Vattenfall

About: Vattenfall is a company organization based out in Stockholm, Sweden. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Wind power & Combustion. The organization has 685 authors who have published 857 publications receiving 18912 citations. The organization is also known as: Vattenfall AB & Kungliga Vattenfallstyrelsen.

Gas Concentration Measurements in the Combustion Chamber of the 235 MWe Circulating Fluidized Bed Boiler Turow No. 3

Abstract: Local measurements of concentrations of O2 , CO2 , CO, NO and SO2 were carried out inside the 235 MWe circulating fluidized bed boiler no. 3 Turow power plant. The combustion chamber had a cross-sectional area of 21.1 × 9.9 m2 and a height of 43 m. Water-cooled probes with a length of 4.7 m were used to take samples from inside the boiler. 20 ports in 5 different heights were used to introduce the probes. The penetration depth inside the boiler was up to 3 m. The sampled gas was led to online analyzers. Even though the number of ports and the penetration length was not sufficient to get a full 3-D mapping of the concentrations the measured horizontal and vertical gas concentration profiles of NO, CO, CO2 , O2 and SO2 clearly indicate a core/annulus structure with a wall layer thickness of about 0.5–1 m. Significant differences are observed between gas concentrations near the front wall and those near the rear wall which indicate an uneven distribution of fuel. One consequence is the formation of plumes with high concentrations of CO, NO, CO2 and SO2 near the front wall which extend up to the exit region. The fact that nevertheless the stack emissions are still below the legal limits may be attributed to the excellent performance of the cyclones as gas mixers and post combustion reactors.Copyright © 2005 by ASME

Testing a Scandinavian biodiversity assessment tool in an African desert environment.

Abstract: Life cycle assessment-based environmental product declarations (EPDs) require the inclusion of biodi- versity impacts across the entire supply chain. The objective of this study is to test the applicability of a Scandinavian biodiversity assessment tool, developed specifically for use with EPD applications, in an African desert environment, linking the industry types power generation and mining. For this purpose, a GIS-based spatial analysis tool—the biotope method—was adapted to a framework approach which allowed the selection of more suitable, site-specific biodi- versity indicators. The biotope method provides a step- by-step process of defining system boundaries, mapping biotopes, categorizing biotopes based on site-specific indi- cators, and evaluating change in biotope status ''before'' and ''after'' the impact. The development of site-specific indi- cators was piloted in this study and determined by the affected ecosystem and the status of knowledge on biodi- versity in this geographic area. Thus plants were used as indicators for biodiversity, and red-list status and endemism constituted the prime criteria for conservation value of plants. This in turn represented the key criterion for classi- fying biotopes. The tested biodiversity assessment tool has potential for application in different environments and operational settings but leaves room for improvement by including secondary impacts in the assessment and using a wider range of taxa for indicators of biodiversity.

Oxidation Mechanism in Zircaloy-2—The Effect of SPP Size Distribution

Abstract: The metal/oxide interface region in Zircaloy-2 oxidized in autoclave was studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography. In addition to waviness on the micrometer scale the metal/oxide interface was found to have irregularities on a finer scale, and metal islands were found especially at metal hills (delayed parts of the oxidation front). The thickness of the sub-oxide layer varies considerably along the interface in the same sample, from 100 to virtually 0 nm. The sub-oxide composition may vary on a very fine scale (down to 5nm), and it can sometimes be a mixture of sub-oxides with different oxygen content. The metal matrix in contact with the sub-oxide is saturated with up to 32 at. % oxygen, and the oxygen diffusion profile in the metal is in approximate agreement with literature data for pure Zr. However, the diffusion length appears to be somewhat larger at interface metal hills than under valleys, probably for both geometrical and stress state reasons. Hydride precipitates, hardly visible in conventional TEM, give a good image contrast when employing high angle annular dark field imaging. A model for the oxidation process is presented, where the creep deformation of the metal close to the interface and the formation of lateral cracks in the oxide are of highest importance. The effect of second phase particle (SPP) size is suggested to be twofold: Small and numerous SPPs give a stronger metal and therefore higher stress in the oxide. Small SPPs also nucleate many more lateral cracks in the oxide, which gives a weaker oxide. Together this leads to formation of large cracks associated with transition in the oxidation rate at an earlier time than for a material with larger and fewer SPPs, and thereby a higher oxidation rate.