Design Of Power Stations Research Articles

Appropriate renewable hybrid power systems for the remote aboriginal communities

Renewable power supply systems have been a natural choice for many of Australia’s small remote aboriginal communities where the costs of diesel fuel are high. The results have been mixed. This is partially due to design factors, but more importantly due to community acceptance of these technologically complex systems and the maintenance arrangements with the community power station operators and local resource agencies. This paper looks at some of the issues to consider in the selection, design, installation and maintenance of appropriate hybrid power stations for smaller remote aboriginal communities.

Optimal flowsheeting synthesis for power station design considering overall integration

This paper presents a novel methodology for flowsheet synthesis of power plants. In this new method, thermodynamic analysis and mathematical programming are combined by taking advantage of these two methods. A level-by-level approach is adopted in this method in order to reduce the mathematical complexity and computational difficulty of a design problem. More importantly, this approach provides good opportunities for user interaction. In the first level of flowsheet synthesis, an initial superstructure is constructed which embeds several possible design options. This superstructure is formulated to give a so-called master model, in which major subsystems of a plant are modelled in relatively simple models. Major aspects and key variables are taken into account in the master model and optimisation of this model gives an initial flowsheet. Following that, thermodynamic analysis is applied to identify relevant structural modification options to the flowsheet. These options are added to the master model superstructure, which is optimised to get an improved design. This loop of optimisation and analysis is carried out until no desirable improvement can be made. The results from the above design process provide the scope and requirements for the conceptual design of the subsystems. If it is impractical for a conceptual design to satisfy the requirements derived from the overall plant context, an updating mechanism is provided to either introduce additional constraints or alternative practical designs to the master model. The master model is then optimised again and a new conceptual design is carried out. This optimisation and design process terminates when the conceptual design can meet the design requirements determined by the master model. As a result of applying this method, an optimal design can be achieved with confidence even for large industrial problems.

Power station design: D. R. Davies, C. Richardson & A. C. Roberts, Proceedings — ICE: Civil Engineering, 108(Special Issue 1), 1995, pp 15–29

Kuljian Corporation provides design engineering and construction management services for power generating plants in more than 20 countries. They used WASP (Calculating Water and Steam Properties), a COSMIC program to optimize power station design. This enabled the company to substantially reduce lead time and software cost in a recent design project.

Analyses performed within the European Safety and Environmental Assessment of Fusion Power (SEAFP)

Abstract The Safety and Environmental Assessment of Fusion Power (SEAFP) was set up by the European fusion programme in response to recommendations made by a Fusion Programme Evaluation Board, that fusion potentially possesses “inherent environmental and safety advantages over all current alternatives for base load electricity generation”, but that a “convincing demonstration” of those potential advantages is necessary. The project began in April 1992 and reported in December 1994. The work has embraced the conceptual design of fusion power stations and the safety and environmental assessment of those designs. This paper gives very brief information on the designs but concentrates on the safety and environmental analyses. Detailed work has been performed on the identification and modelling of conceivable accident sequences, the potential hazards of normal operation, waste management, the long-term availability of materials, and other issues. Provisional and preliminary results suggest that the reality of fusion's safety and environmental advantages will be confirmed, and placed on a firmer footing, by the detailed SEAFP analyses, which also emphasize that the advantages do not come automatically but are dependent upon appropriate design provisions.

Solar irradiation measurements in Jordan and comparisons with Californian and Alpine data

In order to obtain reliable irradiation data for the design, operation and economic assessment of solar power stations, a measurement campaign has been performed in Jordan. As promising sites the desert near Quwairah in the South of Jordan, the stony desert South East of Amman and the elevated plateau near Naqb and also in the South of Jordan were chosen. Measurements were performed during the period of June 1989 to July 1992. The data were evaluated and compared with data of Barstow, California and the Swiss Alps. From the yearly sums of the direct normal irradiation in 1990 and 1991 at Quwairah (2701 and 2436 kWh/m 2 respectively) it is concluded that this site is comparably as good for solar thermal power stations as the Barstow site. The global normal irradiation (usable with sun-tracked photovoltaic panels) had the surprisingly high values of 3551 and 3373 kWh/m 2 in 1990 and 1991 respectively. Occasionally peak values of the global normal irradiation greater than the solar constant were measured (up to 1500 W/m 2). Missing global normal data from other arid sites do not permit comparison. As known before, the corresponding values in the Swiss Alps are considerably lower (1100–1700 kWh/m 2 for the direct normal irradiation and 2000–2500 kWh/m 2 for the global normal irradiation respectively, depending on the year and site). In addition to the direct normal and global normal irradiation, the global horizontal and global inclined (30° South) irradiation were measured, amounting to 2353 and 2499 kWh/m 2 respectively in 1990. Data have also been collected on wind, rainfall, ambient temperature, dew point and surface pressure. All data are available in a computer accessible form, in particular as a yearly set of 5 min mean values of the direct normal irradiation for 1990. Combining the ground measured data with METEOSAT-data resulted in a unique map of the direct normal irradiation for Jordan and surrounding countries, indicating attractive sites for solar power stations. The measurement campaign was made possible by active support from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, MEMR and the Jordan Electricity Authority, JEA, both at Amman, as well as by generous financial support of the Swiss Committee for Scientific Research, KWF, Berne.

Assessment of CO 2 removal from power station flue gas

Commercially available techniques for the removal of 90% of CO 2 from power station flue gas were investigated by H&G for British Coal Corporation. This work was part of British Coal's studies of CO 2 abatement technologies. The two cases examined were based on:- 1. A A gas containing a low concentration of CO 2 produced by a 500 MW e conventional pulverised fuel (PF) power station. 2. B A gas containing a high concentration of CO 2 produced by a novel power station design in which coal is burnt in a mixture of oxygen and recycled flue gas. A screening of commercially proven CO 2 removal processes established that for Case A either aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) or hot potassium carbonate (HPC) were suitable. For Case B either HPC or gas permeation membranes were identified as suitable. An analysis of operating costs including the impact on plant efficiency, but excluding the cost of oxygen in Case B , revealed that for Case A the use of MEA would be 30% cheaper than the use of HPC;whereas for Case B a 50% operating cost advantage was identified for the use of membranes compared with HPC. Thus MEA and membranes were selected for further evaluation for cases A and B respectively. Capital cost estimates for the CO 2 removal process areas were subsequently derived for the preferred options for the two cases. For a UK greenfield site, the capital costs of the CO 2 removal sections were estimated to be £98 million for Case A. For Case B an estimated £36 million was obtained for purification of CO 2 with a gas permeation membrane. Some major technical constraints for the selected process routes were identified including the detrimental effect on operability of particulate carryover from the FGD and the high levels of SO 2.

Ground- and satellite-based meteo-data for solar thermal power stations in Jordan

Meteorological Parameters play an important role in the design and operation as well as in the economic assessment of solar thermal power stations. Beside the usual climatic data, quantity and quality of the direct normal solar irradiation are of particular importance, because they considerably affect the electricity production cost. An extensive literature search for Jordan resulted in vast quantities of conventional meteorological data, such as global horizontal irradiation, air temperature, rainfall, humidity, sunshine duration and wind speed. All these data are highly valuable but of limited use for the design and operation of solar power stations, because: - No direct normal irradiation data are available (there are only some measured data available on the global and very few on the diffuse irradiation, which have been converted into direct normal data) - For quality analysis the time resolution is not sufficient. - The measured meteodata in general do not cover well potential sites for solar power stations. Therefore, within the frame of the PHOEBUS-project (30 MW-solar power station), a specific meteo measurement campaign was started in the middle of 1989 in the South of Jordan. The preliminary equipment installed in 1989 was completed in January 1990 by adding the main equipment (PC-data acquisition system, extra sensors, etc.) At the time one meteo-station (reference station) developed by Paul Scherrer Institute, PSI and two smaller, so-called satellite-meteostations developed by Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR are in operation. Parallel to these three ground-stations, an evaluation of other potential sites in Jordan based on METEOSAT-data was performed. First measurements of the direct-normal irradiation in Quwairah confirm the high values calculated for Jubeiha-Amman station of the Royal Scientific Society, RSS. For the periode July 89 to June 90 a yearly sum of 2668 kWh/m 2 for the direct-normal irradiation and 3501 kWh/m 2 for the global-normal irradiation was registered. The direct normal monthly sums correspond well to irradiation data measured at Barstow, California. For a reliable site evaluation it is important to know the spatial solar irradiation distribution. However, the few meteo stations do not sufficiently cover the territory of Jordan. One promising way to get information about the spatial distribution is the analysis of image data taken by earth remote sensing satellites. Based on 1985 data of the visible channel of the geostationary satellite METEOSAT, it was possible to estimate monthly values for the global-horizontal and the diffuse-horizontal irradiation with a longitude and latitude resolution of 0.5°, respectively (i.e. the spatial resolution for Jordan is about 45km × 55km). The model used has been developed by the Institute for Geophysics and Meteorology of the University of Cologne (Germany) in the framework of the European research program SUNSAT. These data have been combined with irradiation data of the meteo station at Jubeiha-Amman leading to the monthly and yearly spatial distribution of the direct normal component. The contour plots show that favourite sites can be found in the south of the country as well as south-east of the mountain Jabal al Arab whereas in the Wadi as Saharan the conditions are less promising.

The design and location of development: the evolving relationship of the Royal Fine Art Commission and the electricity supply industry

Abstract The paper focuses on the debate that took place between the Royal Fine Art Commission and the electricity supply industry of England and Wales during the post‐war years in respect of the design, layout and location of power stations.

A practical design for an integrated HVDC unit-connected hydro-electric generating station

The cost of a significant amount of plant and facilities found in conventional schemes can be eliminated by integrating HVDC substations directly with generating units. The results of a study to quantify these benefits are outlined. An actual hydroelectric power station design was used, incorporating a HVDC thyristor valve scheme in a hypothetical situation. The financial and other benefits determined for this example are presented together with conclusions and recommendations for future projects and further areas of study.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Contributions of structural mechanics to safety and reliability of German nuclear power stations

Traditionally structural mechanics considerations have played a competent role in the design of German nuclear power stations and their fuel. Structural mechanics development and validation programs have set standards of “gooddesign practise” and established the proof of safety against catastrophic failure.

Dynamics of nitrite-induced methemoglobin formation after total gamma-ray irradiation of rats

One trend in the design of atomic power stations (APS) based on fast neutrons is the development of APS in which dissociating nitrogen tetroxide is used as heat carrier and as working heat. Here, the authors study the combined action of ionizing radiation and of sodium nitrite on methemoglobin formation associated with the action of nitrites as a metabolic product of nitrogen oxide metabolism. Experiments were carried out on male Wistar rats weighing 180-200 g. Single whole-body irradiation was given on the UGU-420 gamma-ray source in doses of 77.4 and 180.6 mCi/kg body weight. The dynamics of changes in the methemoglobin concentration was monitored on a VSU-2-P spectrophotometer at 540-630 nm. A diagram showing the relationship between nitrite-induced methemoglobin formation and dose and time elapsing after irradiation is shown.

Editorial. Introduction to special section: Effect of changing safety requirements on nuclear powerstation design

Editorial. Introduction to special section: Effect of changing safety requirements on nuclear powerstation design

The hydrofracturing stress measuring method and recent field results

The hydrofracturing technique is a recent development in the area of stress measurements in rock. Unlike most other methods, it does not measure strain at a point through the use of delicate instrumentation in the test-hole. Rather, it directly determines average stresses over large areas by recording two hydraulic pressures, one necessary to crack open a segment of the test-hole and the other required to keep the fracture open. To do so, it uses simple down-hole mechanical tools so that the method can be employed at any depth from the surface. Elementary elastic relationships exist between recorded pressures and in-situ stresses, and between fracture direction and stress orientation. Our laboratory experiments have confirmed these relationships, and in the last five years we have conducted a number of successful field measurements throughout the United States and elsewhere, at depths between very near the surface and 5000 m. The results of these measurements, details of which are given in the paper, have been used in studying earthquake control problems (Rangely, Colorado), underground power station design (California, South Carolina), hard rock tunnel design (Wisconsin), and geology and plate tectonics (all the measurements and particularly those in Michigan and Iceland). A general uniformity of maximum principal stress direction throughout the continental United States has been established. Stress magnitudes are affected by regional geologic conditions but generally show linear increases with depth.

Three-Dimensional Analysis of Hydroelectric Power Station

This paper decribes the details of finding stresses in a three-dimensional model of a hydroelectric powerhouse subjected to static generator load. In order to locate critical zones, the six components of Cartesian stresses were obtained at about 12,000 points. An attempt to explain the structural behavior of a power station under the load has been made. It has been shown that none of the two-dimensional theories prevalent for the design of power stations can explain the structural behavior of the powerhouse, which is essentially a three-dimensional structure. The results obtained will greatly simplify the problem of future investigators who may follow either numerical or experimental methods for the solution of the problem.

A Discussion on recent research in air pollution - The application of air pollution research to power station design

The aim of this contribution to the Meeting is to describe how the results of research work have been applied to the design of power stations in Britain. Before doing so, however, it is perhaps worth while giving an outline of the fundamental principles involved in the selection of air pollution control measures as they are seen by the engineers who must make practical decisions on plant design, and in this way define the specific objectives for the research work being undertaken. First, it must be appreciated that unless one accepts an exceedingly narrow definition of what constitutes air pollution, then clean air must be regarded as a matter of degree and not of kind. All sorts of naturally occurring gases and particulates pollute the atmosphere, even in places remote from mankind’s industrial and domestic activities. Volcanic dust and ashes, sulphur dioxide and other gases of geophysical origin, wind-blown dust, residues of sea-spray, pollen, spores, ozone, ammonia and many other substances exist quite naturally in the air we breathe. What constitutes an air pollution problem is the occurrence of pollutants in unduly high concentrations in a particular place or at a particular time. As a corollary of this, the aim of air pollution control measures is to prevent such high concentrations from occurring. This principle is fundamental to the whole concept of air pollution control, since once it is accepted then practical control measures need not necessarily be restricted to the prevention of the emission of pollutants, but can include also the manner of emission, in so far as this can influence subsequent concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere

Conference on Scientific Research, Design, Construction, and Operation of Hydraulic Tunnels and Underground Hydroelectric Power Stations

Conference on Scientific Research, Design, Construction, and Operation of Hydraulic Tunnels and Underground Hydroelectric Power Stations

Power-station design —an outline of trends in the United States

In 1964, the author&apos;s firm was asked by the South of Scotland Electricity Board to make a feasibility study into a 3000-MW station which the Board proposed to build at Irvine, on the south-west coast of Scotland. The study was to indicate whether it would be more economic to burn oil or coal and the size of generating unit to be installed, together with the steam cycle recommended.

Some notes on dynamic structural problems in the design of nuclear power stations

This paper briefly discusses some dynamic problems in structural engineering as applied to the design of nuclear power stations. The following problems are analysed: seismic design, steam generator supports, design of fluid containers, the missile problem.

Some notes on dynamic structural problems in the design of nuclear power stations☆

Some notes on dynamic structural problems in the design of nuclear power stations☆

Hydraulic Design of Pump Intakes

The material presented herein is a condensation of experimentally derived results and of many observations of the operation of a pumping plant built into water intakes of diverse design during the course of ad hoc investigations by the writer for the Electricity Commission of New South Wales, Australia. Critical values of a wall friction parameter are established as a basis for proportioning approach channel passages in hydraulic models on the pump intakes. Models that satisfy the critical limits when adjusted experimentally to yield zero swirl at the suction pipe inlet have been found to give reliable indications of full scale behavior, both in regard to swirl correction and freedom from air entrainment. The report has been framed in general terms for the use of design engineers engaged in power station, pumping station, or dock design, and is illustrated by several examples of successful design.