Computational Intelligence in Energy Generation

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-62
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Modeling ◽  
Computational Intelligence ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Analytic Capacity ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
System Complexity ◽  
Coal Power

As economies become increasingly complex, so do their associated energy generation systems. Therefore, engineers and decision makers in this sector are spurred to seek out state-of-the-art approaches to deal with this rapid increase in system complexity. An effective strategy to deal with this scenario is to employ computational intelligence (CI) methods. CI supplements the heuristics used by the engineer—enhancing the cumulative analytic capacity to effectively resolve complicated scenarios. CI could be split to two classes: predictive modeling and optimization. In this chapter, past applications of CI in energy generation are discussed. The sectors presented here are renewable energy systems, distributed generation, nuclear power plants, coal power, and gas-fueled plants.

scholarly journals Legal Pathways to Coal Phase-Out in Italy in 2025

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 5605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Fermeglia ◽  
Paolo Bevilacqua ◽  
Claudia Cafaro ◽  
Paolo Ceci ◽  
Antonio Fardelli
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Coal Power Plants ◽  
Coal Power ◽  
Phase Out ◽  
Existing Data

This contribution aims to provide an in-depth outlook of the phase-out of coal-fired energy generation in Italy. In particular, this article analyzes the state-of-the-art with regard to both the current role of coal generation and the performance of the main legal and regulatory tools as implemented in Italy thus far to ensure the closure of all coal power plants by 2025 as announced in the Italian National Climate and Energy Plan. Based on existing data and scenarios on both electricity production and demand trends, this article unfolds the marginal role played by coal-fired generation in the Italian energy mix. In addition, this paper aims to highlight the outstanding technical uncertainties and regulatory hurdles in the way towards de-carbonization of energy generation in Italy. This paper argues that several remarkable improvements are needed in order to avoid over-generation (especially through natural gas), to upscale the penetration of renewable energy sources, and develop the necessary infrastructures to adequately deliver on the full phasing-out of coal within the expected timeframes.

Power Cycles of Generation III and III+ Nuclear Power Plants

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexey Dragunov ◽  
Eugene Saltanov ◽  
Igor Pioro ◽  
Pavel Kirillov ◽  
Romney Duffey
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Thermal Power Plants

It is well known that electrical power generation is the key factor for advances in industry, agriculture, and standard of living. In general, electrical energy can be generated by (1) nonrenewable energy sources such as coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear; and (2) renewable energy sources such as hydro, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and marine. However, the main sources for electrical energy generation are (1) thermal—primarily coal and secondary natural gas, (2) “large” hydro, and (3) nuclear. Other energy sources might have a level of impact in some countries. Modern advanced thermal power plants have reached very high thermal efficiencies (55–62%). In spite of that, they are still the largest emitters of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Therefore, reliable non–fossil fuel energy generation, such as nuclear power, is becoming more and more attractive. However, current nuclear power plants (NPPs) are way behind in thermal efficiency (30–42%) compared to the efficiency of advanced thermal power plants. Therefore, it is important to consider various ways to enhance the thermal efficiency of NPPs. This paper presents a comparison of thermodynamic cycles and layouts of modern NPPs and discusses ways to improve their thermal efficiencies.

scholarly journals PROSPECTS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY SECTOR OF UKRAINE IN CONDITIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

2021 ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
Volodymyr Boiko ◽  
Iryna Miskevych
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Green Energy

This article examines the current prospects for developing nuclear energy in Ukraine in terms of sustainable development. The strategic importance of nuclear energy for Ukraine is indicated. The advantages of nuclear energy in the context of electricity production's external costs over other energy generation technologies are noted. Today, nuclear energy is considered the most cost-effective low-carbon energy source. An analysis of reports from the Atomic Energy Agency and the US Department of Energy shows that nuclear power generation is a leader in many countries' energy sector, producing cheaper electricity than traditional TPPs. The main challenges for the energy system of Ukraine are highlighted. Among them are: wear and tear and impact on the environment of thermal generation (equipment at thermal power plants is worn out by 70–90 %); the unsatisfactory pace of modernization of the main generating capacities, mainly TPPs; the inconsistency of the flexibility of the United Energy System (UES) of Ukraine with the development of "green" energy (increasing the share of "green" energy increases the risks of UES sustainability) and the corresponding ill-consideredness in the pace and scale of renewable energy implementation. Lack of shunting power; the need to duplicate the capacity of renewable energy due to the low installed capacity factor (ICUF) and significant dependence on natural and climatic conditions; the need to replace existing nuclear power units, which end their extended service life with new, more modern ones that will meet the latest safety and economy standards; the imperfection of the electricity market, primarily in the context of its sale by nuclear generation producers under bilateral agreements; deficit of investments in the whole fuel and energy complex. The main prospects for the development of nuclear energy in Ukraine are identified. Completion of Units 3 and 4 of Khmelnytskyi NPP (KhNPP) remains a critical prospect. An obstacle to this for Ukraine is the lack of appropriate technologies on the Ukrainian side and the curtailment of cooperation with Russia and companies belonging to this state. Another obstacle is that the promising power units of KhNPP based on WWER-1000 belong to the second generation, which today do not morally meet the latest trends and requirements in efficiency and safety standards. Theoretically, Western leaders in the nuclear industry, Orano and Westinghouse, could develop nuclear power plants based on their next-generation "3" and "3+" reactors, where the essential safety requirements are already embedded in the original design of the unit. Another option would be to implement a small modular reactor technology project in Ukraine. Technologically, this will quickly resolve the issue of load management, which arose due to the rapid increase in the share of renewable energy generation in our country. This type of reactor has a significant advantage, which in addition to the minimum load on the environment is: the possibility of placement in areas where additional services are needed in the energy market; low construction costs; frequency of service and operating time; the full cycle of work with fuel. In general, low-power reactors can be used to implement the strategy of hybrid power generation (renewable + nuclear energy).

Towards European Regulations for Nuclear Installations: Contribution of Nuclear Licensees

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Werner Zaiss
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Harmonization Process ◽  
European Regulations ◽  
Expert Input ◽  
European Nuclear

The European nuclear industry recognises that the liberalisation of the European energy market has led to the deregulation of electricity generation and supply and that diversity of national regulations could seriously distort competition. Undoubtedly, harmonizing regulations is the best way of ensuring that the industry can evolve within a stable legal framework. Consequently, nuclear license holders supported the work of the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA) on the harmonization of European safety standards for existing nuclear power plants, as well as for waste and decommissioning. This support led to the creation, within FORATOM, of the ENISS (European Nuclear Installations Safety Standards) Initiative, in May 2005, in Brussels. The principal mission of ENISS is to bring together decision-makers, operators and specialists from the nuclear industry with national regulators in order to identify and possibly agree upon the scope and substance of harmonized safety standards. ENISS currently represents the nuclear utilities and operating companies from 17 European countries with nuclear power programme. ENISS above all provides the nuclear industry with the platform that it needs to express its views, provide expert input and interact fully with regulators throughout the harmonization process. ENISS first task has been to present a common industry position with regards to the Safety Reference Levels that WENRA has proposed. By engaging in constructive debate with WENRA and playing a dynamic role in the process, ENISS also defends the industry’s interests in a proactive way. The work of ENISS is a good example of how dialogue and results-oriented participation with stakeholders can help identify optimal solutions to the problems that our industry faces today. Another task of ENISS is to strengthen the industry influence in the revision work of the IAEA Safety Standards as well as in the European Directive on Nuclear Safety.

The Effects of Ion Implantation on the Surface Features of Inconel 600

1985 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 288-289
Author(s):  
John D. Rubio
Keyword(s):  
Grain Boundary ◽  
Ion Implantation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Surface Region ◽  
Selective Dissolution ◽  
Boundary Region ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Inconel 600 ◽  
Steam Generator Tubing

The degradation of steam generator tubing at nuclear power plants has become an important problem for the electric utilities generating nuclear power. The material used for the tubing, Inconel 600, has been found to be succeptible to intergranular attack (IGA). IGA is the selective dissolution of material along its grain boundaries. The author believes that the sensitivity of Inconel 600 to IGA can be minimized by homogenizing the near-surface region using ion implantation. The collisions between the implanted ions and the atoms in the grain boundary region would displace the atoms and thus effectively smear the grain boundary.To determine the validity of this hypothesis, an Inconel 600 sample was implanted with 100kV N2+ ions to a dose of 1x1016 ions/cm2 and electrolytically etched in a 5% Nital solution at 5V for 20 seconds. The etched sample was then examined using a JEOL JSM25S scanning electron microscope.

Work structure in nuclear power plants

1983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjorie B. Bauman ◽  
Richard F. Pain ◽  
Harold P. Van Cott ◽  
Margery K. Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Work Structure
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