Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for pre-processing of electrical power grid data for event-driven automatic generation control (AGC) are presented herein. An AGC application can determine AGC output data, for output to a unit controller that controls power generator(s) related to an electrical power grid, based on current values of a subset of electrical power grid data associated with the electrical power grid that has changed since a prior determination that the electrical power grid data has changed. A pre-process component can determine the subset of the electrical power grid data that has changed since the prior determination, and send the current values of the subset of the electrical power grid data to an area control error component. An event-driven component can determine information in response to an event trigger generated based on processing the current values of the subset of the electrical power grid data received from the pre-process component.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a once-through evaporator comprising an inlet manifold; one or more inlet headers in fluid communication with the inlet manifold; one or more tube stacks, where each tube stack comprises one or more substantially horizontal evaporator tubes; the one or more tube stacks being in fluid communication with the one or more inlet headers; where one or more tube stacks are used for a start-up of the once-through evaporator; one or more outlet headers in fluid communication with one or more tube stacks; a separator in fluid communication with the one or more outlet headers; a first flow control device in fluid communication with the separator and at least one of the tube stacks used for startup; a second flow control device in fluid communication with a superheater to bypass the separator and at least one of the tube stacks used for startup; and a controller for controlling the actuation of the first and second flow control devices in response to a parameter of the evaporator.

Abstract: A head assembly 52,152 for a pulverized coal nozzle includes a turning vane 54 or a curved vane 154 disposed within a pipe elbow. The vanes 54,154 are angled relative to the inlet port and the outlet port of the pipe elbow to redirect a stream of air and pulverized solid fuel particles from the inlet port 60,160 toward the outlet port 62,162. The coal rope-breaking vane 56 is pivotable about an axis to adjust an angle of the vanes relative to a stream of air and pulverized solid fuel particles from the inlet port 60,160. An adjustment bar 66 may connect to the vanes 56 and extend outward through the pipe elbow to allow the vanes 56 to be adjusted while the pulverized solid fuel particles flow through the head assembly 52. The pipe elbow may further include inspection ports 68,168 and a removable cover 70,170. The vanes may be attached to the removable cover 70,170 thus allowing them to be easily removed and replaced.

Abstract: Provided is a power plant and a method of operating thereof. The power plant includes a boiler for heating process fluids; and a multistage first steam turbine with an outlet line that passes through the boiler. The outlet line includes an extraction line that is configured and arranged to extract steam from an intermediate stage of the first steam turbine and heat at least one of the process fluids.

Abstract: A head assembly 52, 152 for a pulverized coal nozzle includes removeable wear-resistant inserts having vanes 54, 151, 153. The vanes 54, 151, 153 may be flat or curved to direct a stream of air and pulverized solid fuel particles from the inlet port 60, 160 toward the outlet port 62, 162. The curved vanes 151, 153 curve in two dimensions to evenly distribute the stream of air and pulverized solid fuel away from the outer surfaces reducing wear and corrosion. The pipe elbow has a removable cover 70, 170 that allows for easy access. The vanes are attached to a wear-resistant replaceable liner 185 thus allowing them to be easily removed and replaced. The wear-resistant liner 185 may be made from several parts 187, 189 for ease of removal and replacement.

Abstract: A system for reversibly storing electrical energy as thermal energy. The system can include a reversible subcritical vapour-liquid cycle energy storage system with a single hot storage fluid tank and cold storage fluid tank that are inter connected by an inter storage tank flow path. The inter storage tank flow path includes an inter storage heat exchanger in the vapour-liquid cycle that enables sensible heat transfer between the working fluid and storage fluid as the storage fluid passes between the hot storage fluid tank and the cold storage fluid tank. This supplements latent heat transfer between the working fluid and the hot storage fluid tank and the cold storage fluid tank.

Abstract: A method is provided for testing the tightness of an electric machine stator core includes: introducing a test instrument that is connected to a movable support into an air gap between a stator core and a rotor, locally placing the test instrument and locally testing defined zones of the generator stator core. A device for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for detection of interlaminar laminate shorts in the laminated stator core of electrical machines, in which the laminated stator core (4) is subjected to an externally applied field current (2) or field voltage (V), and the short-circuit magnetic field (Bshort) induced by short-circuit currents (5) is measured with the assistance of a sensor coil (S1) which is arranged in the gap in the machine and probes this gap. Improved identification of laminate shorts, in particular even of small laminate shorts with small short-circuit currents, is possible in that a field current (2) and a field voltage (V) are applied which have a waveform which differs significantly from a sinusoidal shape, in particular with a periodic character, and have significant harmonic components in the high frequency range. By way of example, a waveform in the form of a square-wave curve is proposed.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a gas turbine plant, in which compressed air is extracted from a compressor and for cooling is directed in an internal cooling passage through thermally loaded components to the combustion chamber and/or to the turbine, then re-cooled, and added to the compressor main flow in the compressor. At least a portion of the recirculated air is supersaturated, or partially saturated, with drops of water during or before recirculation into the compressor and a cooling mist is created. A gas turbine plant is provided with a closed cooling circuit which, for implementing the method, includes an injection arrangement for introducing water into the recirculated cooling air.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter comprises a tubular bellows (30) including a first hollow bore (32); at least one sub-assembly (34), each sub-assembly (34) including an end cap (42), the or each end cap (42) including at least one second hollow bore and having a composition including glass or including glass-ceramic; at least one primary annular metallic element (36) being operably connected between the or each end cap (42) and one of respective ends of the tubular bellows (30); a pair of electrically conductive contact elements (38); and a pair of electrically conductive rods (40), each rod (40) being operably connected to a respective contact element (38) at a first end and being connected in use to an electrical network at a second end, a portion of at least one rod (40) being retained inside the or each second hollow bore of a respective end cap (42), wherein the or each end cap (42) and each rod (40) are operably connected to one of the respective ends of the tubular bellows (30) to define a vacuum-tight enclosure;

Abstract: A method for controlling a gas turbine, including during transient operating states, and such a gas turbine are provided. The gas turbine includes a compressor for compressing inducted combustion air, a combustion chamber for generating hot gas by combusting a fuel with the aid of the compressed combustion air, and a multistage turbine for expanding the generated hot gas and performing work. The controlling of the gas turbine is carried out in accordance with the hot gas temperature which is derived from a plurality of other measured operating variables of the gas turbine. A reliable controlling of the gas turbine is achieved, even during rapid changes, by pressure measurements being gathered exclusively at different points of the gas turbine for derivation of the hot gas temperature.

Abstract: A method of controlling a steam turbine, having a controller controlling at least the position of a steam inlet valve located in a steam conduit between a steam generator and the turbine to control mass flow into the turbine, includes selecting, before beginning startup, a predefined set of startup sequences of setpoints based on a turbine status at the beginning of startup and/or a startup mode chosen by the operator, the set of startup sequences of setpoints includes parameters controlled and not controlled by the controller; using the controller to control the parameters controlled by the controller so as to progress the turbine from setpoint to setpoint in accordance with predefined set of startup sequences until reaching a release point; and at the release point, delaying moving to the next setpoint until actual setpoint values agree with predefined release point setpoint values for parameters not controlled by the controller.

Abstract: A method for operating a steam power plant at low load is suggested comprising the extraction of live steam LS before the last superheater SH3 and/or resuperheated steam before the last resuperheater RSH2 and using the thermal energy of this steam in other heat sinks. Thus, nearly constant steam parameters of the live steam LS are achieved and the overall efficiency of the steam power plant remains at a high level.

Abstract: A carbon capture system, such as a chilled ammonia process, is provided that includes with a cooling system, a carbon dioxide absorption system and an ammonia absorption system. The ammonia absorption system includes an absorber column to receive carbon dioxide lean gas stream having ammonia and to receive an absorbent, wherein the absorbent absorbs ammonia from the carbon dioxide lean gas stream to provide an ammonia reduced gas stream and an ammonia rich absorbent. Further, an ammonia stripper is provided to receive the ammonia rich absorbent and to receive a portion of the gas stream, wherein the gas stream flows through the ammonia stripper to heat the ammonia rich absorbent to release the ammonia therefrom and provide an ammonia rich gas stream and an ammonia reduced absorbent.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell main body containing a fuel cell having an anode side at which fuel is reacted, exhaust products arising at the anode side of the fuel cell as a result of the reaction at the anode side. A recirculation passage is located inside the fuel cell main body and recirculates a proportion of the exhaust products directly to the anode side of the fuel cell for reaction at the anode side. The recirculation passage may include an ejector arrangement for mixing fresh fuel with the recirculated exhaust products and may also include a reforming catalyst for partially reforming the mixture in the recirculation passage.

Abstract: Systems and process for volatile degradation removal from amine plant wash water are provided. The systems and processes include a separation device disposed within a water circulation loop and configured to continuously remove at least a portion of the volatile degradation products from the wash solutions. The separation device can be configured for stripping, distillation, and/or extraction of the volatile degradation products from at least a fraction of the spent wash water. Optionally, a chemical agent can be reacted with the volatile degradation products to form heat stable salts for subsequent removal.

Abstract: A gas purification system for cleaning a carbon dioxide rich flue gas generated in a boiler combusting a fuel in the presence of a gas containing oxygen. The gas purification system includes a compressor for compressing the carbon dioxide rich flue gas, a first gas cooler for cooling the compressed carbon dioxide rich flue gas, a mercury adsorber arranged downstream of the first gas cooler for removing at least a portion of a mercury content of the cooled compressed carbon dioxide rich flue gas, a second gas cooler arranged downstream of the mercury adsorber for further cooling the compressed carbon dioxide rich flue gas, and a gas drier for removing at least a portion of a water content of the further cooled compressed carbon dioxide rich flue gas.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating system on a base material includes a bond coat layer with a lower face in direct contact with the base material and an upper face, a first ceramic layer in direct contact with the upper face of the bond coating layer and a second ceramic layer disposed on an outermost surface of the coating system and configured to be exposed to hot gas. The first ceramic layer includes a layer, combination, mixture, alloy, blend or multilayer structure of at least one of yttria-stabilized zirconia with a yttria content in a range of 6-8 wt-%, YTaO4 doped zirconia, and titania doped zirconia. The second ceramic layer includes a layer, combination, mixture, alloy, blend or multilayer structure of at least one of YTaO4 doped zirconia, titania doped zirconia, scandia stabilized zirconia, ceria containing perovskite material, yttrium aluminum garnet material, Monazite material, and spinel material. A material of the second ceramic layer is different from a material of the first ceramic layer.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electrostatic precipitator unit with at least two individual power supplies (11) for pulsed operation of electrostatic static precipitators, wherein the power supplies (11) are powered by a common feeding (1), wherein each power supply (11) comprises a control unit (23), and wherein the control units are at least indirectly connected by communication lines (32) allowing for a controlled relative scheduling of the pulsed operation of the individual power supplies (11).

Abstract: An impact baffle for a jet cutting tool and a method to operate the baffle in conjunction with the jet cutting tool are described, the baffle with an impact layer and an laterally extended sensing layer to trigger a control signal for interrupting a cutting operation of the jet cutting tool after the impact layer is pierced by the jet cutting tool.