All news

APRIL 2012: Focus on power generation

• Technical supervision of the power plant overhaul in Polaniec
• Direct access to multidisciplinary expert services in the power sector
• Evaluating the compatibility of new variable frequency drives
• Accelerating water tree growth reduces time for cable insulation quality check
• Investigating and tackling condenser water box corrosion
• Advising USC power plants on possible solutions to T24 material issues
• Cost-benefit analysis of a gas turbine air inlet filtration system
• Innovative solution to earthing network measurement challenge
• Increasing power plant efficiency and flexibility

APRIL 2012: focus on power generation

MARCH 2012: focus on emissions and water chemistry, biology, and treatment

• Solving distilled water flow instability in Saudi Arabia
• Helping optimize the sustainability of power generation
• Developing and testing a dynamic model for PCCC units (Post-Combustion Carbon Capture
• Study on PCCC emission measurements published in the International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
• Measuring gas turbine emissions during start-up and shutdown
• Assisting in the design and commissioning of the first-ever deNOX catalyst for a 100% biomass-fired power plant
• Testing nitrosamine measurement methods for PCCC pilot plants
• Pathogen risk management in water systems

MARCH 2012: focus on emissions and water chemistry, biology, and treatment

FEBRUARY 2012: MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES, NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING, AND CONDITION ASSESSMENT

• Independent technical advice prevents unnecessary, expensive compressor upgrade in Saudi Arabia
• Ensuring objective, comprehensive condition assessments
• Verifying component quality before delivery: Auditing a Chinese supplier of bellow expansion joints
• New crack detection tool for gas turbine discs
• Identifying the best coating to protect gas turbine mixing chambers against wear
• University students attend NDT course in the Laborelec laboratories
• Root cause analysis of steam turbine blade cracks in the US

 FEBRUARY 2012: FOCUS ON MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES, NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING, AND CONDITION ASSESSMENT   

NEWS JANUARY 2012: Nuclear Power Technologies

• Benchmarking chemical and radiochemical data from the Belgian nuclear power fleet
• Fostering continuous improvement in nuclear power plants
• Assessing gamma cameras for characterizing radioactive material
• Characterizing dust in nuclear reactor buildings
• How do oxygen scavengers behave during the wet lay-up of steam generators?
• Rationalizing alarms during nuclear power plant revision
• Assessing the quality of coatings inside reactor buildings

Newsletter January 2012: Nuclear Power technologies

Belgian Energy Research Alliance to become partner of the European Energy Research Alliance

On 31 January 2012, the Belgian Energy Research Alliance (BERA) has submitted its application to become a partner of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) , a research coordination structure set up by the European Union in the framework of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan. The BERA brings together all of the important energy research centers in Belgium.

Laborelec is one of the founding members.

NEWS SPECIAL: LABORELEC'S INNOVATIVE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT

• Energy-efficient laboratories mark Laborelec’s future
• Strengthening our expertise, investing in state-of-the-art laboratories
• New laboratories, new website
• New state-of-the-art laboratory facilities
• Fully equipped laboratories for a multidisciplinary expert approach
• At the forefront of new energy technology research

News Special: Laborelec's Innovative Research Environment

NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2011: Condition Monitoring

• Five years of remote power plant condition monitoring
• Helping plant operators preserve the mechanical condition of their equipment 
• Early detection of generator temperature increase at Drogenbos Power Plant 
• Vibration measurements help solve old bearing problem 
• Vibration measurements reveal lubrication problem 
• Vibration analysis training for turbo machines 
• Laborelec opens Middle East office

Newsletter November 2011: Condition Monitoring

NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2011: Renewable Energy Technologies

• Complete monitoring of wind turbines
• Fostering innovation in renewable energy technology
• Investigating wind turbine cable connection failure
• Predicting and reducing wake effects in wind farms
• Assessing the potential of concentrated photovoltaic units
• Large-scale, centralized solar power generation
• Supporting marine energy research in Portugal
• Taskforce fosters synergies in biogas research
• Initiative Wood Pellet Buyers (IWPB)
• Renewable Energy Seminar in Bruges was a success

Newsletter October 2011: Renewable Energy Technologies (pdf)

NEWSLETTER September 2011: focus on electrical rotating machinery

• Ruptured generator rotor connections
• Keeping electrical rotating machinery in optimal condition
• Reducing generator seal ring wear
• Evaluating the results of automated ultrasonic testing of retaining rings
• Expert technical advice on recurring generator problems
• Assessing insulation systems for large electric motors
• Hosting a milestone meeting for the Anastasia project

Newsletter September 2011: Focus on electrical rotating machinery (pdf)

Laborelec has been selected to monitor the performance of 75 electric vehicles

A Dutch consortium consisting of the city of Rotterdam, Stedin, and Eneco has selected Laborelec to monitor 75 electric vehicles (EV). The goal is to gain insight in the vehicles’ energy consumption, their energy exchange with the electrical grid, and the loading behaviour of their batteries. Laborelec’s experience with EVs was a main contributor to its selection. Our experts are actively involved in EV research; for instance in the Flemish LINEAR project. We are also conducting an EV monitoring campaign for Electrabel and Cofely Services.