Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 9/2009

EDF Group Reduces its Carbon Footprint

François Giger

Although EDF’s carbon footprint in France is already very low (40 g of CO2/kWh) compared to coal-fired units (about 20 times more) or even to gas-fired combined cycles (about 10 times more), its stakes in fossil-fired power plants in Europe and overseas contribute to a total amount of 64 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. Therefore, reduction of carbon emissions represents a real challenge; besides demand side management, renewable developments, efficiency improvement, fuel switching from coal to gas and contribution to the nuclear revival. CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) technologies development is also part of the picture.

Impacts of Climate Change on EDF's Activities

Marta Nogaj, Damien Bilbault and Valery Vercellino

Climate change, realised through extreme events has also its impact on energy conversion. Therefore, climate change is an important future task. EDF launched a research programme aiming at the consideration of likely developments, damaging influence and possible measures in order to minimise consequences.

Pumped Storage Plant – Guardians for European Transmission Grid Stability

Kurt Klein and Josef Schernthanner

Pumped storage power stations (PSW) contribute to peak load balancing and to the stabilisation of electrical grids. Network charges, higher maintenance expenditures due to modified modes of operation and other burdens also challenge maintenance investments and refurbishment investments for existing pumped storage power stations. The danger of being squeezed out of the market by these additional financial burdens cannot be ruled out for PSW.

Optimising Wind Farms Maintenance

Tilman Gruber

Maintenance of wind parks is being re-organised. In the past, wind farm maintenance was very reactive and without deep involvement of the wind turbine owner. In recent years large players coming from other areas of the power generation business have become the dominating wind energy generators. This fact will drive wind farm maintenance to common power generation standards.

Reconditioning and Durable Wear Protection for Gear Boxes and Bearings and Wind Turbines

Stefan Bill and Holger Fritsch

Preventing wear and tear problems in gear boxes and bearings of turbines is one of the biggest challenges. REWITEC has successfully developed a Nano-
coating technology which restores worn surface metal structures and permanently protects them from new wear and abrasion. The improvements of tribological properties result in prolonged lifetime of mechanical components.

Developing Bioenergy in Inhomogeneous Areas

Gerold Göttlicher

The aim to base 20 % of electricity supply on renewable energies until 2020 also relies on the contribution of bioenergy. However, the real extension of bioenergy is confronted with many technical problems and problems concerning the availability of biomass. The paper describes the structure of biomass supply and energy plants in different paths and partnerships with other biomass users taking EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG as an example.

SHCC - Development of a Novel Concept for Solar Hybrid Power Plants

Stephan Heide, Uwe Gampe, Manfred Freimark, Ulrich Langnickel, Markus Beukenberg, Bernd Gericke, Reiner Buck and Stefano Giuliano

In the medium term Solar Hybrid Combined Cycle (SHCC®) power plants are expected to play an important role in power generation since they are able to supply the electricity market according to its requirements and to utilise limited and high grade natural resources economically. SHCC® power plants are characterised by the integration of high-temperature solar heat into gas turbine process and in addition - depending on the scheme of the process cycle - downstream into the steam cycle.

SGT5-8000H: Design and Product Validation at Irsching 4 Test Center

Willibald J. Fischer and Steven Abens

Development of gas turbines is responsive to market demands, technical innovations and environmental protection requirements. Customer needs and benefits were the main drivers for development of the new Siemens SGT5-8000H gas turbine, which was originally rated at 340 MW and is the result of years of research and development within Siemens Energy. The SGT5-8000H concept is tailored to the deregulated market environment and offers added value through its higher operational flexibility. Testing at the Irsching site was very successful.

Experiences from Commissioning and Trial Operation of the Oxyfuel Research Plant of Vattenfall

Hubertus Altmann, Thomas Porsche and Uwe Burchhardt

By launching the CCS technology, Vattenfall is aiming at the commercial usage of the Oxyfuel technology. After testing with laboratory plants at the universities of Cottbus and Dresden, a pilot plant with a thermal capacity of 30 MW was erected at the site in Schwarze Pumpe. The plant started operation in September 2008. First results demonstrated that the Oxyfuel mode is manageable; all emission limits could be kept and project parameters regarding separation efficiency and CO2 purity have been complied with.

Power Plant Simulator - New Potentials for Economic Prosperity

Axel Pechstein and Heinz-Gerd Blank

The employment of simulators in basic as well as in advanced vocational training has become an established standard in many areas. The investigation conducted by the VGB Panel "Power Plant Personnel Training" emphasizes the necessity of making use of simulators as regular feature to be part of qualifying measures for power plant operating personnel. The paper will describe a number of key qualifications for power plant operating personnel and the specific importance of simulator training.

Breaking New Ground Qualifying Power Plant Operators

Jürgen Herzfeld

Following the demographic trend in Germany, initiating on or around 2010, fewer school leavers will be available for initial training. The paper will describe the competitive position of corporation and undertakings to attract these school leavers. This means for us as power plant operation companies that we have to keep an eye on both, desirability of corporation just like desirability of profession. Against this background the VGB Panel "Power Plant Personnel Training" had dealt with the topic. The aim was to show alternative methods in connection with the classical initial training in skilled trade to achieve a minor training period of about 12 months in total. In doing so, the framework of examination regulations have to be followed and the quality of initial training must not deteriorate.

Perspectives of the German Lignite Industry 2009

Matthias Hartung and George Milojcic

In 2008 the German lignite companies were economically successful and at the same time they set the future course. A contribution was made towards less specific CO2 emissions with the new power plants erected. Lignite production amounted to 175 million tonnes and was thus in a normal range. About 13.5 million tonnes were used in the processing industry. Another 92 % of the entire production was used in electricity generation and district heating.

Investigation of the Mixing on Grate Firing Systems of Waste and Biomass Plants

Erdem Simsek, Florian Sudbrock, Siegmar Wirtz and Viktor Scherer

For optimisation of the overall process in grate firing systems for waste and biomass details of mixing and stoking of the fuel layer are crucial along with the understanding of the thermo-chemical processes. Thus, experimental investigations were made about the influence of operating parameters on mixing. The paper presents the results of a publicly funded AiF research project carried out in co-operation with VGB.

Summary Report on the Activities of VGB PowerTech e.V. 2007/2008

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 of its Competence Centres "Nuclear Power Plants", "Fossil-fired Power Plants", "Renewables and Distributed Generation" and "Environmental Technology, Chemistry, Safety and Health". 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, VGB organises seminars, symposia, conferences and the annual "Power Plants" congress. These conferences are further platforms for the international exchange of experience - as is the journal at hand.