Showing papers on "Power station published in 1998"

Maritime power plant system with processes for producing, storing and consuming regenerative energy

Abstract: A maritime power plant system for producing, storing and consuming regenerative energy has a support structure on which energy producing devices for producing a continuous supply of energy by at least two different methods from regenerative energy sources are provided. The regenerative energy sources are ocean water, ocean waves, wind, and solar radiation. At least one industrial production facility is also connected to the support structure. A submarine reverse osmosis device is provided.

Cooling water management in European power stations Biology and control of fouling

Abstract: Colin Taylor is a Senior Environmental Officer in British Energy PLC's Health, Safety and Environment Division. Working in applied aquatic ecology, he is also responsible for dealing with the environmental regulatory authorities. He is a graduate in marine biology and estuarine ecology. Michel Khalanski is a Senior Research Engineer at Electricite de France, R&D Division, Departement Environnement. Working in applied aquatic ecology, he is presently in charge of the EDF biofouling research programme.

The spherical tokamak path to fusion power

Abstract: The low-aspect-ratio tokamak or spherical torus (ST) approach offers the two key elements needed to enable magnetic confinement fusion to make the transition from a government-funded research program to the commercial marketplace: a low-cost, low-power, small-size market entry vehicle and a strong economy of scale in larger devices. Within the ST concept, a very small device (A = 1.4, major radius ~1 m, similar size to the DIII-D tokamak) could be built that would produce ~800 MW(thermal), 200 MW(net electric) and would have a gain, defined as QPLANT = (gross electric power/recirculating power), of ~2. Such a device would have all the operating systems and features of a power plant and would therefore be acceptable as a pilot plant, even though the cost of electricity would not be competitive. The ratio of fusion power to copper toroidal field (TF) coil dissipation rises quickly with device size (like R3 to R4, depending on what is held constant) and can lead to 4-GW(thermal) power plants with QPL...

Wind power plat and method for cooling a generator in a wind power plant

Abstract: The invention relates to a wind power plant (1) in which the generator (5) is cooled by a cooling air flow (6) generated by chimney effect in the tower (3) of the wind power plant (1). The invention also relates to a method for cooling a generator (5).

Application of an energy source power system stabilizer on the 10 MW battery energy storage system at Chino substation

Abstract: Southern California Edison (SCE) installed a 10 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) at its Chino substation facility in 1988. The BESS facility has been in operation for six years and has been used for load leveling and peaking functions. The BESS power conversion system was built with the then state of the art technology and has a very fast response rate when changing power output of the batteries. SCE installed an energy source power system stabilizer (ESPSS) to test the concept of providing damping of power system swings using the ESPSS. The ESPSS basically modulates the power output/input of the energy storage batteries to respond to system frequency deviations caused by power system oscillations. The ESPSS differs from a conventional power system stabilizer. It is designed to change the power output of the power source rather than the voltage or the reactive power output. While installing the ESPSS several upgrades to the BESS were made to improve reliability. Installation of the ESPSS on the battery enables SCE to test the concept of system stabilization using power source output modulation instead of reactive power modulation. The energy storage batteries provide an easy test bed for conducting field tests and response of the ESPSS to system disturbances. This paper discusses the BESS, the ESPSS and presents recorded results from system disturbance monitoring and field tests conducted on the ESPSS and the batteries.

Thermodynamic Optimization of a Gas Turbine Power Plant With Pressure Drop Irreversibilities

Abstract: In this paper we show that the thermodynamic performance of a gas turbine power plant can he optimized by adjusting the flow rate and the distribution of pressure losses along the flow path. Specifically, we show that the power output has a maximum with respect to the fuel flow rate or any of the pressure drops. The maximized power output has additional maxima with respect to the overall pressure ratio and overall temperature ratio. When the optimization is performed subject to a fixed fuel flow rate, and the power plant size is constrained, the power output and efficiency can be maximized again by properly allocating the fixed total flow area among the compres­ sor inlet and the turbine outlet.

Method and apparatus for self-calibration of a coordinated control system for an electric power generating station

Abstract: A method of calibrating a multivariate controller in a coordinated control system of an electric power generating station includes an expert system for collecting data at a plurality of operating parameters of the power generating system and providing that data to a characterizer block. By using the calibration data, which is predictive of the response of the power generating system to an external disturbance, the characterizer block provides a feedforward signal to the multivariate controller before the effect of the external disturbance can propagate throughout the power generating system. In the method of the invention, the expert system is implemented as a spreadsheet with a DDE interface to the power generating system and an automatic script file generator for communicating to the characterizer block.

Management and dynamic performances of combined cycle power plants during parallel and islanding operation

Abstract: The subject of a cogeneration plant modeling has already been discussed in the past, but mostly from the thermal and energy point of view. There are several aspects to be considered for assuring that the plant will operate satisfactorily. Furthermore, the increasing number of energy producers poses more and more attention to these types of plants and to their regulation mode. Among these aspects, particular care is devoted in this paper to the modeling and setting-up of gas turbine regulators, also because it is not generally such a trivial work to adapt existing software for large power systems' dynamic analysis to the requirements of combined-cycle power plants. On the basis of the specialized literature, a detailed model for the regulator of a gas turbine unit is adopted, which includes speed, acceleration and temperature controls as well as inlet guide vanes' control. The proposed regulator is tested on a realistic industrial power plant with particular attention to parallel and isolated operation.

Environomic modeling and optimization of advanced combined cycle cogeneration power plants including CO2 separation options

Abstract: Considering the economic importance of the electricity generation sector as well as its contribution to local, regional and global pollution, the development of new cost-effective and environmentally benign electricity generation and cogeneration systems is an essential task. In this context, combined cycle cogeneration power plants are among the most promising systems. The integration of gas turbines with a steam turbine cycle leads to complex systems and to an increasing number of technological options for their improvement. Faced with growing concerns about greenhouse gas emission, systems for CO2 separation become an additional option and compete with measures for efficiency improvement. The simultaneous consideration of economic and environmental concerns as well as the increasing system complexity and the growing number of options represent an important challenge to the engineer and require the development of new approaches and design tools. The present work contributes to the development of such an approach and its application to combined cycle cogeneration power plants and their advanced options. These options, such sequential combustion gas turbines, compressor intercooling of CO2 separation can improve performance with respect to efficiency and emissions, but require increased investment costs. These competing factors are united in a so-called environomic model which takes into account the costs of resources and capital investment, as well as the costs of pollution, and calculates a single criterion – the total cost of electricity production. The costs of pollution used in this work are based on economic studies from the literature. For internalization, a penalty factor allows the degree of pollution already present in the environment to be taken into account. Benefits due to the substitution of domestic furnaces through cogeneration are also considered. A so-called "superconfiguration" model allows the modeling of simultaneous changes in configuration and design. Uncertainties linked to thermodynamic performance and investment costs model are addressed through calibration by means of reference combined cycle power plants, as well as through a proposed method for directly taking them into account in the model. The influence of varying requirements such as the power plant size, operating time and emission limits can also be modeled, providing valuable information such as thermodynamic states, component performance and investment costs. The resulting optimization problem is of the non-linear, mixed integer type. The complex task of finding optimum solutions is accomplished by means of powerful optimization methods that allow searching of the entire solution space. In this work, a genetic algorithm was adapted to the requirements of the superconfiguration optimization, permitting the simultaneous optimization of configuration and design. Genetic algorithms work with populations instead of a single data point and rely on biological mechanisms such as mating, mutation and replacement, and provide multiple promising solutions. Reference cases with different electricity and heat demand as well as different annual operating time are optimized and analyzed in detail with respect to the solutions obtained. Based on these reference cases, sensitivity studies on the cost of pollution, as well as emission limits, show the influence of these factors on the combined cycle configuration and design, as well as on the cost structure of electricity, and demonstrate an application of the method.

Steam producing hydrocarbon fueled power plant employing a PEM fuel cell

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for creating steam from the cooling stream of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. As the cooling stream exits the PEM fuel cell, a portion of the cooling fluid is extracted from the circulating cooling stream, thereby creating a secondary stream of cooling fluid. This secondary stream passes through a restriction, which decreases the pressure of the secondary stream to its saturation pressure, such that when the secondary stream enters a flash evaporator it transforms into steam. Creating steam from the cooling stream of a PEM fuel cell power plant provides the fuel processor with a co-generated source of steam without adding a significant amount of auxiliary equipment to the power plant.

Helical Turbines for the Gulf Stream: Conceptual Approach to Design of a Large-Scale Floating Power Farm

Abstract: This paper describes the helical turbine as an efficient new instrument for converting the kinetic energy of hydro streams into electric or other mechanical energy. A multi-megawatt project is proposed, conceived as an ocean power farm equipped with a number of helical turbines, along with a floating factory for in situ production of hydrogen fuel by means of electrolyzing ocean waters. Besides mega hydro-power farms, mini-power stations with helical turbines of a few kilowatts each are also proposed as possibilities for small communities or even individual households located near tidal shorelines or river banks with strong water currents. No construction of hydro dams is necessary for such applications.

Biomass CFB gasifier connected to a 350 MWth steam boiler fired with coal and natural gas—THERMIE demonstration project in Lahti in Finland

Abstract: The successful experience in developing the advanced Foster Wheeler Energia Oy’s (former Ahlstrom Pyropower) Circulating Fluidized Bed combustion system subsequently led to the development of the CFB Gasification Technology in the early 80 s. The driving force for the developing work was the dramatically increase in oil price during the oil crises. The primary advantage of CFB gasification technology is that it enables the substitution of expensive fuels e.g. oil or gas with cheap solid fuels. These cheap fuels are typically different types of waste woods, bark or other biofuels. In the CFB gasifier these solid fuels are converted to gaseous fuel which can be used instead of other expensive fuels. In some cases this also solves a waste disposal problem, providing a secondary economic and environmental benefit. Foster Wheeler Energia Oy has supplied four commercial scale atmospheric CFB gasifiers in the mid 80 s to the pulp and paper industry with capacities from 17–35 MW based on fuel input. These applications utilize waste wood as feedstock and the units are still successfully operational today. Lahden Lampovoima Oy is a Finnish power company producing power and district heat for the city of Lahti. The company is 50% owned by the city of Lahti and 50% by Imatran Voima Oy, which is the largest utility power company in Finland. Lahden Lampovoima Oy operates the Kymijarvi power plant locating nearby the city of Lahti in Southern Finland. To keep the energy prices as low as possible, Lahden Lampovoima is continuously looking for the most economical fuel sources, and simultaneously, trying to improve the environmental acceptability of the energy production. At the moment, about 300 GWh/a different type of biofuels and refuse fuels are available in the Lahti area. On an annual basis, the available amount of biofuels and refuse fuels is enough to substitute for about 15% of the fuels burned in the main boiler equaling max 30% of coal. The aim in this Lahden Lampovoima Oy’s Kymijarvi power plant gasification project is to demonstrate the direct gasification of wet biofuel and the use of hot, raw and very low-calorific gas directly in the existing coal-fired boiler. The gasification of biofuels and co-combustion of gases in the existing coal-fired boiler offers many advantages such as: recycling of CO2, decreased SO2 and NOx emissions, efficient way to utilize biofuels and recycled refuse fuels, low investment and operation costs, and utilization of the existing power plant capacity. Furthermore, only small modifications are required in the boiler, possible disturbances in the gasifier do not shut down the power plant.

Development of a Hydrogen-Fueled Combustion Turbine Cycle for Power Generation

Abstract: Consideration of a hydrogen based economy is attractive because it allows energy to be transported and stored at high densities and then transformed into useful work in pollution-free turbine or fuel cell conversion systems. Through its New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) the Japanese government is sponsoring the World Energy Network (WE-NET) Program. The program is a 28-year global effort to define and implement technologies needed for a hydrogen-based energy system. A critical part of this effort is the development of a hydrogen-fueled combustion turbine system to efficiently convert the chemical energy stored in hydrogen to electricity when the hydrogen is combusted with pure oxygen. The full-scale demonstration will be a greenfield power plant located seaside. Hydrogen will be delivered to the site as a cryogenic liquid, and its cryogenic energy will be used to power an air liquefaction unit to produce pure oxygen. To meet the NEDO plant thermal cycle requirement of a minimum of 70.9 percent, low heating value (LHV), a variety of possible cycle configurations and working fluids have been investigated. This paper reports on the selection of the best cycle (a Rankine cycle), and the two levels of technology needed to support a near-term plant and a long-term plant. The combustion of pure hydrogen with pure hydrogen with pure oxygen results only in steam, thereby allowing for a direct-fired Rankine steam cycle. A near-term plant would require only moderate development to support the design of an advanced high pressure steam turbine and an advanced intermediate pressure steam turbine.

An electric power plant with electric machine and auxiliary power means

Abstract: An electric power plant comprises at least one electric machine (2, 4, 6, 8) of alternating current type designed to be connected directly to a distribution or transmission network and comprising at least one electric winding. The winding of the machine comprises at least one electric conductor, a first layer with semiconducting properties surrounding the conductor, a solid insulating layer surrounding the first layer and a second layer with semiconducing properties surrounding the insulating layer. Auxiliary power means (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40) are arranged to provide the requisite auxiliary power. The procedure in such a plant is also described.