Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 7/2009

The New Power Plant Projects of Eskom – An Overview of Medupi and Kusile Power Plants

Matshela M. Koko, Johannes Musel and Jean-Pierre Fouilloux

Eskom has launched a construction programme for baseload power plants because of the increasing electricity demand in South Africa. The programme comprises among others the erection of six coal-fired 800 MW units at the Medupi and Kusile site. These will be the first new construction projects for Eskom since 25 years, therefore, comprehensive studies on technology and market have been conducted in the run-up.

Current Projects and Strategies for RWE Power's Future Fossil-fired Power Generation

Reinhold O. Elsen, Manfred Kehr and Ralf Nowack

As one of the leading European utilities with an installed power plant capacity of some 34,000 MW, RWE Power systematically tackles this challenge and has launched one of the largest investment programmes in the RWE Group's history to ensure future energy supply. The efforts and risks involved in this power plant renewal can only be shouldered by an industrial company, however, if investments decisions can be based on long-term reliable underlying conditions.

Quality Assurance for New Power Plants – Today’s Practice?

Ute Hartfil

From a quality assurance viewpoint, erection of new power plants is a task as well as a challenge for plant engineers and owners alike. This applies in particular to the construction of the new power plants where clearly defined standards have to be met. Know-how, organisation, logistics, exchange of information, solutions for constructional problems and personnel resources are just a few key words to mention. Market requirements force to accept a worldwide supply market.

Transmission Code – From DVG Recommendations to UCTE Requirements for Generating Units

Marcus Kurth

Different influences lead to changes in the European power system. On the part of the grid operators the demands to be met by power generating companies were adapted from time to time. Those demands were settled in Germany in the form of DVG recommendations and transformed over the time into rules of the Grid Code to the currently valid Transmission Code. Beyond, discussions of a UCTE wide standardisation of minimum requirements for generation units to the grid are under way.

Advantages of Flexible Thermal Generation in High Wind Penetration Grids

Nicholas W. Miller, Sebastian Achilles, Gene Hinkle and Devon Manz

Variability of power generation from wind plants presents an operational challenge for grid system operators. Experience in power grids with significant penetration of wind generation has shown that the operating flexibility of the balance of the generation portfolio is a key element in secure and economic operation. Recent developments in highly flexible gas-fired generation have the potential to improve system performance as measured by higher fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and tighter frequency control. This paper will present a detailed study of the operational economics for a system with significant wind generation, substantial levels of baseload, renewable generation, and legacy thermal generation.

Technical Benchmarking – Tool for Better Performance

Hans-Joachim Meier, Jürgen Aydt, Franz Bauer, Jean-Francois Lehougre and Stefan Prost

The performance parameters and data base KISSY developed by VGB are well suited for assessing plant performance. The performance parameters are derived from power plant parameters and entered online into KISSY. Annual anonymised assessments are made available in VGB reports.

Limits of Insurability – Requirements for the Risk Management

Michael Härig

Competition and environmental protection challenge companies in the energy branch to operate power plants more efficiently and apply more renewable energies. Often it is difficult to achieve sufficient insurance cover for advancements and new technologies. Therefore, it is absolutely important that at an early stage of the project, operator, manufacturer, insurer and broker determine the character of prototype and define to which components or erection phases the insurance cover is limited.

Effects of New Power Plant Technology – A Challenge for Education

Hans-Werner Otte and Heinrich Nacke

Process control technology of modern power plants also calls for new requirements to be met by training and advanced training of control room staff. These topics are covered by Kraftwerksschule e.V. that also deals with keeping and maintaining technical knowledge and expertise. The paper deals with contents and methods of training, among others training foci and the possibilities of simulator application as well as e-learning.

Opportunities and Restrictions in the Use of E-learning and CBT in Further Training

Siegfried Guse, Christoph Bieniek and Silvana Gelbke

E-learning programmes of Kraftwerksschule e.V. are drafted like courses. Learning takes place in a sequential manner. The participants are guided through the course according to a pre-determined sequence and, at the end of the learning units, must complete tasks through which the learning success is reviewed. Throughout the course, participants are closely supported by tutors who answer questions during chatter dates or by e-mail. Technically, the courses are implemented on a learning platform that offers all the necessary e-learning functions.

Imported Coal – Market Overview Operational and Technical Implications for the Entire Power Plant

Wolfgang A. Benesch

In the medium term coal will play an important part worldwide, because coal reserves are available for a long time and are distributed in political independent areas. It was decided in Germany to stop mining domestic hard coal. Thus, the amount of imported coals in Germany will increase. Coal will be mined worldwide. The observance and analysis of the international coal market will contribute to economic and safe future energy planning.

Erection of a Facility for High-speed Balancing of Turbine and Electric-machine Rotors

Alfons Unterste-Bahrenberg

It is proven and standard practice to balance high-speed rotors of turbomachinery as well as electrical machines to ensure optimum rotor running behaviour after installation in the associated machine. In order to balance the equipment as economically and optimally as possible, innovative ideas from members of a wide range of disciplines within system engineering were input into conversion of an atmospheric balancing system at our Essen location.

Corrosion under Isolations – Latest Results

Adolf Schöttner

Corrosion under Isolations (CUI) describes a problem that many plant operators have to deal with. Because of the impact of this phenomenon on the long-term behaviour of chemical plants, power production facilities and other main industrial areas it became a prominent research topic in the last years. The main material affected by this is – not only because of its prominent usage in plants – carbon steel; depending on humidity, salt concentration and temperature, surface corrosion or cavity corrosion can occur. CUI experience reports are given.

Measurement of Degassed Cation Conductivity from the Point of View of an Independent Consultant

Rob Heijboer, Leo M. Butter, Marga van Deelen and Frank de Vos

It is a known and widely accepted fact that Cation Conductivity (CC) is one of the key parameters to monitor the quality of the water/steam cycle. However, the presence of CO2 in the cycle also contributes to the CC value but on the other hand is not such a threat to the integrity of the cycle and is more a nuisance. Kema, as an independent consultant, investigated reasons for CO2 ingress. The results demonstrate that reliable CO2 surveillance will considerably contribute to optimisation of the water-steam cycle.