Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 6/2007

Technology Management – Vision and Implementation at E.ON Energie on the Path towards a Future Energy Supply

Jörg Kruhl, Stefan Bockamp

Considering the up coming renewal process, the energy industry is one of the main users of innovation and new technologies within the area of power technology because utilities aim for ecological, sustainable and economical power generation. Economic efficiency is the key to successful innovative technology. The new technology comes from an efficient technology management structure which includes an intensive exchange with experts from suppliers and universities.

EU Energy Review: State of Plans and EURELECTRIC Views

Gwyn Dolben, Gabor Toth

Europe’s and indeed the world’s energy demand is growing. Europe must ensure secure access to primary energy sources, and use the available resources in the most energy- and cost-efficient way. Given the threat posed by climate change, EURELECTRIC believes that Europe must, as a priority, seek an international greenhouse gas reduction agreement by industrialised countries and transitional economies. The most cost-efficient way to meet reduction commitments is through the continuing development of emissions trading. If Europe is to continue enjoying secure energy supplies, policies must promote diversity of energy sources and technologies.

Climate Change and Power Industry - State of the Scientific Research

Rüdiger Beising

Warming of the climate system of the last half century is unequivocal. The global increases in greenhouse gases and land-use change are considered as main polluters. The energy industry contributes to about 25% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. A broad portfolio of energy production technologies including fuel switching (coal/oil to gas), increased power plant efficiency, and increased use of renewable energy technologies and nuclear power, is currently available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (www.vgb.org/climate_change2007.html).

Parameter Identification of a Boiler Dynamic Model from Historical Data

Jaime Cardenas Castro, Hernando Diaz Morales

In this paper parameters identification of a dynamical model for a drum type boiler in Paipa IV Power Plant, located in Paipa, Boyacá, Colombia is presented. The model is selected from open literature, and unknown parameters are found by optimisation using historical data. The transient responses of the boiler are modeled very well by the model and adjustment with plant data are sufficient for control and faults detection purpose.

Assessment of Plant Concepts by the Example of Industrial Biomass-based Power Plants

Hans Christian Schröder, Christian Irrgang, Wolfgang Noll, Peter Diehl

Based on systems in plants of various customers served by TUEV and based on the assessment of systems with respect to operational fitness, technical layout, fuel use, firing systems, contamination and pollution, wear, rehabilitation plans and compliance with emissions regulations a great number of various findings and experience is available. The present paper will describe the major topics based on expertise gained in the field that must always be considered within a sophisticated plant concept.

Hybrid Combustion Air Conditioning at Gas Turbines – A New Method to Optimise the Operation of Gas Turbines

Frank Triesch

Secondary processes of gas turbines continue to have an important optimisation potential. Hybrid conditioning of combustion air is a simple way to open up interesting, so far unused, synergy effects. The efficiency of the gas turbine is increased in nearly all operating modes throughout the whole year thanks to the combination of side-cooling, fuel pre-heating, anti-icing and air humidification. The new process of hybrid combustion air conditioning will amortise after about two years thanks to the increase in output and efficiency.

Practical Experience with the Oxygenated Treatment of Feedwater for Operation of Natural-circulation Boilers in an Industrial Power Plant

Lutz Dümmel, Ulrich Teutenberg

Up to date, the operation of natural-circulation drum boilers with oxygenated feedwater has been unusual. For the first time, the new edition of the VGB Guideline R 450 L deals with oxygenated feedwater treatment (OT) as independently applicable method for drum boilers. In the Obernburg power plant several natural-circulation steam generators of various designs have been operating with ammonia and oxygen containing feedwater. This operating period is considered a valuable proof of successful OT operation because water/steam and condensate quality showed satisfactory values.

Operating Experience with a Two-cycle Limestone FGD in the Jänschwalde Power Plant

Andreas Sparmann, Frank Menge, Henry Kießlich

The flue gas desulphurisation plant (FGD) according to the NOELL/KRC limestone wet procedure in the Jänschwalde power plant proved well after 85,000 operating hours. The gypsum quality could be improved to a high level thanks to comprehensive optimisation. Special fuel is fired in the Jänschwalde power plant. Such fuel is fed via two dosing stations with a dosing rate of max. 3.6 Ma %/raw lignite in eight steam boilers. The operating mode of the FGD plant had to be adjusted to the increased chloride content.

Development of Standards Scenarios for Risk Evaluation of Cooling Water Additives

Walter Guhl, Wolfgang Hater

Based on the general standards of the European Union for risk evaluation of chemicals, emission scenarios have been developed for the different types of cooling systems, which form together with the intrinsic properties of the chemical substances the base of a generic risk assessment. The systematic application of this methodology on the most important groups of cooling water additives could show that the due use of these products will not cause any risk to the aquatic environment.

First Use of Mol©-Clean Process in a Cooling Circuit of a Coal-fired Power Plant

Axel Becker, Wolf-Ingo Hockarth, Toralf Schönfelder, Jürgen Körner, Jürgen Koppe, Hartmut Lausch

Cooling circuits are nowadays primarily treated with chlorine, NaOCl, ClO2 and other chlorinated or chlorine/bromine-organic biocides, in order to counteract the heat transfer losses caused by microbial colonisation on surface areas. This effect can be prevented by the application of the Mol®Clean method. The method was tested and installed at the cooling tower circuit of the Rostock power plant.

Mineral Dust in Workplace Air - Regulations in Germany

Dirk Dahmann

Mineral dust including respirable crystalline silica has been recognized as a risk to workers’ health for a long time. In Germany the methods for preventing silicosis have been successful. Recently a scientific discussion about the possible carcinogenic effect of silica and cristobalite in connection with the necessity of much lower threshold limits has started. Authorities have begun to react accordingly. Especially for airborne mineral dust and its constituent crystalline silica the situation is still not yet clear. Especially in the field of mineral dust the necessity for clarification is imminent.

EC Council Directive 2003/10/EG and its National Implementation - What Changes in Terms of the Consideration of Noise at the Workplace?

Lothar Schmidt

Council Directive 86/188/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to noise at work has been replaced by the Directive 2003/10/EC. Substantial changes have been the lowering of the action values for the noise exposure at work of 5 dB and the introduction of new elements like the interactions between noise and work-related ototoxic substances and between noise and vibrations. Therefore, the regulation which implements Directive 2003/10/EC into national law retains the European concept of the examination of exposure. Compared to the hitherto existing situation this will allow for substantial flexibility for the examination of the noise exposure of workers.

Reducing Tonal Noise of Axial-flow Fans by Optimisation of Design Parameters

Wilhelm von Heesen

Axial-flow fans have a wide range of applications in power stations. The pronounced tonal noise of axial-flow fans often causes problems, e.g. for induced draught fans, which are connected directly to the stack. In these cases, elaborate silencers are required. This article describes a method to reduce interaction noise by optimising the design parameters fan speed, duct diameter, number of rotor blades and number of stator vanes. By means of an adequate choice of these four parameters, individual tonal components can be reduced by more than 20 dB.