High Capacity Factor Research Articles

Determination of polyamines and related compounds by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography: Improved separation systems

By employing a column with a high capacity factor and high resolution, separation of the ion pairs with octane sulphonic acid of the natural di- and polyamines, and related compounds, was considerably improved. The new separation systems were applied to the analysis of urine samples and tissue extracts, and allowed the determination not only of the usual polyamines, and the monoacetylspermidines, but also of monoacetylputrescine, putreanine and isoputreanine.

Estimating the aqueous solubility of aromatic hydrocarbons by high performance liquid chromatography

Empirical equations which correlate high performance liquid chromatography capacity factor (k′) to aromatic hydrocarbon aqueous solubility are developed. The correlations of k′ to octanol-water partition coefficients, and k′ to hydrocarbon surface area are also shown.

High performance liquid chromatographic capacity factor and partition coefficient relationship in a benzamide series

High performance liquid chromatography was used to establish the relationship between capacity factor (log k') and partition coefficient (log P octanol/water) in a benzamides series. The Chromatographie parameter was correlated to log P values experimentally determined by the shake-flask method and to log P calculated from Rekker's molecular fragments approach. In both cases, for the 10 molecules studied, capacity factor on partition coefficient fit very closely a regression line. The linear model was tested for another molecule in the same series. When comparing the computed values and the experimental ones, it can be concluded that HPLC is a good tool in predicting partition coefficient in this series.

Lignite Fuel and Power-Plant Availability

This initial study of lignite-fueled power plants encompasses the characteristics of lignite coal, plant reliability problems associated with the handling and burning of Northern Great Plains (NGP) lignite, information on present NGP lignite-fueled plants, a study of boiler and turbine arrangement for achieving low plant unavailability, and a preliminary cost comparison of alternate boiler and turbine arrangements for lignite coal. The conclusions are listed below. 1. Little is known about lignite units. A boiler design up to 500 MW can be specified to attain objectives of low unavailability and high capacity. Consideration should be given to 2 boilers and 1 turbine for outputs greater than 500 MW. 2. Lignite is a difficult fuel to burn but is an abundant, long-term, and cost-effective energy source. 3. Conventional fossil-fuel plant design is inadequate for achieving low unavailability and high capacity factors in a Northern Great Plains lignite fueled plant unless a very conservative design is specified. 4. A lignite plant whose boiler size is identical to a conventional sub-bituminous coal-burning boiler will deliver a low output. 5. As compared to the standard sized fossil-fuel plants, the larger and more expensive lignite plants can provide lower long-term energy costs due to the abundance and ease of mining (strip mining) lignite. Cost reductions will be realized for mine-site power stations which will eliminate coal transportation costs. 6. As more operating experience is accumulated, lignite plant design criteria will improve as will plant unavailability and capacity factors. 7.

The superpower system — I

The paper deals with the essential elements of the superpower plan and discusses the effect of a cheaper and more adequate power supply upon the industrial activity of the United States. The economies effected by the electric utility systems of the country in the past are brought out, while the need for greater coordination between the electric utilities through some such agency as superpower systems is emphasized. The present power production facilities within the superpower zone form an important element of the proposed superpower system. The plan does not call for the complete scrapping of existing electric utility plants or transmissions, but uses these to a very large extent as the nucleus of the system. The effect of amortizing less efficient steam-electric plants is to materially increase the resulting economy of the balance of existing plants, which, with proposed new water power developments, are used to carry the peak load impressed upon the system, permitting the base load steam-electric plants to operate at very high capacity factors with resulting low production costs. The location of base load steam-electric plants in the bituminous coal-mining region is found to be uneconomical at the present time, but the location of large stations in the anthracite region is found to yield very attractive returns. The use of process fuel is not recommended under present conditions, but provision is made in the station designs for the use of such fuel at a later date should it prove profitable. The Superpower Report sets forth principles rather than a detailed analysis of a particular situation and this report must be followed by detailed studies of different sections of the country, taking into consideration the local conditions which must be provided for.

The superpower system — II

On account of diminishing fuel supply the development of our hydroelectric resources is imperative. It is probably the most fruitful field for conservation of natural resources open to the present generation. Under modern conditions there is an increasing demand for a continuous supply of energy in all channels of industry. Development of our hydroelectric resources probably requires more careful analysis than any other engineering problem confronting us. There are three types of hydroelectric developments, (1) plants depending on uniform stream flow, (2) plants on rivers having variable stream flow, and (3) plants on streams “regulated” by storage reservoirs. The Niagara and St. Lawrence belong to the first class and are suitable for development of base load plants. The Susquehanna belongs to the second class and should be developed for “run of river” power. The third class includes the Connecticut, Hudson, Delaware and Potomac which should be developed with storage for carrying peak loads. The principal transmission lines in the superpower zone should operate at 220 kv. Where the lines are long, intermediate stations with “phase modifying” equipment may be desirable. The distribution lines should operate at 110 kv. Successful operation depends on ability to localize trouble as it is now done on large utility systems. Adequate protective devices and selective schemes for disconnecting defective circuits are essential and these are available. Voltage regulation is effected by excitation of synchronous apparatus in consumer's plants supplemented by synchronous equipment at load centers. The benefits from an interconnected system are, (1) it permits base load plants to be operated at high capacity factor, (2) it permits development of water power on rivers that otherwise would not justify it, (3) it saves fuel by permitting the less efficient plants to be shut down at times of light load and (4) it improves the service. Ninety-three per cent of the energy in the superpower zone is generated at 25 and 60 cycles and is almost equally divided between them. The demand for 25-cycle generating capacity is stationary while the demand for 60-cycle generating capacity is increasing rapidly. In an 80,000-kw. turbo generating and distributing plant the saving by using 60 cycles is 19 per cent of the utility investment and 16 per cent of the customer's investment. The total saving is 17.5 per cent. A common frequency is necessary for general interconnection and all signs indicate that this will be 60 cycles. The justification of the superpower system is the saving in cost of power. By the year 1930 the investment for energy supply will be $163,000,000 less than with individual operation. The saving in coal will be 19,000,000 tons per annum. The total annual saving in fixed charges, general expense and operating expense will be $239,000,000. A proper attitude of federal and state regulatory bodies is essential to the success of the superpower project. It should be allowed to earn a liberal income, and capital, labor and the public should share in the benefits. A superpower plan carefully worked out will be a credit to the people of this country not only as an engineering accomplishment but will show our ability to organize large things which will build up industry and at the same time prevent economic waste.

The Suez Canal

This paper presents work by the International Energy Agency’s Task 26 ‘Cost of Wind Energy’ on technological and cost trends in land-based wind energy in six participating countries (Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United States) and the European Union between 2008 and 2016. Results indicate that there is a general trend towards larger, taller machines with lower specific powers resulting in higher capacity factors, despite small falls in new site wind resources in most countries, while wind project capital costs and project finance costs also fell. This resulted in an average levelized cost of energy (LCOE) fall of 33% for new projects to 48€/MWh at the end of the study period. Analysis of the components of levelized cost change indicated that changes in specific power, financing cost and capital cost accounted for 45%, 25% and 17% respectively of the estimated reduction. It is therefore important that trends in technological factors such as specific power are considered when assessing wind energy learning rates, rather than just capital costs, which has been the primary focus heretofore. While LCOEs have fallen, the value of wind energy has fallen proportionately more, meaning grid parity appears no closer than at the beginning of the study. Policymakers must therefore consider both the cost and value of wind energy, and understand the volatility of this gap when designing land-based wind energy policy measures.