Consumer body objects to Gujarat power generator’s demand for arrears

Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS) on Friday objected to Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd (GSECL) demanding recovery of Rs 169 crore from electricity consumers in the state due to receipt of “inferior” quality of coal from Coal India Ltd (CIL).

CERS has urged GSECL, which had demanded this sum in its recent tariff petitions, to recover Rs 169 crore from CIL and said that consumers should not be burdened due to the “inefficiency and lethargic approach of the electricity company.”

The consumer body also drew the attention of Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Union Ministry of Power towards CIL’s adoption of “unfair trade practices thereby misusing its dominant position as monopoly” in supply of coal to power plants. The increase in fuel cost is recovered by electricity companies through GERC-approved formula under Fuel Price & Power Purchase Adjustment charges (FPPPA).

According to CERS, electricity companies in India are receiving “inferior” quality E-grade coal with heating value of 2400-2800 kcal/kg, which increases coal consumption by 25% and increased cost per unit generation, thus putting additional burden on electricity consumers.

In a statement here, CERS said that National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) received 55 million tonnes of stones and rocks in 2011-12 along with coal, which has put a burden of Rs. 11,160 crore on NTPC which would be recovered by it from those electricity companies which purchase power from NTPC.

Thus, it will be directly collected from electricity consumers of India through increase in fuel cost vide FPPPA charges. Here also, CERS maintained, CIL has “misused its dominant status” in supply of coal to generating companies of India. Similarly all generation companies received 25-35 per cent waste material in the form of stones and rocks, instead of coal.

In a letter to CCI Chairman Ashok Chawla, CERS has enumerated the “malpractices” adopted by CIL in supplying coal to generating companies. It requested the Commission to direct CIL to charge for actual quality and quantity of coal received at power stations, refrains from supplying stones and rocks which damage pulverizers and increases coal consumption and desist from adding water in open/close coal wagons to increase weight and put additional burden on electricity consumers of India.

Also, CCI should direct electricity generation companies to make payment to CIL as per quantity and quality of coal received at power stations. This practice is being followed in case of imported coal received from Indonesia and Australia. 

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/consumer-body-objects-to-gujarat-power-generators-demand-for-arrears/article4610588.ece

ITT Takes Shock Out of Power Generation with Visco-Elastic Technology

Energy absorption, vibration isolation solutions highlighted at Hannover Messe
BAD KÖNIG, GERMANY – – ITT Corporation’s Control Technologies business has engineered a product called Visco-Elastic Support (VES) technology that reduces shock, controls oscillation and prevents damage to power plant turbines. ITT will showcase this technology, as well as its ECO OEM Series shock absorbers and additional energy absorption and vibration isolation solutions, at the Hannover Messe in Hannover, Germany, April 8-12, 2013, inside Hall 20, Stand B07.
ITT is a global provider of innovative technologies for the energy, transportation and industrial markets that are engineered to withstand the harshest operational environments. Through leading brands such as Compact, Enidine, Jarret and Turn-Act, ITT offers technologies that provide seismic and wind protection for power plants, buildings, bridges and pipelines; reduce thermal forces to bearing and civil structures; and, provide protection from damaging vibration forces caused by overspeed conditions, magnetic pull and turbulent flows.

Viscoelastic Technology
In a power plant turbine, thermal expansion forces and vibrations tend to peak at the guiding bearing above the generator rotor. The shock and magnetic forces at the top of an operating turbine can damage its components or weaken the civil structure supporting the turbine and even lead to catastrophic failure. The VES technology, which improves the dynamic behavior of the turbine’s rotor-bearing system, consists of proprietary silicon elastomers inside high-performance shocks that absorb energy. Engineers place VES shock absorbers on power plant generators at each point of contact between the generator’s support structure and upper guide bearing.
“Many power plant operators mitigate shock and vibration by strengthening the turbine’s civil structure. But this increases cost and only postpones immediate problems,” said Christina Classen, general manager for ITT Control Technologies in Bad König. “VES technology, however, absorbs and dissipates the problem of shock and vibration; this increases generator efficiency as well as the lifetime of the turbine.”
Principles of the VES technology come from the steel-making industry. For example, when rolling sheet metal for automobiles, machine builders rely on hydraulic damping to reduce energy but sustain a high amount of force to produce the required thickness of steel. In power plant generators, VES reduces the generator’s dynamic response, while preventing excessive force on the civil structure.
New Adjustable Shock Absorbers
ITT is also displaying its new adjustable ECO OEM Series shock absorbers, which comply with the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). With the ITT ECO OEM Series shock installed in a machine, technicians can change the shock’s damping force with the simple turn of a knob on the shock if the machine’s input conditions change. For instance, if manufacturers operate food processing or semi-conductor handling machines at high speeds to increase productivity, then the new shock can reduce vibraton and product damage.
The new ECO OEM Series shocks:
- provide enhanced corrosion and wear protection with the new Enicote™ II surface finish.
- include bio-degradable oil, whch is something ITT engineers added to adhere to the VDMA Blue Competence – a German engineering initiative focused on energy efficiency and recycling.
- range in length from 67 mm to more than 142 mm.
New Online Portal for Building and Customizing Products
ITT has developed an online portal, named ENIZISE, for customers to specify the features of their shock absorbers and actuators. The recently launched online sizing software gives machine builders a way to also view and download a CAD model with their selected options. The ITT Competence Center Europe, loacted in Bad König, also offers customized solutions and technical consultation.
“We’re bringing machine builders and operators not only our new technology but also our reputation for problem-solving, expertise and development capacity,” said Munish Nanda, president of ITT’s Control Technologies business.
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=172859

Laird – Self-contained thin-film thermoelectric DC power generators harvest waste heat (eTEG PG8000)

Laird Technologies has announced today that it will demonstrate its Thermobility wireless power Generator series at the forthcoming Energy Harvesting & Storage Europe Conference.
The Thermobility Series offers self-contained thin-film thermoelectric power generators that harvest waste heat and convert it to usable DC power. Due to its compact size, ability to regulate voltage and store power, the product is seen as ideal for powering wireless sensors, low-power LEDs or trickle-charge batteries where a heat source is readily available. When combined with Laird’s eTEG embedded thermoelectric power generators, Thermobility provides turn-key solutions for design engineers as opposed to designing a complex thermal energy harvester.
“Thermobility is the ideal energy harvesting solution for autonomous, self-powered sensor networks,” said Karl von Gunten, marketing manager, Laird Technologies. “Our wireless power generation solutions can store energy and provide on-demand power while reducing the total cost of ownership by eliminating the prohibitive cost of battery replacement.”
Laird’s Engineered Thermal Systems Group will also showcase a new generation of thermoelectric power generators and embedded wireless solutions. The eTEG PG8000 Series is a new series of thin-film thermoelectric power generators that offer higher power, more robust mechanical design and ease of integration with common sources of thermal energy. Laird’s wide range of embedded wireless solutions are designed to add true power and performance to any product including end-to-end solutions for M2M data acquisition and control.
Energy Harvesting & Storage Europe is the world’s largest event covering energy harvesting and storage technologies and applications. The tradeshow brings together over 1,600 top level executives from more than 35 countries for networking opportunities along with the conference portion which features case studies, Masterclasses and world first announcements from leading companies in the energy harvesting and storage industry.
Through innovation, reliable fulfilment and speed, Laird is a trusted partner and supplier for many of the world’s leading technology companies. As an industry leader in high-performance and cost-effective thermal-management solutions, Laird Technologies provides the knowledge, innovation, and resources to ensure exceptional thermal performance and customer satisfaction for applications in the medical, analytical, telecom, industrial, and consumer markets, says the company.
The Energy Harvesting & Storage Europe Conference event will be held at the International Congress Centrum ICC Berlin in Berlin, Germany, April 17-18, 2013. Laird Technologies will exhibit at booths P7 and P8.
http://www.electropages.com/2013/04/laird-self-contained-thin-film-thermoelectric-dc-power-generators-harvest-waste-heat/