Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 9/2007
Summary Report on the Activities of VGB PowerTech e.V. 2006/2007
Karl A. Theis
VGB PowerTech e.V. (VGB) is the European technical association for heat and power generation. The work of the VGB largely depends on the many backers and employees in the companies and office who, for example, manage and support the activities of the committees. Here detailed topics, e.g. fire safety, damage statistics and draft directives, are handled systematically and consistently, taken up and further developed. The VGB is also involved in power plant research via its research foundation and promotes important topics with funds from its member companies. In addition to this work, the VGB organises seminars, symposia, conferences and the annual “Power Plants” congress. These conferences are further platforms for the international exchange of experience – as is this journal.
Hydro-power in Europe and Climate Change – Consequences and Challenges
Otto Pirker
The topic of climate change and its impact on the generation of hydro power in Europe is of great interest from an energy policy point of view. Two main topics can be defined in this context: one is the question of what contribution hydro power can make to preventing CO2 emissions in Europe. The second set of questions is based on the possible impact of climate change and the associated impact on water management and thus on the generation of hydro power.
Experiences of Commissioning and the First Operation Phase of a 5 MW Wind Turbine for Offshore Use
Walter Sucrow and Albert Kriener
Using multi-megawatt wind energy plants in offshore wind power plants requires properties which can often not be adequately fulfilled at present. The project presented to set up a 5 MW wind energy plant is therefore intended to test such plants for deployment at sea. The transport and assembly procedures, the stability of the technology, operation and maintenance should be tested.
Offshore Wind Parks
Torben Kenneth Hansen, Oliver Weinmann and Hendrik Bergmann
Many of the initial offshore wind parks were built as pilot plants. This was connected with uncertain technical factors when relocating wind turbines from land to sea. Use could be made of specific methods and values from oil and gas extraction at sea. Now that the first wind park pilot projects have been completed, a great deal of useful knowledge is available which can be applied to future offshore projects.
The New Generation of Solar Power Plants on the Basis of Fresnel Technology
Christiane Frank and Siegfried Hein
The FRESDEMO research project currently being implemented in Almería, Spain is presented here. The aim of this project is to demonstrate the market readiness of Fresnel panels for use in solar energy power plants. The expected benefits of the Fresnel construction are, from an economic point of view, lower investment costs and lower operating and maintenance costs.
Biomass Pellets for the Power Plant Sector – a Market Analysis
Janet Witt and Martin Kaltschmitt
The use of biomass as a solid fuel is – due to comparable fuel properties vis-à-vis specific fossil fuels - possible in nearly all known firing systems for solid fossil fuels. Against this background, the European pellet market is analysed and the technical aspects of using biomass pellets in the power plant sector presented.
Maintening Know-how and Assuring Quality in Hydro power plants
Josef F. Ciesiolka and Hans-Christoph Funke
In order to better deal with the diverse challenges derived from technology and national/European conditions, the major operators of hydro power plants run a systematic exchange of experience under the VGB umbrella organisation. The operators are responsible for updating, enhancing and maintaining operational know-how. Quality management systems, in which manufacturers and service providers are involved, are also requested.
Perspectives for the German Lignite Industry 2007
Matthias Hartung
2006 was another good year for the German brown coal industry. Production continued to be at a high level and the available power plant capacity was used intensively.
The key to the future of brown coal is power plants with low CO2 emissions. The brown coal industry is following a developed approach which is systematic and in stages.
Hard Coal-fired Power plant Concepts and Criteria for Site Selection
Jens Reich and Wolfgang A. Benesch
Future hard coal power plants must satisfy market requirements as well as implementing state-of-the-art technology. The three factors of coal, power and water, supplemented by the social environment and acceptance at the location are the parameters against which locations are to be evaluated. Here it is clear that every site has its advantages and disadvantages and that some require individual technical solutions.
Challenges of the Power Plant Market in View of a Big Consultant and Technical Inspection Organisation
Gerhard Dreier, Herbert Stoll, Klaus Rohler, Hans-Joachim Diwok and Oliver Braass
The current replacement process in the power plant sector poses various challenges for all those involved. Challenges and solutions from the point of view of an evaluating and monitoring organisation are presented. TÜV NORD (the North German Technical Inspection Authority) has set up an internal network and is working with German competence networks on the further development of the inspection and engineering methods for new power plant technologies.
The Siemens New Gas Turbine for More Customer Benefit SGT5-8000H
Phil Ratcliff, Paul Garbett and Willibald Fischer
E.ON Energy and Siemens are implementing a new power plant project in Irsching in Bavaria which will set new benchmarks as far as efficiency and cost-effectiveness are concerned. With 340 MW, the gas turbine installed will be the largest and most efficient in the world. After the test phase, this gas turbine plant will be expanded to become a highly efficient CCGT plant with an output of around 530 MW and an efficiency of over 60 per cent.
Future Power Pant Control Integrates Process and Substation Automation into One System
Jörg Orth
The new IEC 61850 standard has been established for substation control systems. In future, IEC 61850 may also be widely used for electrical systems in power plants. IEC 61850 simplifies the integration of process and substation control systems in power plants by creating one automated system across manufacturers and thus makes a significant contribution to cost efficiency in operation and maintenance.
Condition Monitoring – Database, Experience, Tests
Jörg M. Bareiss
In light of the reform of the legislation for the manufacturing and operation of plants requiring monitoring and the determination of test periods in accordance with the German Industrial Health and Safety Ordinance by the operators, knowledge about the condition of plants is becoming increasingly important. With reference to a VGB Guideline, a suitable condition assessment process will be presented for existing plants. The results of assessments up until now show that condition monitoring can be concentrated on just a few components.