Conveyor Architecture for the 21st Century

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Todd Swinderman ◽  
Greg Bierie ◽  
Andrew D. Marti ◽  
Barbara A. Wheatall
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Powder River Basin ◽  
Safety Hazards ◽  
Airborne Dust ◽  
Material Control ◽  
Belt Conveyors ◽  
Conveying System ◽  
Dust Accumulation

To address issues associated with the recently updated OSHA Instruction on combustible dust hazards, this presentation will explore an innovative concept of conveyor design. The author will also examine two “leading edge” conveyor technologies and review recent projects that employed these two technologies. This presentation will first address concerns associated with the OSHA Instruction on combustible dust hazards by exploring the architecture concept for conveyor design and the new dust accumulation resistant conveyor structure. This pioneering approach to conveyor design focuses on prevention of fugitive dust accumulation and ease of maintenance. The next of these advanced technologies is “engineered-flow” chutes. Designed from material testing and flow studies, these transfer chute systems provide better material control, continuous flow at higher capacities, and dramatic reductions in material spillage and the release of airborne dust. By regulating the path of material movement, these engineered chutes improve the load placement on the belt, eliminate chute blockages, reduce safety hazards, and minimize maintenance costs. A third leading edge conveying system is air-supported belt conveyors. Rather than using rollers, these leading edge systems use a film of air rising from a troughed pan to support the belt and cargo. These totally enclosed conveyors offer a number of benefits, including improved tracking, improved control of dust and spillage, and reduced friction and power consumption. In this presentation, the author will present “project profiles” of recent installations of these systems. The author will look at the reasons these systems were selected and report on the lessons learned from system engineering, installation, and operation. These projects will include systems handling Powder River Basin (PRB) coal in mines and power plants.

Leading Edge Conveyor Technologies to Improve Coal Handling

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Bierie
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Coal Dust ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Material Testing ◽  
Recent Application ◽  
Safety Hazards ◽  
Conveyor System ◽  
Airborne Dust ◽  
Coal Flow

This paper looks at a two new conveyor technologies that offer the opportunities for significant improvement in the handling of coal in power plants, and in bulk transportation facilities, and other coal-handling operations. This first technology is “flow-engineered” chutes. Based on material testing and flow studies, these chutes allow the development of transfer chute systems that provide better control, continuous coal flow at higher capacities, and dramatic reductions in material spillage and the release of airborne dust. By regulating the coal flow path of movement, these engineered chutes improve the load placement on the belt, eliminate chute blockages, reduce safety hazards, and minimize maintenance costs. The second leading edge system is air-supported conveyors. Air supported conveyors are now seeing increasing acceptance in coal handling applications in power plants. This is due to the advantages they offer to coal-handling, including high efficiency and low maintenance. This technology also provides a reduction in the release of coal dust, as the carrying side of the conveyor is completely enclosed. This paper will discuss recent installations of these systems in coal handling facilities. In particular, it will feature the engineering and installation of flow-engineered chute systems at AmerenUE’s Meramec and Rush Island Electric Generating Stations, to improve conveyor system performance, while reducing dust as much as 98%. He will also discuss recent application of air-supported conveyor systems in coal handling systems, and discuss the benefits of the application of conveyors combining both “leading edge” systems.

Advanced Systems and Training to Improve Conveyor Operations and Maintenance at Coal-Fired Plants

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Bierie ◽  
Andy Marti
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Material Handling ◽  
Airborne Dust ◽  
Training Requirements ◽  
Employee Safety ◽  
Operations And Maintenance ◽  
Plant Personnel ◽  
Maintenance Work ◽  
Belt Conveyors ◽  
Maintenance Requirements

The efficient handling of coal on belt conveyors is essential to coal-fired power plants. The conveying of coal is prone to problems including the escape of spillage and airborne dust. These problems lead to excessive, expensive, and sometimes hazardous maintenance requirements. The failure to provide this essential maintenance leads to more fugitive material and more problems in material handling. The key to efficient conveyors are the implementation of advanced systems to improve performance and prevent fugitive material including dust, combined with the training of plant personnel in the operation and maintenance of these sophisticated systems. This presentation looks at “new generation” conveyor architecture that combines better control of fugitive material with improved serviceability and increased employee safety. These systems feature engineered chutes that channel the material stream to reduce the entrainment of air into the material flow, and so minimize the release of dust. And this next generation system feature a modern architecture with improved belt support and sealing systems that reduce maintenance requirements and allow maintenance work to be performed from safely outside enclosures and away from moving parts. An important consideration in these advanced systems is the training of plant personnel on the operations and maintenance of these systems. This presentation will also consider this essential training, and propose several methods to achieve these training requirements.

scholarly journals Torrefaction of Healthy and Beetle Kill Pine and Co-Combustion With Sub-Bituminous Coal

2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Howell ◽  
Emily Beagle ◽  
Erica Belmont
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Powder River Basin ◽  
Wood Combustion ◽  
Safety Hazards ◽  
Seamless Integration ◽  
Rocky Mountain Region ◽  
Biomass Resources

Combustion of biomass and co-combustion with fossil fuels are viable means of reducing emissions in electricity generation, and local biomass resources are appealing to minimize life cycle emissions. In the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S., a bark beetle epidemic is causing widespread forest death and associated safety hazards. This biomass has potential to be a feedstock resource, thereby achieving dual goals of improving forest health while supplying biomass for uses such as co-firing with coal in power plants. In this study, combustion and co-combustion of healthy pine (HP) and beetle kill pine (BK) with coal were conducted to assess the interchangeability of these feedstocks in raw and torrefied forms. HP and BK pine were torrefied at 200, 250, and 300 °C to increase energy density and improve grindability, both of which aid in seamless integration into power plants. Grindability was assessed for both feedstocks at each torrefaction condition. The raw feedstocks were pyrolyzed to assess their relative compositions. Raw and torrefied feedstocks were then combusted alone and co-combusted with sub-bituminous Powder River Basin coal using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Modulated TGA was used to derive kinetic parameters of coal, raw and torrefied biomass, and coal-biomass blends. Results show increased grindability and pyrolysis mass loss of BK as compared to HP, which are attributed to the degraded state of the wood. Combustion and co-combustion show favorable interchangeability of the HP and BK, and additive behavior when co-combusted with coal.

Repowering and Retrofitting

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Pickard
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Free Market ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Project Planning ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Reheat Steam ◽  
Plant Optimization

At the start of this new century, environmental regulations and free-market economics are becoming the key drivers for the electricity generating industry. Advances in Gas Turbine (GT) technology, allied with integration and refinement of Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) and Steam Turbine (ST) plant, have made Combined Cycle installations the most efficient of the new power station types. This potential can also be realized, to equal effect, by adding GT’s and HRSG’s to existing conventional steam power plants in a so-called ‘repowering’ process. This paper presents the economical and environmental considerations of retrofitting the steam turbine within repowering schemes. Changing the thermal cycle parameters of the plant, for example by deletion of the feed heating steambleeds or by modified live and reheat steam conditions to suit the combined cycle process, can result in off-design operation of the existing steam turbine. Retrofitting the steam turbine to match the combined cycle unit can significantly increase the overall cycle efficiency compared to repowering without the ST upgrade. The paper illustrates that repowering, including ST retrofitting, when considered as a whole at the project planning stage, has the potential for greater gain by allowing proper plant optimization. Much of the repowering in the past has been carried out without due regard to the benefits of re-matching the steam turbine. Retrospective ST upgrade of such cases can still give benefit to the plant owner, especially when it is realized that most repowering to date has retained an unmodified steam turbine (that first went into operation some decades before). The old equipment will have suffered deterioration due to aging and the steam path will be to an archaic design of poor efficiency. Retrofitting older generation plant with modern leading-edge steam-path technology has the potential for realizing those substantial advances made over the last 20 to 30 years. Some examples, given in the paper, of successfully retrofitted steam turbines applied in repowered plants will show, by specific solution, the optimization of the economics and benefit to the environment of the converted plant as a whole.

Expectations for Inservice Testing Programs at New Nuclear Power Plants

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Scarbrough
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Nuclear Regulatory Commission ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Mechanical Equipment ◽  
American Society ◽  
Regulatory Commission ◽  
Safety Systems

In a series of Commission papers, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) described its policy for inservice testing (IST) programs to be developed and implemented at nuclear power plants licensed under 10 CFR Part 52. This paper discusses the expectations for IST programs based on those Commission policy papers as applied in the NRC staff review of combined license (COL) applications for new reactors. For example, the design and qualification of pumps, valves, and dynamic restraints through implementation of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Standard QME-1-2007, “Qualification of Active Mechanical Equipment Used in Nuclear Power Plants,” as accepted in NRC Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.100 (Revision 3), “Seismic Qualification of Electrical and Active Mechanical Equipment and Functional Qualification of Active Mechanical Equipment for Nuclear Power Plants,” will enable IST activities to assess the operational readiness of those components to perform their intended functions. ASME has updated the Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants (OM Code) to improve the IST provisions for pumps, valves, and dynamic restraints that are incorporated by reference in the NRC regulations with applicable conditions. In addition, lessons learned from performance experience and testing of motor-operated valves (MOVs) will be implemented as part of the IST programs together with application of those lessons learned to other power-operated valves (POVs). Licensee programs for the Regulatory Treatment of Non-Safety Systems (RTNSS) will be implemented for components in active nonsafety-related systems that are the first line of defense in new reactors that rely on passive systems to provide reactor core and containment cooling in the event of a plant transient. This paper also discusses the overlapping testing provisions specified in ASME Standard QME-1-2007; plant-specific inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria; the applicable ASME OM Code as incorporated by reference in the NRC regulations; specific license conditions; and Initial Test Programs as described in the final safety analysis report and applicable RGs. Paper published with permission.

Geotechnical Lessons Learned From Nineteen Railway Trenchless Crossings During Construction of a Transmission Pipeline

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Park ◽  
Lisa Wheeler ◽  
Katherine Johnston ◽  
Mike Statters
Keyword(s):  
Ground Surface ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Ground Movement ◽  
Financial Loss ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Soil Plug ◽  
Ground Conditions ◽  
Transmission Pipeline ◽  
Movement Monitoring

Abstract When new pipelines are constructed, they often cross existing major infrastructure, such as railways. To reduce potential service disruption, it is a common practice to complete these crossings using trenchless technologies. Without proper methods and oversight in planning and construction, there may be serious safety and financial implications to the operators of the railways and the public due to unacceptable settlement or heave. If movement tolerances are exceeded, the schedule and financial loss to the railway operators could be in the millions of dollars per day. Recent construction of a new pipeline across the Canadian prairies implemented ground movement monitoring plans at 19 trenchless railway crossings in order to reduce the potential for impact to the track and railway operations. The specifics of the plan varied for each site and were based on the expected ground conditions, as well as permit requirements from the various railway operators, but typically included ground movement monitoring surveys, observation of the cuttings, recommendations for a soil plug at the leading edge of the bore casing, and frequent communication with both the railway operators and the contractors. For all crossings, the expected soil and groundwater conditions were obtained from pre-construction boreholes and confirmed during excavation of the bore bays. Based on the expected ground conditions, appropriate soil plug lengths, if required, were recommended. In general, fine-grained clay/silt-dominated soils needed minimal to no soil plug in order to minimize the potential for ground heave, while coarser-grained sand-dominated soils needed a longer soil plug in order to reduce the potential for “flowing soil” which would cause over excavation along the bore path. Prior to boring, surface monitoring points were established along the tracks to monitor for changes in the ground surface elevation. Additional subsurface points were installed for crossings where the potential for over excavation was higher. These monitoring points were surveyed before, throughout, and following completion of construction, and the frequency of the surveys was increased when the movement was nearing or exceeding specified tolerances. The effort to monitor and reduce the potential for ground movement was a coordinated effort between the geotechnical engineers, railway operators, and construction contractors. The purpose of this paper is to present the lessons learned from the 19 trenchless railway crossings, including the challenges and successes. Recommendations for ground movement monitoring are also provided to help guide railway operators, design and geotechnical engineers, and contractors during the construction of future trenchless pipeline crossings of railway infrastructure.

Information Technology and the Development of a Global Safety Culture

2011 ◽  
pp. 558-581
Author(s):  
Susan L. Rothwell
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Safety Culture ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Energy Independence ◽  
Power Safety ◽  
Under Construction ◽  
Culture Development

A nuclear power plant is one of the most complex sociotechnical systems ever created, with operation requiring multiple organizations, extensive interaction, and a mission to protect public health and safety. A strong global nuclear power safety culture is important, with over 400 nuclear power plants worldwide and more under construction to reduce fossil fuel dependency. We increasingly rely on technology, stressing our need for energy independence, security, reliability, education, and safety. Lessons learned from nuclear power safety culture development have a large potential audience. Unfortunately, the complexity of nuclear power and restricted access to operational data have limited outside research on and understanding of nuclear power safety culture. This chapter provides a conceptual, methodological, empirical, and operational perspective on the development of commercial nuclear power safety culture, focusing on the role of information technology (IT) in building, maintaining, and expanding global nuclear power safety culture.

scholarly journals Reactor performance, system reliability, instrumentation and control

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Andreas Schumm ◽  
Madalina Rabung ◽  
Gregory Marque ◽  
Jary Hamalainen
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Software Systems ◽  
Reactor Performance ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
Electrical Cables

We present a cross-cutting review of three on-going Horizon 2020 projects (ADVISE, NOMAD, TEAM CABLES) and one already finished FP7 project (HARMONICS), which address the reliability of safety-relevant components and systems in nuclear power plants, with a scope ranging from the pressure vessel and primary loop to safety-critical software systems and electrical cables. The paper discusses scientific challenges faced in the beginning and achievements made throughout the projects, including the industrial impact and lessons learned. Two particular aspects highlighted concern the way the projects sought contact with end users, and the balance between industrial and academic partners. The paper concludes with an outlook on follow-up issues related to the long term operation of nuclear power plants.

Research of Screening and Grading Method of Ageing Sensitive Objectives in Nuclear Power Plant

2014 ◽  
Vol 543-547 ◽  
pp. 858-861
Author(s):  
Xiao Tian Liu ◽  
Yong Wang ◽  
Shao Rui Niu ◽  
Yan Zhao Zhang ◽  
Zhen Hao Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuzzy Logic ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Nonlinear Coupling ◽  
Highly Nonlinear ◽  
Ageing Management ◽  
First Time

This first step of ageing management in nuclear power plant is to determine the objectives and their priorities. The characteristics of the objectives are complex and highly nonlinear coupling. A fuzzy logic based screening and grading method have been developed in this research for the first time which combined the genetic ageing lessons learned and field expert experience to resolve the problem. The method have been approved of highly applicability and applied to ageing management in multiple nuclear power plants.

Post-Fukushima Research and Development Strategies and Priorities for Water Cooled Reactor Technology Development

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsumi Yamada ◽  
Abdallah Amri ◽  
Lyndon Bevington ◽  
Pal Vincze
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Development Strategies ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Member States ◽  
North East ◽  
Severe Accidents ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi

The Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent tsunami on 11 March 2011 initiated accident conditions at several nuclear power plants (NPPs) on the north-east coast of Japan and developed into a severe accident at the Fukushima Daiichi NPP, which highlighted a number of nuclear safety issues. After the Fukushima Daiichi accident, new research and development (R&D) activities have been undertaken by many countries and international organizations relating to severe accidents at NPPs. The IAEA held, in cooperation with the OECD/NEA, the International Experts’ Meeting (IEM) on “Strengthening Research and Development Effectiveness in the Light of the Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant” at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, 16–20 February 2015. The objective of the IEM was to facilitate the exchange of information on these R&D activities and to further strengthen international collaboration among Member States and international organizations. One of the main conclusions of the IEM was that the Fukushima Daiichi accident had not identified completely new phenomena to be addressed, but that the existing strategies and priorities for R&D should be reconsidered. Significant R&D activities had been already performed regarding severe accidents of water cooled reactors (WCRs) before the accident, and the information was very useful for predicting and understanding the accident progression. However, the Fukushima Daiichi accident highlighted several challenges that should be addressed by reconsidering R&D strategies and priorities. Following this IEM, the IAEA invited several consultants to IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria, 12–14 May 2015, and held a meeting in order to discuss proposals on possible IAEA activities to facilitate international R&D collaboration in relation to severe accidents and how to effectively disseminate the information obtained at the IEM. The IAEA also held Technical Meeting (TM) on “Post-Fukushima Research and Development Strategies and Priorities” at IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria, 15–18 December 2015. The objective of this meeting was to provide a platform for experts from Member States and international organizations to exchange perspectives and information on strategies and priorities for R&D regarding the Fukushima Daiichi accident and severe accidents in general. The experts discussed R&D topic areas that need further attention and the benefits of possible international cooperation. This paper discusses lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi accident based on the presentations and discussions at the meetings mentioned above, and identifies the needs for further R&D activities to develop WCR technologies to cope with Fukushima Daiichi-type accidents.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document