Power Engineering articles from February 2007

Power Engineering archives from February 2007

The price is right.(Opinion)(power plants)
February 1, 2007... The power plant market may be small compared with the housing market, but sales prices are every bit as revealing. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One interesting detail is the price paid per kilowatt. Calculating this allows asset values to be...

Prediction trumps prevention.(Managing the Plant)
February 1, 2007... If prevention is worth a pound of cure, then knowing just when prevention is needed--and when it isn't--is worth even more. Predictive maintenance practices have helped one of the largest utilities in the United States to elevate the...

Court rules on EPA water challenge.(Startup)
February 1, 2007... Technology and not cost-benefit analysis must drive power generators' compliance with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule aimed at reducing aquatic life impingement and entrainment at power plant water intake structures. That decision...

Wyoming coal up 10 percent.(Startup)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Published reports say Wyoming's coal production rose 10 percent in 2006 even as nationwide coal consumption fell 1.2 percent. The increase came from efforts to rebuild stockpiles of Powder River Basin coal at power plants. Wyoming coal...

Duke Chairman lauds GHG tax.(Startup)
February 1, 2007... Duke Energy Chairman Paul Anderson told Sierra Club members in California that he believes carbon tax legislation is a good idea. "From a businessman's standpoint, that's what is going to compel action," Anderson said, speaking before a global...

Thermal Engineering International.(Construction & Contracts)(condenser tubes to Bruce Power)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Babcock Power subsidiary Thermal Engineering International (TEi) will supply the condenser tube bundles for Bruce Power's nuclear plant on Lake Huron northwest of Toronto. TEi will design and fabricate two replacement tube bundles for Bruce...

Peabody Energy.(Construction & Contracts)(coal supply contract with Tennessee. Valley Authority)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Peabody Energy has entered into a 10-year agreement with Tennessee Valley Authority to supply 6 million tons of Illinois Basin coal a year from a combination of existing and future Illinois Basin mines. Coal sales under the first five years of...

Sargent & Lundy.(Construction & Contracts)
February 1, 2007... Sargent & Lundy has been selected to perform a feasibility study for a proposed new power plant to be built in Escanaba, Mich., by the city and Wisconsin Public Power. S & L will evaluate multiple size and technology options including 60 MW,...

Alstom.(Construction & Contracts)(ALSTOM Signaling Inc. to refurbish Markham Ferry Hydroelectric plant)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Alstom has been contracted to refurbish four 27 MW units at Grand River Dam Authority's Markham Ferry hydroelectric plant in Oklahoma. The project will include increasing safe fish passage by fitting runner hubs with self-lubricated bearings...

Renewable Energy Systems Americas.(Construction & Contracts)(purchase of wind turbines from Siemens Power Generation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES) has purchased 26 wind turbines rated at 2.3 MW each from Siemens Power Generation for use at the RES Whirlwind Energy Center in Floyd County, Texas.

AREVA.(Construction & Contracts)
February 1, 2007... AREVA will supply 61 rod cluster control assemblies to Unit 3 at Dominion Generation's Millstone nuclear plant in Waterford, Conn.

Hitachi Power Systems.(Construction & Contracts)
February 1, 2007... Hitachi Power Systems will design, supply and build SCR systems for the two 650 MW units at Seminole Generating Station owned by Seminole Electric Cooperative.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(Duquesne Light Holdings Inc. and Macquarie Infrastructure Partners)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved the acquisition of Duquesne Light Holdings by a consortium led by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners. FERC also approved the merger between Chicago-based Peoples Energy and WPS Resources.

AEP.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(American Electric Power Company Inc. acquires generating station from Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... AEP has agreed to purchase the Lawrenceburg Generating Station from Public Service Enterprise Group for approximately $325 million. The 1,096 MW combined cycle plant went into commercial operation in 2004 next to AEP's Tanners Creek Plant in...

Tenaska Power Fund and Warburg Pincus.(Acquisitions)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Tenaska Power Fund and Warburg Pincus will acquire three plants from Dominion: The 625 MW Armstrong Plant in Pennsylvania, the 313 MW Pleasants Plant in West Virginia, and the 600 MW Troy Plant in Ohio. Pleasants and Armstrong can deliver power...

FPL Energy.(Acquisitions)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... FPL Energy will purchase the two-unit, 1,033 MW Point Beach Nuclear Plant in Wisconsin from We Energies for $783 million along with nuclear fuel, inventory and other items for an additional $215 million.

AES Corporation.(Acquisitions)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... AES Corporation has entered the North American electric transmission sector by acquiring the Trans-Elect trade name along with Trans-Elect's development pipeline. AES and Trans-Elect's former management team plan to develop projects across...

NRG Energy.(Acquisitions)(Wayzata Investment Partners)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... NRG Energy has completed the sale of the Red Bluff and Chowchilla II gas-fired units in northern California with a combined capacity of 94 MW to Wayzata Investment Partners for an undisclosed sum.

Appalachian Power.(Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC))(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... AEP's Appalachian Power unit says higher-than-expected costs are delaying a revised cost estimate for an IGCC plant it plans to build in West Virginia. AEP's original estimate for the 630 MW plant was about $1 billion. The company told state...

Exelon Nuclear.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Exelon Nuclear produced 131.4 billion kWh in 2006--the fourth consecutive year that the company set a new generation record for a U.S. power plant fleet. Altogether, Exelon's 17 reactors produced enough electricity last year to continuously...

Constellation Energy.(Business Briefs)(new reactors at Calvert Cliffs)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Constellation Energy continues to move toward building as many as five new reactors at existing nuclear sites, with Calvert Cliffs being the first. Constellation and partner AREVA plan to use the 1,600 MW Evolutionary Power Reactor design. The...

Xstrata Coal.(Business Briefs)
February 1, 2007... Australia's Xstrata Coal has joined the FutureGen Alliance and committed $25 million to building a near-zero emission coal-fueled power plant in the United States.

Geothermal Energy Association.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Geothermal Energy Association projects that Nevada is on track to produce more than 1,000 MW of geothermal power over the next three to five years, quadrupling its current geothermal output and making enough electricity to supply about 25...

Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems.(Business Briefs)(partnership with AEP)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The fuel cell business unit of Rolls-Royce has launched U.S. subsidiary Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems. Based in Canton, Ohio and partnered with AEP, the business unit will test and evaluate prototype fuel cell systems at AEP's Dolan Technology...

Toshiba.(Business Briefs)(Toshiba develops a boiling-water reactor )(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Toshiba will independently develop a boiling-water reactor for nuclear power plants in Japan and elsewhere by 2015 and continue to supply pressurized water reactors. Toshiba has been developing BWRs with General Electric but has decided to go...

Alta Windpower Development.(Business Briefs)(Southern California Edison contract with Alta Windpower Development of Australia)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Southern California Edison has signed an agreement with Alta Windpower Development of Australia to secure an additional 1,500 MW of wind capacity from projects to be built in California's Tehachapi area. The contract more than doubles SCE's...

AREVA.(Business Briefs)(NUHOMS HD high-heat used-fuel transportation and storage cask developed)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The NUHOMS HD high-heat used-fuel transportation and storage cask developed by AREVA has been approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for use by utilities operating commercial nuclear reactors, enabling them to store used fuel on...

Buffalo Energy Partners.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Buffalo Energy Partners plans to develop an IGCC power plant in Glenrock, Wyo., that would eventually total 1,100 MW. Permitting is expected to be completed this year with plans for the 275 MW Phase 1 to go into commercial operation early in...

Fairbanks Morse Engine.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Fairbanks Morse Engine has approved the use of up to 100 percent bio-diesel (B 100) in its opposed piston model 38D 8 1/8 diesel and dual fuel engines for continuous operations.

Babcock & Wilcox.(contract of Public Service Company of New Mexico)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Babcock & Wilcox has received a contract valued at more than $100 million from Public Service Company of New Mexico to design, supply and erect low N[O.sub.X] burners, baghouses and related equipment on two 550 MW units at the San Juan Station....

CMS Energy.(Business Briefs)(license of CMS Energy)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the operating license of CMS Energy's 798 MW Palisades nuclear plant, extending its operation to 2031. Palisades went into service in 1971.

NRG Energy.(appointment of John Ragan)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... NRG Energy named John Ragan EVP and regional president for the Northeast. He was most recently vice president of trading, transmission and operations for FPL Energy.

FPL Group.(appointment of James Robo and Mitchell Davidson)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... James Robo was named president and CEO of FPL Group. He was previously president of the company's competitive wholesale energy group, FPL Energy. Mitchell Davidson was named president of FPL Energy, replacing Robo.

Ira Owners.(appointments of Ira Owens, Terry Sopkin and Bruce Weinhold)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Sargent & Lundy named Ira Owens senior vice president responsible for nuclear power technologies. Terry Sopkin and Bruce Weinhold were named vice presidents in the nuclear power technologies group. Kurt Dietzen was named vice president and...

Constellation Energy.(Personnel & Promotions)
February 1, 2007... Thomas Brooks was named president of Constellation Energy's new integrated merchant organization that includes Constellation NewEnergy, Constellation Energy Commodities Group and Constellation Power Generation.

IGCC gets green light in New York.(Startup)(integrated gasification combined cycle plant)
February 1, 2007... NRG Energy has received a conditional award of a contract from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to build a 680 MW integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant at its existing Huntley plant site in Tonawanda, N.Y. The project,...

PG & E to complete gas-fired project.(Startup)
February 1, 2007... Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG & E) is stepping in to complete construction of a 530 MW gas-fired combined-cycle plant near Antioch, Calif. The partially completed plant was acquired by the utility in 2005 from independent power producer...

Good news for wind.(Startup)
February 1, 2007... Although it provides only a small fraction of U.S. power generation, wind capacity continues to grow by leaps and bounds. And a flurry of recent developments are blowing in wind's favor. A study examining how utilities can manage growing...

Technology disrupted: think there are no disruptive generation technologies on the horizon? Think again.
February 1, 2007... Three years ago, I presented a paper at POWER-GEN International called "The Economics of Generation Technologies: Present and Future." Then, our firm's process of interviewing dozens of industry executives revealed that the conventional wisdom...

Gain a competitive edge by calculating total ownership costs: equipment ownership costs typically exceed the original purchase price, so decisions made during the acquisition phase can dramatically affect equipment lifetime ownership cost.
February 1, 2007... Over the past 20 years, equipment users of all types have been changing their purchasing decision criteria from an initial cost perspective to one that considers the total lifetime cost of equipment ownership. This shift is driven by...

Wireless remote monitoring and control of onsite power systems: remotely monitoring and controlling onsite power systems can improve their reliability and effectiveness.
February 1, 2007... Onsite power generation is often considered to be made up of three sub-markets: emergency standby power, rental (also known as mobile) power and prime (or continuous) power. The application of remote monitoring and remote control for these...

Keeping it inside: fabric or metallic bellows boiler penetration seals can increase HRSG output and efficiency while reducing maintenance requirements.(heat recovery steam generator )
February 1, 2007... When people are under pressure, it's a good idea for them to take a break and let off a little steam; it's unhealthy to keep things bottled up inside. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With a power plant, it's just the opposite. Profitability...

Steam turbine oils: what you should know; Keep your steam turbines operating efficiently by knowing these facts about oils.
February 1, 2007... Steam turbines are widely used in the power industry as prime movers for generators. As a paramount component to a company's production, these machines generally run on continuous operating schedules. Maintenance professionals are challenged...

Energy storage systems get a new spin.(DG Update)
February 1, 2007... High utility rates and recurring reliability issues, particularly in urban areas, are driving the need for more effective and efficient power quality innovations for equipment such as data servers and medical treatment systems. Such...

Texas CHP Group will promote energy security.(DG Update)(Texas Combined Heat and Power Initiative)
February 1, 2007... A nonprofit organization has been created to promote onsite energy technologies. The technologies integrate power, heat and cooling to hospitals and other critical facilities in Texas, especially during natural and man-made disasters. The Texas...

Cogenerator saves time and money with oil skimmer.(Brooklyn Navy Yard Cogeneration Partners L.P. )
February 1, 2007... Brooklyn Navy Yard Cogeneration Partners L.P. (BNYCP) is a 286 MW plant located in Brooklyn, N.Y. that continuously produces 220 MW of electricity and up to 1 million pounds of steam each hour. BNYCP has a waste stream (which includes oily...

Modular bellows protect power plant damper shafts.(Field Notes)
February 1, 2007... Protective bellows installed on the damper shafts of the bag house at Xcel Energy's Sherburne County (Sherco) Generating Plant are extending the life of the shafts by minimizing corrosion from exposure to condensing flue gas and other...

New security system allows plant to do more with less.(Field Notes)
February 1, 2007... Today's technology has brought society many tools that help make lives more convenient. Security technology is following this trend in a big way. As perimeter security technology becomes more and more advanced, monitoring and controlling these...

Extruded aluminum frame bag filter.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Advanced Filtration Concepts has introduced the new Soft Pocket Filter manufactured by Engineered Filtration Systems (EFS). EFS Soft Pocket Filters have an extruded aluminum frame for increased stability, reduced corrosion and greater filter...

Rack mount UPS.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Staco Energy Products Co. recently introduced the UniStar IIILA Series single-phase, online, rack mount Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). This UPS features protection over a wide input voltage range. Its constant clean, steady sinewave...

Electrical safety test instrument.(Products)
February 1, 2007... The Seaward Group, a supplier of safety test instruments, has introduced the ERT-S electrical safety checker from its Seaward Electronic Ltd. division. Designed specifically for earth resistance measurements, the ERT-S is powered by a...

Digital multimeters.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Fluke Corp. recently announced a new family of digital multimeters including the Fluke 117 Electricians' Multimeter with non-contact voltage detection and the Fluke 116 HVAC Multimeter with temperature and microamps capability. The family of...

Oil cleaning system digital control panel.(Products)
February 1, 2007... United Air Specialists (UAS)/Kleentek has introduced a new, easy-to-read digital control panel on its line of electrostatic oil cleaning systems. This new feature allows an operator to monitor the operation of the UAS/Kleentek system and...

Networked data logger.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Logic Beach Inc. has introduced the first in a series of network connected data acquisition and alarming products using HyperWare-II, an icon-based, drop n' drag programming environment. The IntelliLogger portable data logging system is a...

Self-cleaning Mass Flow Meter.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Fluid Components International (FCI) has introduced the Model GF90 Flow Meter with a self-cleaning purge port that maintains optimum flow measurement performance while reducing maintenance costs in rugged industry applications where dirt, grit...

Mobile generators.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Ingersoll Rand has introduced PowerSource, a line of mobile generators ranging in output from 10 kVA to 570 kVA. All PowerSource units feature alternators with AREP excitation and control panel-mounted voltage selector switch (VSS) for easy...

Boiler fan actuator.(Products)
February 1, 2007... MEA Inc. offers a boiler fan damper actuator that performs at high speeds with stability. The Damper Control Dual HPU with digital control and hydraulic servo control responds at a minimum frequency of 3Hz and boiler draft pressure is...

Aero derivative gas turbine.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Rolls Royce has introduced to the U.S. market an aero derivative gas turbine that delivers up to 58 MW of electricity in simple cycle service at 42 percent efficiency. The Trent 60 is available with dry low emissions (DLE) and wet low emissions...

Fuel crusher.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Pennsylvania Crusher offers the FBR Hammermill to meet the needs of utility and cogeneration plants for crushers. It is designed to crush fuel and limestone in fluidized bed boiler applications. The crushing chamber is symmetrical and the rotor...

Power monitor.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Rockwell Automation has introduced a new high-performance, low-cost power monitoring device that profiles a plant's energy consumption and utilization data while providing the information needed to better control and optimize energy costs. The...

Flow meter.(Products)
February 1, 2007... The Wafer-Cone Flow Meter from McCrometer offers accuracy and is now approved by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for use in coal-bed methane gas applications. The Wafer-Cone is an easy to install space-saving flow meter that requires almost...

Heat balance software.(Products)
February 1, 2007... GE Energy's optimization and control business has announced GateCycle 6.0 is now available to enhance the flexibility of its heat balance software for design and simulation of thermal power plants. The new software features an enhanced...

Fuel Gas Cleaning System.(Products)
February 1, 2007... The Gaumer Co. has introduced the ElectroClean Fuel Gas Cleaning System, which provides gas-turbine-quality fuel-gas from pipeline-quality fuel-gas. ElectroClean consists of an electric pre-heater, pressure reducer, coalescer, heat exchanger...

Portable QC Cart.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Waters Equipment's Portable QC Cart allows on-line verification of analytical instruments throughout the plant. When used with a conditioned sample, the Portable QC Cart eliminates sampling problems such as contamination, delays and temperature...

Self-cleaning water filter.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Miller-Leaman Inc. has introduced self-cleaning Turbo-Disc Filter sidestream skid systems designed to remove particulate and other contaminants from cooling water, complementing the water treatment program by keeping heat transfer surfaces...

Pipeline inspection equipment.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Envirosight has introduced the SuperVision 140 video inspection crawler for pipeline inspection. It travels as far as 1,640 feet through pipelines 6 inches and larger, evaluating condition and identifying maintenance needs. The SuperVision 140...

Progressing Cavity Pump.(Products)
February 1, 2007... Moyno Inc. now offers the Moyno 2000 Progressing Cavity Pump. This versatile, high-performance pump is designed to handle a wide range of applications from shear-sensitive chemicals to difficult-to-process slurries and sludges. It features the...

Partnerships that create learning organizations.(Workforce)(Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges )
February 1, 2007... Washington State is leading the nation in leveraging its community college system to provide specialized workforce education for industries vital to the state's economy. In 2004, through a competitive process, the Washington State Board of...