some 140 km for district heating and thus covering about 40 % of the space heating required by the City of Ulm. FUG is firing hard coal, waste wood, natural wood, natural gas and light fuel oil in their plants. In the new biomass-fired plant, fossil fuels (mainly hard coal) are replaced by regenerative wood, thus clearly reducing the emissions of the existing plants.

Wind Power Strategy and Activities of Essent

Steinfeld, Peter

Wind power activities and strategies of Essent in Germany and Europe are presented and discussed also in view of engineering and market conditions. Essent is currently active in Germany and in the Netherlands where they develop, construct and operate on- and off-shore projects. The on-shore portfolio comprises 480 MW. Capacities equalling 500 MW are in the pipeline for the next five to eight years. An offshore-project in the German North Sea is being developed. A plant license has already been granted, the plant is to be realised between 2010 and 2012, if corresponding general conditions are met. (EN)

The Lusatian Lignite Area – An Integrated System of Modern and Competitive Opencast Mines

Dähnert, Detlev; Ketzmer, Wolfgang

A long-term opencast mine development comprises periods of more than 40 years. This will be the only possible way to guarantee the lignite supply to the available power plants according to their useful life. In 2010, the Reichwalde opencast mine will resume coal production for the future supply of the customers. In the same year, a modern 675 MW power plant unit will be commissioned at the location of Boxberg. The ground-braking ceremony for an Oxyfuel plant was conducted which is an important step towards the CO2-free power plant technology.

Co-firing at the 400 MW Pulverised Coal Power Plant at Borssele/Netherlands

Dekker, Ron; Mastrigt, Roald van

Under the influence of the Kyoto treaty, European objectives and the policy of the Dutch government, the Borssele coal-fired power station of N.V. Elektriciteits-Productiemaatschappij Zuid-Nederland (EPZ) has slowly transformed into a “multi-fuel” unit. This article will focus on the various effects when large quantities of secondary fuels are co-fired with coal, i.e. short term-effects on by-products, emissions and efficiency as well as long-term problems like corrosion, poisoning of the DENOX catalyst. The experience made by EPZ will be described. (EN)

Conceptual Solutions Regarding the Influence of the Oxy-fuel-process on Conventional Power Plants

Gericke, Bernd; Kuzmanovski, Pavle, Nassauer, Konrad

This paper investigates the feasibility of such a concept to separate CO2 while also taking into account minimal efficiency losses in the power plant process. This is achieved by the integration of effective turbo machinery in the oxy-fuel-process with simultaneous power generation from the waste heat potential of the air compressor and flue gas condensation system.

OXYCOAL-AC - Challenges for Innovation for a Clean Solution Regarding Future Electric Power Availability

Kneer, Reinhold; Förster, Malte; Abel, Dirk; Maier, Horst R.; Modigell, Michael; Niehuis, Reinhard; Peters, Norbert

CO₂ generated during combustion in a power plant is captured most simply if combustion is performed using oxygen instead of air. The use of ceramics-based membrane technology (perowskit) should be economical: most of the energy needed for heating up the membrane as well as for compressing air can be retrieved after O₂ separation, thus increasing overall-efficiency compared to known alternatives. Six research institutes of the RWTH-Aachen University together with industry and public funding are working co-operatively to develop and put this membrane based concept into practice: OXYCOAL-AC

Standardisation of Large Electrotechnical Components against the Backdrop of the Upcoming Power Plant Renewal Programme

Wittner, Stephan

Power plants contain a number of key components whose reliability and operability are essential to the power plant process. As a result of current incidents, the subjects of maintaining spare equipment and replacing key equipment have become strategically important in connection with the upcoming power plant renewal programme.
Considering the strategic alignment, the power plant operator is obliged to assess the economic loss of a service interruption while taking the probability of failure, the repair or replacement time, and the capital costs of the spare equipment into account, and to optimise the situation. Optimisation is complicated by the increasing variety of equipment designs and types available. (EN)

Application of Data-mining Methods for Optimising Process and Maintenance in Energy Conversions and Waste-to-energy Plants

Bruinsma, Alexandra; Fahlenkamp, Hans; Schinacher, Matthias

Data-mining is a technique that can be used to derive specific measures for optimisation from the large body of process data collected. It can be used to detect non-obvious but nevertheless significant interrelationships between process data and damage events occurring within the facility. By combining information from maintenance data and process parameters, damage and disruption events can be categorised systematically. These can be then explained through analysis of operational data in terms of cause and effect. The aim is to reduce downtime and to lower operational resource consumption and maintenance costs significantly.

Optimised Performance of Surface Protection Systems on Natural Draught Cooling Towers with Flue Gas Discharge

Engelfried, Robert; Brandt, Norbert; Titze, Bernd

Epoxy coatings were applied on the inside shell surface of natural draught cooling towers in the 80s and 90s to protect the surfaces against the acid impact of vapour/flue gas condensate after these cooling towers were retrofitted for discharge of flue gas downstream of FGD. Currently proved perceptions concerning the behaviour of modern coating systems show that they have a significantly increased resistance against operational impacts and environmental influences than the epoxy systems that were used in the 90s. This results in a better performance and higher durability expectations of the protection systems especially on new but also on retrofitted cooling towers.