Power Plant In Mexico Research Articles

Analysis of Absorber Packed Height for Power Plants with Post-Combustion CO2 Capture

The electricity generation process from fossil fuels is one of the sources of CO2 emissions. The post-combustion CO2 capture is an alternative to minimize emissions. The packed absorption column is the first unit of the CO2 capture process. In this study, the values of the process parameters were established to reduce the absorber-packed height using a simulator developed in this work. The simulator was validated using measurements in a laboratory-scale absorption unit; simulations were carried out with the same operating conditions as measurements and two different fuels were treated; coal and natural gas. A combined-cycle power plant in Mexico was simulated, with the objective of evaluating the main parameters in the absorption process and required dimensions of the packed absorption column required to carry out the capture of CO2 in the power plant. From the result of the simulations, three columns treatment with 3 m diameter and 7 m height were established to remove 99% of the CO2 of the flue gases with 20 wt.% of MEA composition using Mellapak 500Y structured packaging.

Uncertainty of the life cycle assessment of biogas power

The main goal of this study was to compare energy consumption scenarios at a small-scale barn with an in situ biogas plant. Five life cycle assessment scenarios of dairy manure management were assessed. A real small-scale manure biogas power plant in Mexico (S-BPP) was used as case study. Five scenarios were modeled: (1.1) electricity consumption from the national grid; (1.2) electricity consumption considering a natural gas combined cycle power plant (CCPP); (2.1) partial use of electricity from the national grid and the electricity produced by the S-BPP; (2.2) partial use of electricity from the CCPP and the S-BPP, and (3) a dry anaerobic digestion S-BPP. A Monte Carlo simulation was carried out to manage the uncertainty with 95 % of confidence. A reduction of emissions in the combined cycle power grid by exploiting the manure to produce biogas, was established. Specifically, in the climate change category, there is an impact reduction by up to 70 %, which corroborates that the choice of small-scale biogas in agriculture systems is environmentally feasible. It is confirmed that using S-BPP produces a significant decrease of impacts when compared to CCPP. The results of the modeling scenarios, such as dry anaerobic digestion and/or combined cycle power plants, show a significant reduction in the emissions of the selected impact categories. This study confirms the need to develop more accurate databases of life cycle inventories regarding the Mexican electricity grid, in order to perform more reliable studies.

Assessing dependence and governance as value chain risks: Natural Gas versus Concentrated Solar power plants in Mexico

Despite geopolitics play a pivotal role in the energy sector, geopolitical aspects are often not considered in the quantitative assessment models aimed at supporting the energy investment decision-making process. To address this issue, this work proposes an Extended Multi-regional Input-Output model (EMRIO) that incorporates import dependence and governance along the value chain. As case study, two alternative energy investments in Mexico – a Natural Gas Power plant (NG) and a Concentrated Solar Power plant (CSP) – are assessed. The method quantifies the geographical diversification of suppliers and the quality of governance. The assessment of the case study shows that the supply chain of the CSP plant includes more countries and with better governance levels than the supply chain of the NG power plant. That means, a priori, that the supply risks of investing in CSP power plants will be lower, as will suppliers' endogenous geopolitical risk. However, a sensitivity analysis considering different providers of the solar plant components reveals that CSP plant value chain could also entail similar or even higher governance risks levels as the NG plant. The scenario where China provides some of the components entails a much higher governance risks, even higher than the NG base case. In consequence, we have proved that the method proposed allows the identification of hidden geopolitical risks that would otherwise go unnoticed. This paper enlarges the existing knowledge on assessment methodologies for energy policy decision-support by measuring diversification and imports dependence from countries with different levels of governance along the whole value chain.

Energy and Exergy (2E) Analysis of an Optimized Solar Field of Linear Fresnel Reflectors for a Conceptual Direct Steam Generation Power Plant

Direct steam generation is a promising alternative to conventional heat transfer fluids for solar thermal power plants using linear concentrators because water and steam do not have thermal and chemical stability problems. The novelty of this study, an energy and exergy (2E) analysis, was that it was performed on several configurations of a conceptual direct steam generation solar power plant with optimized Fresnel reflectors in Agua Prieta, Mexico coupled with a regenerative steam Rankine power cycle to quantify their efficiency and establish a reference for future implementation of this technology in concentrated solar power plants in Mexico. The thermal model was assumed to be a 1D steady-state flow and validated against results in the literature. It was then applied directly to a case study to determine the size of the solar field. The design point was the lowest solar irradiance day, and evaluating the solar multiple with the highest solar irradiance, taking care not to oversize the solar field, as suggested for solar plants without energy storage. Comparing the performance of the optimized Fresnel field against the FRESDEMO field of Plataforma Solar de Almería, a considerable decrease in the length of the loop has been demonstrated with a low reduction in thermal efficiency.

Spatial and temporal evaluation of H2S, SO2 and NH3 concentrations near Cerro Prieto geothermal power plant in Mexico

Power generation is associated with toxic emissions. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3) are toxic gases emitted from geothermal power generation that have negative impacts on health and the environment. Oxidation of H2S leads to formation of SO2 that also has health and environmental effects. The Cerro Prieto geothermal power plant (CP-GPP) is one of the largest in the world and is located 30 km south of Mexicali, a border city between Mexico and the US. Power from this plant is sold to both countries. In order to assess the potential effects of the emissions from the GPP on nearby low-income communities, H2S, SO2 and NH3 concentrations were measured at Nuevo León, El Chimi, and Estación Delta, using passive samplers from November 2013 to June 2014. The highest concentrations of H2S were recorded during periods of high atmospheric stability, and exceeded the limit recommended by the WHO (150 μg m−3, 24-h) three times downwind from the GPP. Similarly, the mean SO2 concentrations at all three sites exceeded the limit established by the NOM-022-SSA1-2010 (288 μg m−3, 24-h), while NH3 concentrations exceeded the limits established by the OEHHA (100 μg m−3, 24-h) eight times at Nuevo León. A backward trajectory analysis indicated transport of air masses from the GPP to El Chimi and Estación Delta sampling sites. The results indicate that GPP's emissions could affect the residents in the surrounding areas, warranting public health action to investigate exposures and risks.

Computational Fluid Dynamic Modeling to Determine the Resistance Coefficient of a Saturated Steam Flow in 90 Degree Elbows for High Reynolds Number

The pressure drop in 90 deg elbows under the operating conditions of geothermal power plants in Mexico is studied using the computational fluid dynamics model. The elbow resistance coefficient was calculated for a steam flow with high Reynolds numbers (1.66–5.81 × 106) and different curvature ratios (1, 1.5, and 2). The simulations were carried out with the commercial software ANSYScfx, which considered the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) compressible equations and the renormalization group (RNG) k–ε turbulence model. First, the methodology was validated by comparing the numerical results (velocity and pressure) with published data of airflow (25 °C, 0.1 MPa) with high Reynolds numbers. Then, scenarios with different diameters (0.3–1.0 m) and conditions of the working fluid (0.8–1.2 MPa) were simulated to obtain velocity, pressure, density, and temperature profiles along the pipeline. The temperature and density gradients combined with the compressible effects achieved in the 90 deg elbows modified the flow separation, pressure drop, and resistance coefficient. Based on the resistance coefficient, factors were generated for a new equation, which was integrated into Geosteam.Net to calculate the pressure drop in a pipeline at the Los Azufres geothermal power plant. The difference with the data measured by a pressure transducer was 7.59%, while the equations developed for water or air showed differences between 11.23% and 45.22%.

TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF MERCURY EMISSIONS FROM A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT IN MEXICO

According to the Minamata Convention it is necessary to determine the mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in Mexico due to Mexico’s responsibility to reduce its mercury emissions into the atmosphere. For this purpose, we used the coal consumption data provided directly by the Federal Electricity Commission of Mexico, which include emissions per day and per generating unit for the year 2013. To determine the mercury emissions from a coal-fired power plant in Mexico, we used the US Environmental Protection Agency methodology and focused on the Presidente Plutarco Elias Calles (CETEPEC) power plant, because in Mexico there are no methodologies to determine mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The results show that mercury emissions from units 1 to 6 of the CETEPEC plant range from 0.5 to 1.2 kg/day; however, emissions from unit 7 are as high as 2 kg/day. The total mercury emissions from the CETEPEC power plant in 2013 were 1942 kg, of which 1698 kg were gaseous elemental mercury (Hg 0 ), 243 kg gaseous oxidized mercury (Hg 2+ ), and 1.2 kg particle-bound mercury (Hg p ). This study is relevant in Mexico and indicates an advance on the control of mercury emissions from the CETEPEC power plant, in accordance to the Minamata Convention.

Priority projects for the implementation of CCS power generation with enhanced oil recovery in Mexico

In March 2014, Mexico launched its CCUS technology roadmap, outlining the actions to be taken up to 2024. One important action is the National Policy of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) ready and the identification of priority natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) with capture plants. This outcome could aid the creation of a technology roadmap for the design of new NGCC power plants and their operational requirements for EOR and for the reduction of CO2 emissions. This article provides an overview of the opportunities for deploying CCS in new NGCC power plants in Mexico which were programed to begin operation throughout the period from 2016 to 2030. The attention is given to plants close to oil fields which are candidates for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), located in an inclusion zone suitable for storage. The Gulf of Mexico region, where potential EOR sites and the presence of industrial CO2 sources are located, is within the inclusion zone for recommended sites for geological storage of CO2. After identifying new power plants in the inclusion zone, this article analyses which existing plants could be retrofitted and which new power plants could be designed to be ‘carbon capture ready’. In addition, the distance and the volumes of CO2 are estimated.

Spatial and temporal variability of atmospheric mercury concentrations emitted from a coal-fired power plant in Mexico

ABSTRACTAtmospheric mercury in the environment as a result of the consumption of fossil fuels, such as coal used in electricity generation, has gained increased attention worldwide because of its toxicity, atmospheric persistence, and bioaccumulation. Determining or predicting the concentration of this pollutant in ambient air is essential for determining sensitive areas requiring health protection. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variability of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations and its dry deposition surrounding the Presidente Plutarco Elías Calles (CETEPEC) coal-fired power plant, located on Mexico’s Pacific coast. The CALPUFF dispersion model was applied on the basis of the daily consumption of coal during 2013 for each generating unit in the power plant and considering the local scale. The established 300-ng/m3 annual average risk factor considered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (U.S. DHHS) and Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) must not be exceeded to meet satisfactory air quality levels. An area of 65 × 60 km was evaluated, and the results show that the risk level for mercury vapor was not exceeded because the annual average concentration was 2.8 ng/m3. Although the predicted risk level was not exceeded, continuous monitoring studies of GEM and of particulates in the atmosphere, soil, and water may be necessary to identify the concentration of this pollutant, specifically that resulting from coal-fired power plants operated in environmental areas of interest in Mexico. The dry mercury deposition was low in the study area; according to the CALPUFF model, the annual average was 1.40E−2 ng/m2/sec. These results represent a starting point for Mexico’s government to implement the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which Mexico signed in 2013.Implications: The obtained concentrations of mercury from a bigger coal-fired plant in Mexico, through the application of the CALPUFF dispersion model by the mercury emissions, are below the level recommended according to the US Department of Health and Human Services and Integrated Risk Information System. These results provide evidence of important progress in the planning and installation to the future of monitoring mercury stations in the area of interest.

Overview of World Bank CCUS Program Activities in Mexico

This paper describes Phase I of the World Bank Group's (WBG) technical assistance project for the development of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in Mexico. Phase I was concluded in early 2016 and saw the completion of three studies:1.A pre-feasibility study of a proposed post-combustion capture (PCC) pilot plant at a natural gas-fired combined-cycle (NGCC) power plant in Mexico. This study, carried out by NEXANT Inc. under a consultant's assignment from the WBG, included a comparative techno-economic evaluation of six advanced amine-based PCC technologies and a generic amine-based conceptual pilot plant design.2.A review of state-of-the-art practices related to combining carbon dioxide-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) with geological storage of CO2 in Mexico. Specifically, this review, conducted by the Battelle Memorial Institute under a consultant's assignment from the WBG, assessed the requirements a CO2-EOR project must satisfy in order to qualify as a permanent storage project and earn carbon credits.3.A study of the development of a CCUS regulatory framework for Mexico. This study, prepared by Milieu Ltd. under a consultant's assignment from the WBG, undertook a comprehensive and in-depth assessment of the current regulatory framework in Mexico as it pertains to CCUS, identified critical gaps and barriers that are expected to impede the development and implementation of CCUS, and made a series of recommendations for overcoming these and barriers.These three studies, funded by the WBG administered Trust Fund for Carbon Capture and Storage Capacity Building in Developing Countries (WB CCS TF), form the foundation for further work and will benefit the implementation of the planned pilot projects. The subject studies were also important for building capacity, increasing the awareness of CCUS among the various stakeholders in CCUS and building up their capacity, in line with the objectives of the WB CCS TF.

ESTIMACIÓN DE EMISIONES DE MERCURIO EN LAS PLANTAS CARBOELÉCTRICAS DE MÉXICO

To reduce mercury emissions in the atmosphere is one of the agreements reached at the International Convention of Minamata, held in Kumamoto, Japan in 2013. In view of this commitment the main objective of this study was estimating monthly temporal variation of mercury emissions per generation unit for each of the three coal-fired power plants in Mexico during the years 2012 and 2013. Emissions were estimated based on the method of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), from mercury content in coal and emission factors, knowing the actual fuel consumption. The results show that the greatest emission was presented in the coal-fired power plant located in Petacalco, Guerrero, with the generating unit number seven presenting the major emissions. Furthermore, in all cases it was during the summer when a major amount of mercury was emitted due to a large requirement of electricity. This study is important as a preliminary tool for decision making in the process of prevention, minimization and control of toxic pollutants, which contribute to international agreements for the protection of the environment and society.

Fault detection and isolation system for boiler-turbine unit of a thermal power plant

In this study, a sensor fault detection and isolation (FDI) system is presented for a boiler-turbine unit of a thermal power plant in Mexico. The FDI system is based on a Luenberger-like observer for residual generation. An adaptive threshold for residual evaluation is considered to avoid false alarms. The observer is based on a quasi-linear parameter variant (quasi-LPV) model of the boiler-turbine unit parameterized with real data of the plant in a wide range of operations, namely, at low, medium, and high loads. The quasi-LPV model adequately represents the dynamics of more critical variables including first stage turbine pressure, superheated steam pressure, drum pressure, and electric power. The performance of the FDI system is evaluated in a practical scenario by using real data from the thermoelectric plant. The main contribution of this study involves proposing a reliable fault diagnosis system to detect sensor faults in a wide operational range of the process based on the quasi-LPV framework.

Scenarios for a hierarchical assessment of the global sustainability of electric power plants in México

Today, there are indicators to assess the sustainable development of a country and the energetic sector in general, but not to assess electric power plants. This work is aimed at evaluating the sustainability of specific technological systems. A multi-criteria method called Analytical Hierarchization Process was applied to analyze sustainability throughout the life cycle of various electric power plants in Mexico (such as hydroelectric, coal, heavy oil thermoelectric, natural gas thermoelectric, geothermal, nuclear, wind energy, photothermal and photovoltaic plants). An analysis throughout the whole life cycle makes it easier to assess and prepare an inventory of all sustainability indicators, resulting in a useful report for decision-making purposes in order to drive sustainable development in the electric sector. Four scenarios were analyzed using information provided by the Comision Federal de Electricidad (Electric Power Federal Commission), the opinion of experts, and scenarios with ecological and technocrat tendencies. The global result, using the measure of central tendency, reflects the benefit of renewable energies: wind energy is the most sustainable energy under the current circumstances of our country.

Azcaxalli: A system based on Ant Colony Optimization algorithms, applied to fuel reloads design in a Boiling Water Reactor

This paper presents some results of the implementation of several optimization algorithms based on ant colonies, applied to the fuel reload design in a Boiling Water Reactor. The system called Azcaxalli is constructed with the following algorithms: Ant Colony System, Ant System, Best–Worst Ant System and MAX–MIN Ant System. Azcaxalli starts with a random fuel reload. Ants move into reactor core channels according to the State Transition Rule in order to select two fuel assemblies into a 1/8 part of the reactor core and change positions between them. This rule takes into account pheromone trails and acquired knowledge. Acquired knowledge is obtained from load cycle values of fuel assemblies. Azcaxalli claim is to work in order to maximize the cycle length taking into account several safety parameters. Azcaxalli’s objective function involves thermal limits at the end of the cycle, cold shutdown margin at the beginning of the cycle and the neutron effective multiplication factor for a given cycle exposure. Those parameters are calculated by CM-PRESTO code. Through the Haling Principle is possible to calculate the end of the cycle. This system was applied to an equilibrium cycle of 18 months of Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant in Mexico. The results show that the system obtains fuel reloads with higher cycle lengths than the original fuel reload. Azcaxalli results are compared with genetic algorithms, tabu search and neural networks results.

An Order Coding Genetic Algorithm to Optimize Fuel Reloads in a Nuclear Boiling Water Reactor

A genetic algorithm is used to optimize the nuclear fuel reload for a boiling water reactor, and an order coding is proposed for the chromosomes and appropriate crossover and mutation operators. The fitness function was designed so that the genetic algorithm creates fuel reloads that, on one hand, satisfy the constrictions for the radial power peaking factor, the minimum critical power ratio, and the maximum linear heat generation rate while optimizing the effective multiplication factor at the beginning and end of the cycle. To find the values of these variables, a neural network trained with the behavior of a reactor simulator was used to predict them. The computation time is therefore greatly decreased in the search process. We validated this method with data from five cycles of the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant in Mexico.

Thermal Behaviour of Silica Waste from a Geothermal Power Station and Derived Silica Ceramics

The silica waste originating from a geothermal power plant in Mexico was investigated with the aim of finding its applicability as a raw secondary material for ceramics production. The thermal behaviour of the original silica waste (containing NaCl and KCl from marine brine) and of the purified silica was characterized by means of DTA/TG, emanation thermal analysis (ETA) and thermodilatometry (TD). The reactivity of the purified silica waste mixed with CaCO3 (1.8 mass%) was characterized by means of ETA, DTA and TG. The microstructures and phase compositions of the final products prepared by heating in air were tested by means of X-ray diffraction and of scanning electron microscopy coupled with electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The thermal analysis methods allowed determination of the optimal conditions for thermal treatment of the silica waste in order to obtain partly sintered porous materials for use as refractory bricks.

Fault Tolerance in a Distributed Control System for Combined Cycle Power Plants

This paper presents how a Fault Tolerant Scheme FTS for the controllers of a distributed control system is selected. A dual-redundant configuration was chosen based on a dependability analysis. The defmed FTS is described in terms of the four phases of faulttolerance. A combination of stand-by and a synchronous scheme is considered. The FTS resulted in a cost-effective solution in order to increase the control system reliability because two main reasons: the hardware configuration do not require special elements, and the FTS takes advantage of the manual tracking algorithm to make the FTS software simple. The FTS was implemented and is operating in various controllers of a distributed control system in a combined cycle power plant in Mexico

Development in geothermal energy in mexico—part twenty seven: The potential for geothermal organic rankine cycle power plants in Mexico

Mexico possesses large amounts of geothermal energy. Samples from over 800 geothermal surface phenomena indicate that only 1.1% have an estimated reservoir temperature greater than 200°C. Current practice in Mexico is to produce power from such reservoirs using an open flash steam cycle. It is estimated that 4.8% of geothermal resources are in the temperature rangefrom 140 to 200°C which is a suitable range in which to operate Organic Rankine cycle power plants. Organic Rankine cycle power plants have been built in a range of sizes from 10kW e to 45 MW e. They have considerable potential for increasing the production of electricity from Mexico's geothermal resources. Organic Rankine cycle plants are discussed together with the conditions for their economic operation.