Performance
The Eskom research and innovation department (ERID) provides
scientific and technical advice, research and consulting, analysis,
detailed design as well as strategic technical planning services and
direction.
The actual research expenditure was R156 million (2007:
R203 million) while the expenditure on demonstration plants
amounted to R93 million for the year, compared to R121 million
in 2007.
Forward-looking commitments
By working closely with the operational units, ERID is
able to understand the organisational challenges and to
pro-actively respond to find both short- and long-term
solutions.
Given the current Eskom challenges, it was agreed that
for the coming year, resources would be focused on:
- generation capacity, asset management and plant
performance
- transmission capacity, asset management and plant
performance
- distribution asset management and plant
performance
- demand-side management and energy efficiency
- coal quality and coal combustion
- renewable energy sources
- climate change
- safety, health, social and environment
- accelerated development of the underground coal
gasification project
- clean coal technologies
- HVDC (high voltage direct current lines)
PBMR Project Status
Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (Pty) Ltd (PBMR) has become one of the largest nuclear reactor design teams in the world. In addition to the core team of some 700 people at the PBMR head office in Centurion near Pretoria, more than a thousand people at universities, private companies, and research institutes are involved in the project.
The PBMR team is currently preparing for the building of a commercial-scale power reactor project at Koeberg nuclear power station near Cape Town and a fuel plant at Pelindaba near Pretoria, where the PBMR fuel will be manufactured.
Assuming that the required regulatory approvals are obtained, the current schedule is to start construction in 2010 and for the first fuel to be loaded four years later.
The PBMR project enjoys solid support from the South African government, which regards it as one of the most important capital investment and development projects yet undertaken in the country. The Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Alec Erwin, stated an intent to eventually produce 4 000MW to 5 000MW of power from pebble-bed reactors in South Africa. This equates to between 20 and 30 reactors of 165MW each.
PBMR’s mission is to be the first organisation that successfully commercialises pebble-bed technology for the world’s energy market. Being the first will be essential to achieve PBMR’s vision, which is to be the preferred global provider of standardised nuclear energy systems, fuel, and life-cycle support.
Good progress has been made in pursuit of this vision. A heat transfer test facility (HTTF) at the North-West University in Potchefstroom and a helium test facility (HTF) at Pelindaba were commissioned during 2007.
The HTTF will perform high-pressure and high-temperature tests. These empirical heat transfer tests will verify and validate thermo-hydraulic calculations and analyses that have been done to determine the heat generated in the core and the energy provided to the turbines for power generation. These thermo-hydraulic calculations have laid the platform for PBMR’s Brayton cycle design optimisation and component design specifications.
In 2007, a helium test facility (HTF) was commissioned at Pelindaba. This facility enables the first full-scale operating tests on the critical components of the reactivity control system, the reserve shutdown system, and the fuel handling system. All active components such as valves and measuring equipment are being tested in an actual high-temperature, high-pressure helium environment. These tests are providing crucial and early feedback regarding the performance of equipment designed and built for the high-temperature and high-pressure helium environment.
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism upheld the positive record of decision on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the pilot fuel plant at Pelindaba. The Minister also de-linked the EIA for the pilot fuel plant (PFP) from that of the demonstration power plant (DPP). This means that - from an environmental point of view – manufacturing of fuel can commence even though the regulatory approvals for the power plant at Koeberg are still outstanding.
HVDC research programme
The rapid growth of the South African economy since 2003 has greatly increased the demand for essential resources, including energy. As a result, Eskom has not only had to increase the generation of electricity, but also to strengthen its transmission network.
To accomplish the above tasks, various technical options and alternatives have been identified. One of these is HVDC (high-voltage direct current) transmission. In particular, the novel use of ±800kV DC as the operating voltage for the transport of large blocks of power over long distances is being investigated.
DC transmission at ±800kV has never been used operationally anywhere in the world, apart from a scheme (now operating at reduced voltage) in Russia and prospective systems in India and China. Although their experience will certainly help Eskom, the very different local conditions (severe lightning, high altitudes, acute insulator pollution, rampant fires, etc) and unproven voltage make local research, development, and testing essential.
To meet Eskom’s current operational objectives and to position the organisation as a leader in HVDC technology and application, ERID has already embarked on various research initiatives, including (but not limited to):
- Apollo-Cahora Bassa upgrade to ±600kV, 3 500A
- solving existing operational problems (Apollo-Cahora Bassa)
- practical telecommunications media for long-distance transmission, up to 3 000km
- 1,2MV HVDC testing facility
- regional initiatives in HVDC, such as the Caprivi project
- AC/DC line conversions
- original HVDC research
The research being conducted by ERID will greatly contribute to the development and growth of local technical expertise in DC technology, especially regarding DC insulation and line design. It will also improve Eskom’s image and competitiveness as a competent user of HVDC technology.
|
