Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 11/2015
Environmental protection technology – the key to social acceptance of fossil fuel energy generation
Dr. Rüdiger Krüger [more...]
Opportunities and chances of lignite beyond the electricity market
Reinhold Elsen, Urs Overhoff and Karl Josef Wolf
Lignite-fired power plants have been guaranteeing reliable power supply in Germany for more than 50 years. In the wake of the rapid expansion of renewables, however, they will have a new role to play in the future. As a partner of renewable resources, they will have to offset the fluctuating feed-in of renewables-based electricity in addition to providing base-load supply, with capacity utilisation decreasing in the medium term. This offers the opportunity of using lignite, our most important domestic mineral resource in terms of quantity, to produce energy carriers or basic chemicals. The advantages of chemical lignite application range from increased security of energy and raw material supply for industry via competitive advantages all the way to climate protection.
Security of supply of energy commodities
Adriana Neligan and Hubertus Bardt
Domestic production of energy commodities improves supply security. Import dependency on energy commodities leads to higher supply risks. This relationship is shown in a recent study which empirically compares supply risks of energy commodities in Germany and five other countries. In this six-country comparison the use of lignite contributes substantially to a mid-range position of Germany along with Japan despite a heavy dependency on imports of oil, natural gas and hard coal. A scenario analysis of future power generation in Germany reveals that a combination of lignite and renewable energies are a risk minimising strategy.
Young people favour growth and prosperity – RWE-survey “Standort Zukunft” shows: The generation of 30-year-olds is looking for pragmatic solutions instead of ideologies
Olaf Arndt
The debate on the so called “Energiewende” in Germany is often rather one-sided. Conflicting goals between ecological, economic and social aspects are not sufficiently addressed. Against this background, companies and industrial sectors, whose actions are increasingly reflected critically, are well-advised to position themselves within society. Furthermore, it is crucial for them to determine public opinion and expectation – including those of the younger generations when touching upon future challenges – and to align their own actions accordingly. One example is the study “Standort Zukunft” of RWE AG. The study revealed that eight out of ten 30-year-olds consider economic growth and attaining materialistic desires important.
Overview of the Turkish energy market and the emission control technology in coal-fired power plants in Turkey
Muzaffer Basaran
At the beginning of 2015, the installed power plant capacity in Turkey amounted to 70.6 GW, with 34.6 % hydro, 30.5 % gas, 20.8 % coal, 5.3 % coal, 0.9 % diesel, 0.6 % geo thermal power, 0.4 % biomass, 0.1 % solar power and 5.9 % multi fuel power plants. In the last 30 years, the annual electricity demand increased by around 7 to 8 %, however, in recent years demand is sluggish. The air quality regulation was amended and after negotiations with the EU, the EU LCP Directive is now in force. New power plants are now equipped with DESOX and DENOX systems in contrast to the old state-owned power plants which are partly retrofitted with FGD.
Design of combustion technology for low-cost NOx reduction and fossil to biomass conversion supported by CFD modelling
Kati Savolainen, Pauli Dernjatin and Perttu Jukola
Reduction of NOx emission and introduction of biomass based energy are important topics considering retrofitting of existing combustion units inside the EU. Tailored solutions are required almost without exception. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling is a powerful tool to investigate, verify and optimise suggested solutions. Fortum delivers techniques for low-cost NOx reduction which are based on proven technology and can be adjusted to new requirements, like e.g. co-combustion of biomass, with the aid of CFD.
Demonstration of performance and implementation of a non-destructive testing solution for the inspection of boiler water wall tubes
François Deneuville, Anis Ayoub, Philippe Cornaton and Jérôme Delemontez
This paper offers an overview of how a well-known inspection technology used in the manufacturing process for tubes can be adapted in an innovative way and used for the assessment of 35 year old tubes in a power plant. EDF faced an unusual number of boiler tube failures in one of its coal-fired power plants. Vallourec developed an ultrasonic testing solution based on phased array technology. This paper illustrates the main results of the demonstration of performance phase and the examination in the field.
CO2 post-combustion pilot plant tests at the Dürnrohr power plant with amino acids
Markus Rabensteiner, Gerald Kinger, Martin Koller and Christoph Hochenauer
A PCC pilot plant (Post Combustion Capture) for CO2 separation of power plant flue gas has been in operation at EVN´s coal fired power plant in Dürnrohr, Austria since 2010. During the first years of operation, standard solvents based on alkanolamines were mainly examined. One objective of the further research was to find alternatives. Salts of amino acids, which are oxidation resistant and theoretically non-volatile because of their ionic structure, were initially tested in the laboratory and subsequently in the pilot plant. The amino acids glycine, L-proline and sarcosine were investigated in the present study.
Modernisation of flue gas desulphurisation plant units 5&6 at Belchatów power plant, Poland
Jerzy Mazurek and Paulina Molas
RAFAKO S.A. wanted to modernise two flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) plants at the Belchatow power plant in order to increase the capacity and efficiency of the FGD absorbers. As a part of modernisation the sieve baffles below spraying levels were applied in the absorbers. The article presents the solution applied and its effects on improving the whole FGD system and describes the collected operational experiences.
Dual flow tray technology for wet FGD new builds, retrofits and performance upgrades
Michael T. Hoydick and Hans Janssen
SO2 emissions, as directed by the Industrial Emission Directive (IED) in 2011 and the Best Available Technologies Reference (BREF) in 2015, may require some utility and power producers to retrofit new flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) units to existing plant. Amec Foster Wheeler’s Dual Flow Tray Technology can provide a cost effective solution for both new wet FGD units and upgrades to existing WFGD plants to achieve the new emission standards as directed by IED and BREF. Dual flow trays (DFTs) consist of one or more levels of perforated plates in the absorption section of a wet FGD that enhance the gas to liquid mass transfer capabilities of the system. The DFTs technology has been widely used in utility wet FGD applications in the US for over 30 years.
Filter media trends for coal-fired boiler bag houses – Filtration test rig evaluations
Miriam di Blasi, Andrea Morandi and Florin Popovici
Electrostatic precipitators (ESP) represented the technology of choice for particulate collection in the past, but this is changing due to the limitations associated with this type of equipment. With the need for flexibility in coal supply, preference is given to fabric filter plants. The construction of the filtration materials becomes critical. The article describes the filtration theory, typical boiler bag house filter media and the filtration test rig concept developed by Evonik Fibres and operated in cooperation with Enel Italy. The presentation also reveals the latest upgrades implemented for the Enel FTRs and the FTR test results performed at the Enel Italy TVN bag house. Bag filter laboratory tests were performed to validate the FTR test results.
Design and application of the electro deionisation (EDI) for purified water processing – Part II
Stefan Duscher
The first part of the article dealt with the different designs of EDI arrangements and their basic mechanisms and different characteristics. The second part is now dealing with the chemical processes taking place during EDI. The advantages and disadvantages of the single variants are compared and are to be used for decision-making. Apart from economic aspects, the different EDI variants are differing as regards their selectivity and their behaviour when being operated with weak acids.
Investigation of loss of coolant accidents in pressurised water reactors using the “Dynamic best-estimate safety analysis” (DYBESA) method for consideration of uncertainties in TRACE
Michael Sporn and Antonio Hurtado
Loss of coolant accident must take into account uncertainties with potentially strong effects on the accident sequence prediction. In this paper, the use of the “Dynamic Best-Estimate Safety Analysis” (DYBESA) method to quantify the uncertainties in the TRACE thermal-hydraulic programme is demonstrated. For demonstration purposes, loss of coolant accidents with breaks of various types and sizes in a DN 700 reactor coolant pipe are used as an example application.
Mini-/micro-CHP – Suitable implementation in the energy supply system of private homes and small businesses
Holger H. Säuberlich
Micro- and mini cogeneration units with a capacity of less than one kW (el) up to about 20 kWel are the most effective and efficient way to produce energy preserving resources. There is a suitable unit for almost any application, from single-family terraced houses to multi-family houses, from small industries to commercial and many other buildings such as hotels, nursing or fitness centres. The potential of cogeneration plants is enormous, so there are for example even studies and projects for virtual power plants in order to support the energy networks in conjunction with other technologies.
Personnel development in times of difficult economic conditions
Heinz-Gerd Blank and Christian Umierski
Today, highly qualified staff plays a significant part in the value-added processes in companies. Based on the German dual educational system and on further training exams, technical and interdisciplinary skills are acquired, consolidated and extended. A forward-looking educational culture is a pillar of corporate success, even in economically challenging times. Companies and educational institutions have to develop specific, target-oriented solutions, balancing the conflicting poles of costs and quality.