Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 3/2007

STEAG Projects in Germany and Abroad

Heinz Scholtholt

STEAG is an investor and operator of its own power stations in Germany and abroad. On the basis of services in engineering and operational management, STEAG found viable projects particularly in newly industrialised countries. The present demand for replacement investments in Germany now makes projects in Germany viable. STEAG intends to set up a new 750 MW coal-fired power station unit at the Duisburg-Walsum location. Furthermore, a second coal-fired power station unit at the Herne site is in the planning phase. (EN)

Overview of Power Generation in South Africa

Ehud N.´Matya, John H. Begg

Eskom is the national electrical utility of South Africa with a nominal capacity of 42 011 MW. This capacity is made up of coal, nuclear, hydro, gas turbine and pumped storage power stations. This paper begins with Eskom’s last major growth and construction phase in the 1980’s. During the 1990’s efforts were made to increase plant availability from its levels of around 80 % to achieve world class performance of 90 %. After steady growth in demand since the early 1990’s, Eskom no longer has a surplus of capacity and three stations are presently being taken out of storage. The current generation projects in progress as well as other options for new capacity are discussed. (EN)

Retrofit und Technical Progress in Nuclear Power Plants

Hartmut Pamme

Starting in 1975, the 17 currently operating German nuclear power stations were connected to the grid over a period of only 14 years. Their shared heritage of a common fundamental safety philosophy and approach led to a largely identical safety concept in the plants. Design improvements in the most recent plants were driven either by lessons learnt during the operation of the earlier plants, by R&D projects or by the emerging technical rules. The operators committed themselves right from the beginning to implement technical improvements.

Status of the CO2-allocation Plans in Europe and Implementation of the Monitoring Guidelines

Klaus-Peter Dielmann, Alexis Bock, Frederic Sonek

The emission trading scheme in Germany has successfully finished its first trading period. It has proofed itself to be stable. Considering the future development and the exacerbating legal framework, a fundamental knowledge of the dynamical developing general conditions is necessary. This article provides an overview about the results of the first trading period, gives a brief sketch of the looming future development and finally presents a forecast about the conditions of the second trading period (2008 to 2012).

Fifty Years of Erlangen Radiochemistry: Service and Engineering for Nuclear Power Plants and VGB

Wilfred Morell, A. Bleier

On 29th June 2006, the Radiochemical Laboratory of EREVA NP GmbH (formerly Siemens AG) in Erlangen celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. The “Radio Chemistry Erlangen” was founded on 1956 as research laboratory that belonged to the former Siemens-Schuckertwerk. In 1964 the staff moved into an own research centre of Siemens AG in the South of the City of Erlangen. Since then the facilities have been continuously modernised and adjusted to the current needs and is still in operation. The research centre comprises a number of laboratories, measuring and technical facilities as well as “hot cells” for handling highly-radioactive materials. The license was granted for materials up to 19E+15 Bq.

Steam Turbine Modernisation Focus to Reliability Improvement

Andreas Pickard

The initial impetus for steam turbine modernisation was the need to improve plant availability. The implementation of state-of-the-art blade path technology enabled efficiency improvements which were so attractive as to even induce modernisation of steam turbines with sufficient residual service life. Improved reliability thus took a back seat to efficiency optimisation. Design features enabling long-term improvements in the availability of power plant units are also discussed. (EN)

First Year Operation Experience with a 1 t/h CO₂ Absorption Pilot Plant at Esbjerg Coal-fired Power Plant

Jacob Nygaard Knudsen, Poul-Jacob Vilhelmsen, Jorgen Norklit Jensen, Ole Biede

As part of the EU integrated project CASTOR, a 1 t/h CO₂ absorption pilot plant has been erected at the 400 MW coal-fired Esbjerg power plant. The main purpose of the pilot plant is to demonstrate the post-combustion capture technology in conjunction with a coal-fired power plant. In January-February 2006, a 1000 hours test campaign on a conventional solvent, 30 %-weight MEA solution, was conducted at the pilot plant. This paper summarises the initial operation experience and some of the first results obtained during the 1000 hours MEA campaign. (EN)

Chemistry in Water Steam Cycle of Combined Cycle Power Plants: Experience and Future Development

Robert Svoboda, F. Gabrielli, H. Hehs, H., F. Droux

Operating experience updates are given for combined cycle plants with drum boilers as well as for the plants with once-through steam generators. Most recent types of combined cycles integrate independent LP and IP drum boilers with a once-through type HP boiler. The background for the main characteristics of the Alstom water chemistry guidelines for combined cycle power plants will be explained. (EN)

VGB Guideline for the Water in Nuclear Power Plants with Light Water Reactor VGB-R401 J (PWR)

Micael Jürgensen, Harry Neder, Dieter Wolter, Ulrich Staudt, Suat Odar, Volker Schneider

The recent revision of the VGB water chemistry guideline was completed at the beginning of 2006 and will be published in May 2006. These guidelines are based on the primary and secondary side operating chemistry experience of all Siemens designed PWRs since the beginning of eighties.

VGB Guideline for the Water in Nuclear Power Plants with Light Water Reactor VGB-R401 J (BWR)

Matthias Roßkamp, Norbert Albrecht, Ulf Ilg, Harry Neder, Uve Reitzner, Bernd Riedmüller, Dittmar Rutschow

The new VGB guideline for light water reactor (BWR) is presented. The guideline specifies the classical, oxidative water chemistry for BWR. Principal strategies of water chemistry are described. Recommendations are made for deviations of normal operation. The guideline specifies – based on latest findings – especially chloride and sulphate in reactor water in view to corrosion resistance of austenitic materials, normal operating values and action levels.

High Efficiency Coal-fired Power Plant based on Proven Technology

Jürgen Klebes

Currently, a large number of new coal-fired power plants are in the project development and/or tendering phase in Germany. The technology of these power plants will be based on “Ultra Supercritical Steam Conditions” (USC). The materials for the steam turbine are based on 12% chrome steel. The power stations operated in Japan with USC steam conditions show an important advantage concerning the economic results of such an investment. (EN)

Cameras for Combustion Control of Highly Fluctuating Fuel Compositions

Hubert B. Keller, Jörg Matthes, Stephan Zipser, Reinhard Schreiner, Oliver Gohlke, Joachim Horn, Holger Schönecker

Combustion processes of any kind require low-pollution and, at the same time, energy efficient process management. Combustion of fossil fuels is relatively easy to optimise in this respect as it is characterised by constant fuel properties. On the other hand, renewable fuels, such as biomass, solid municipal waste, solid municipal waste fractions or substitute fuels, have greatly varying chemical-physical properties which may give rise to process behaviour both difficult to manage and non-steady in terms of time. To ensure optimum combustion, the parameters of operation therefore must be automatically adapted to the fluctuations in time of combustion conditions. Infrared or video cameras are able to detect the combustion situation quickly without needing any contact or producing any repercussions, and also with the high resolution required. In this way, changes can be detected at an early point in time, and this (additional) information can be used for monitoring or for specific action in combustion control.

Measurement of Dust Resistivity – Back Corona in Electrostatic Precipitators

Helmut Wiggers

Dusts of very high specific electric resistance cause in electrostatic precipitators frequently the so-called back corona. Locally the electric field strengths in the dust layer at the collecting electrodes exceed a certain breakthrough value. The local electrical discharges act like mini explosions. Dust particles already separated from the gas are thrown back into the gas flow and the overall precipitation efficiency is reduced drastically. Measurements of the dust resistivity are frequently performed to get in advance indications concerning the occurrence of back corona. (EN)

Studies on the Issue of Fine Dust Based on the Example of Grosskraftwerk Mannheim AG

Matthias Meierer

A recent EU Directive has defined new limit values, which have already been integrated into German law. Effective technical measures have helped to significantly reduce dust emissions from German power plants. Thus, the share of fine dust pollution specifically attributable to fossil-fired power plants is very low in Germany. This has been confirmed for the local pollution scenario in the Mannheim area by an examination of the dust ratios emitted from the Grosskraftwerk Mannheim AG using propagation calculations. (EN)

(EN) paper in the English language