Power Engineering articles from July 2005

Power Engineering archives from July 2005

If they can build it there, why not anywhere?(OPINION)
July 1, 2005... All they needed was Sinatra crooning a variation of New York, New York: "If they can build it there, they can build it anywhere." The crowd--about 300 people gathered under a tent in downtown Burbank, California on June 2--would have gone wild....

Simulator enhances startup/operator training for PacifiCorp.(UPDATE)
July 1, 2005... Modernizing power plant control systems presents several challenges. The first is efficiently verifying that the new controls operate as specified. Because system installation is performed during a set outage period, new controls need to be as...

10 things to know about coal gasification.(UPDATE)
July 1, 2005... Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) is being discussed by regulators, environmentalists and elected officials as an alternative to generate electricity with coal without the need for downstream post-combustion emission control...

Florida CFB demo plant yields low emissions on variety of coals.(UPDATE)(circulating fluidized bed)
July 1, 2005... The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has reported results of tests conducted at Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA)'s Northside power plant using mid-to-low-sulfur coal, which indicate the facility is one of the cleanest burning coal-fired...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2005... The article "Mercury Control Now on the Table" that appeared in the May issue erroneously stated that the U.S. power industry produces about 1.5 million tons of coal utilization byproducts (CUBs) annually, a figure dramatically lower than the...

General Electric Co.(PERSONNEL & PROMOTIONS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... As part of the major corporate restructuring of General Electric Co., John Krenicki has been named president of GE Energy, replacing John Rice who becomes vice-chairman of GE's newly-created industrial unit. Krenicki was formerly president and...

Calpine Corporation.(promotion of Eric Pryor as executive vice president)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Eric Pryor has been promoted to executive vice president of Calpine Corporation. He will continue to serve as Calpine's deputy chief financial officer and corporate risk officer.

COGEMA.(appointment of Alan Hanson as executive vice president)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... AREVA subsidiary COGEMA has named Dr. Alan Hanson executive vice president and Sam Shakir director of strategy.

GE.(appointments)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... GE has appointed Daniel Smytka, vice president & general manager, engineered systems, GE infrastructure, security; Darryl Wilson president & CEO, GE consumer & industrial, Asia Pacific; and J. Alex Urquhart, Jr., president & CEO, GE commercial...

Waukesha Engine.(appointment of Alan Antoniewiez as vice president)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Alan Antoniewiez has been named vice president of operations for Waukesha Engine.

Benetech.(appointment of Mathew Clarke as engineering manager)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Benetech has announced the appointment of Matthew Clarke as engineering manager.

COO of Brush Engineered Materials Inc.(appointment of Richard Hipple as Chief Operating Officer)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Richard Hipple has been promoted to president and COO of Brush Engineered Materials Inc.

CEO of Horton Holding, Inc.(PERSONNEL & PROMOTIONS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Randall Nord has been named president and CEO of Horton Holding, Inc., provider of cooling solutions for engines.

ALSTOM.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... ALSTOM has been awarded a contract valued at more than $32 million to upgrade four generators at the MICA Hydroelectric Generating Station that supplies 17 percent of British Columbia's electricity. ALSTOM will increase the output of each of...

Day & Zimmermann NPS.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Day & Zimmermann NPS (DZNPS) has been awarded a new multi-year, system-wide contract with TVA. Since 1995 DZNPS has performed full-service maintenance and modifications at TVA's fossil plants in the western part of the Tennessee Valley. The new...

Austin Energy and Invensys Process Systems.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)
July 1, 2005... Austin Energy and Invensys Process Systems have renewed an existing 10-year Foxboro automation alliance agreement for an additional five years. Formed in 1995, the alliance was designed to help Austin Energy improve performance and reduce costs...

Foster Wheeler.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Foster Wheeler has been selected to supply a nominal 2 million lb/hr pulverized coal-fired boiler to Bechtel Power Corporation for the Two Elk Generating Facility in Wyoming. Foster Wheeler's Spanish subsidiary has been awarded a contract...

Thermal Engineering International.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Thermal Engineering International, a subsidiary of Babcock Power, has recently delivered four replacement modular tube bundles for the existing steam surface condenser and the internals for two moisture separators at Omaha Public Power...

Babcock & Wilcox.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Babcock & Wilcox has been awarded a contract to supply a new 38.5 MW coal-fired circulating fluid bed boiler to the Arkansas River Power Authority in Lamar, Colo. The unit will burn Powder River Basin coal, producing steam for an existing 25 MW...

John Wood Group.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... John Wood Group has received a long-term gas turbine maintenance contract to provide packaged maintenance services over two maintenance cycles, including component repair, spare parts supply, onsite services and technical risk management, for...

URS Corp.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(South Carolina Public Service Authority)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... URS Corp. has received a contract from the South Carolina Public Service Authority to retrofit the flue gas desulfurization systems at the Winyah Generating Station with in-situ forced oxidation and dewatering equipment to produce saleable...

Capstone Turbine.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The European sales and service office of Capstone Turbine has received an order from its French distributor, Soffimat, for 2.8 MW of its 30 kW biogas fueled microturbine products. Late last year Capstone filled an order from its Paris-based...

The PIC Companies'.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The PIC Companies' Industrial Services Division has received three long-term contracts to provide routine and unscheduled maintenance in the state of Kentucky. The facilities under contract include a 2000 MW, 1470 MW and 650 MW power plant,...

PPM Energy.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... PPM Energy, the U.S. competitive subsidiary of ScottishPower, will build a 150 MW wind farm in northern California expected to go into commercial operation later this year. PPM acquired the fully permitted Shiloh Wind Project in Solano County...

L-3 Communications MAPPS.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... L-3 Communications MAPPS will carry out a major software upgrade on the Daya Bay nuclear power plant simulator for China's Guangdong Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company. The upgrade will adapt the Ling Ao simulator's advanced thermal-hydraulic,...

Burns and McDonnell.(CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Burns and McDonnell has been chosen by Seminole Electric Cooperative to design a new $1.2 billion coal-fired power plant to be known as Seminole Generating Station Unit 3, a 750 MW unit to be built at the existing Seminole Generating Station in...

Power industry salary report now available.(UPDATE)
July 1, 2005... A new detailed compensation survey for the electric power industry sponsored by Power Engineering magazine and conducted by Abbott, Langer & Associates is now available. In March 2005, Power Engineering magazine were invited via email to...

MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company has reached a definitive agreement with ScottishPower to acquire its subsidiary, PacifiCorp, and create an energy holding company serving approximately 3 million electric and natural gas customers in 10...

EPCOR Utilities Inc. and Trans-Canada Corporation.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(TransCanada Power L.P.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... EPCOR Utilities Inc. and Trans-Canada Corporation have entered into an agreement whereby EPCOR will acquire TransCanada's interest in TransCanada Power, L.P. for $529 million. TransCanada Power, L.P. owns a portfolio of 11 power generation...

Columbus Southern Power.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... AEP subsidiary Columbus Southern Power has agreed to purchase the 821 MW combined-cycle Waterford Energy Center in southeastern Ohio from an affiliate of Public Service Enterprise Group for $220 million. The plant began commercial operation in...

Mirant.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Mirant has received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to sell its Wrightsville Power Plant to Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation for $85 million. The 548 MW combined-cycle facility near Little Rock, Arkansas began operations in...

Navitas Energy.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... We Energies has agreed to purchase development rights from Navitas Energy for two 80 MW wind projects--Blue Sky and Green Field--located in Fond du Lac County, Wisc.

TECO Energy.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... TECO Energy's indirect subsidiary, TPS Dell, has agreed to sell substantially all of its assets, including the partially constructed 599 MW combined-cycle Dell Power Station in Arkansas, to Associated Electric Cooperative, located in Missouri,...

Honeywell.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Honeywell has agreed to acquire InterCorr International, which provides solutions for corrosion and materials problems.

Vattenfall AB.(facilities)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Swedish energy group Vattenfall AB plans to build the world's first carbon dioxide-free coal-fired power station next to the Schwarze Pumpe coal-fired power station in Brandenburg, Germany. The 30 MW plant is part of a research and development...

Exelon.(divestments)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Exelon has offered to sell more power plants to speed government approval for its proposed purchase of Public Service Enterprise Group, which would be the largest U.S. utility acquisition in history. The companies would sell an additional 1,100...

Ballard Power Systems.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Ballard Power Systems has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese partner EBARA Corporation to provide funding for Ballard's next generation of cogeneration fuel cell stack and system technology.

Nuclear news is not fair and balanced.
July 1, 2005... People involved in any organized human activity, from businesses to churches and civic organizations--including families--experience a distinctly different perspective of that activity than do people on the outside. Nuclear energy exists in...

Outside the rate-base umbrella: can IPPs play the coal game? The high cost of coal plants has generally limited their development to utilities with large rate-base markets. Will rising natural gas prices spark coal plant development by non-rate-base energy providers?(independent power producers )
July 1, 2005... Sustained higher natural gas prices are forcing many utilities and some non-utilities to look at new coal plant development. Modern coal technologies--including circulating fluidized combustion (CFB), greatly improved emission control systems,...

Bringing coal yards into the 21st century: when a plant switches fuel, starts blending fuels, or changes transportation modes, big changes are needed in coal handling and receiving equipment.
July 1, 2005... Although few new coal-fired plants have been built in recent years, a combination of factors have driven power plant owners to upgrade their coal handling facilities. Older conveyors and equipment, for example, have been rehabilitated to become...

Don't N[O.sub.x] Texas: modifications to boiler combustion systems allow Fayette Power Project Units 1 and 2 to meet new N[O.sub.x] emissions limits in Eastern Texas.(N[O.sub.x] REDUCTION)
July 1, 2005... In May 2005, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality began requiring all coal-fired power generation units in the eastern half of the state to limit yearly average nitrogen oxide (N[O.sub.x]) emissions to no more than 0.165 lb/MMBtu. The...

Faster with pre-fab: innovative structures, pre-engineered to eliminate common complications associated with solid fuel plant construction, can be delivered to the site ready for rapid assembly.(ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION)
July 1, 2005... Building a solid fuel boiler requires a steel superstructure able to support it. Consequently, both the design and erection of power block structural steel are critical-path activities. In a competitive market, power plant developers must pay...

Staying cool under pressure: through the use of plant audits and sophisticated modeling tools, power plant operators can enhance cooling system performance and reap huge rewards in terms of increased generation, reduced fuel costs and reduced emissions.
July 1, 2005... Today's power plant operators face increasing pressure to lower fuel consumption and maximize total megawatts delivered to the grid, while continuing to meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations. One of the most undervalued and...

SCADA control and monitoring becomes more sophisticated.(Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)
July 1, 2005... The ability to monitor and control distributed generation assets, on-site or from remote locations, continues to become more efficient and sophisticated. SCADA software for power control systems provides interactive monitoring, real-time and...

LUS gets aeroderivative gas turbine.(NEWS & VIEWS ON DISTRIBUTED GENERATION)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... An historical building on the campus of Louisiana State University that once housed a sugar mill now houses a new power plant that could be even sweeter. A GE LM2000 aeroderivative gas turbine was placed inside LSU's historical sugar mill...

Out with the old, in with the new.(FIELD NOTES)
July 1, 2005... MOVING 107 TONS across seven states with an 18-foot wide dual lane trailer requires plenty of police coordination and traffic control. But, when the cargo is radioactive, the coordination, scrutiny and execution requirements escalate...

Events.(Calendar)
July 1, 2005... AUGUST 2-5, Advanced Generator Maintenance Seminar, HPC Technical Services (www.hpcnet.com), Lake George, N.Y. 7-10, Utility Working Conference, American Nuclear Society (www.ans.org), Amelia Island, Florida 8-10, EPRI...

Cooling water sampling skid.(PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... Waters Equipment Co. has introduced the Cooling Water Isolation Skid (CWIS) as an economical, practical means of maintaining online sample temperature where abundant, cool surface water sources exist (i.e. rivers or lakes). It allows the use of...

Bulk material handling liner.(PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2005... Rochling Engineered Plastics has introduced a new formulation of Polystone Matrox specifically developed for bulk material handling to reduce flow problems of bulk solids, including coal, in bins, hoppers, chutes, truck beds and other...

Electric valve actuators.(PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2005... Rotork has introduced a new line of quarter-turn and linear Skilmatic SI electric valve actuators that provide both modulating and two-position control for failsafe operation in a wide variety of power generation applications. They are compact,...

Toxic Gas Monitoring System.(PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2005... The new TS4000 Toxic Gas Monitoring System from General Monitors delivers highly reliable protection to employees exposed to toxic gases, such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, chlorine, nitric oxide, oxygen deficiency, ozone, sulfur dioxide and...

Rupture Disk Covers.(PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... Jonas Inc.'s Turbine Rupture Disk Covers fit most rupture disk housings and can be installed during operation, with no shutdown. The rupture disk cover prevents air inleakage into the vacuum part of the steam system. Air inleakage occurs when...

Torque controlled impact wrench.(PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... Michigan Pneumatic Tool Inc. recently introduced the MP-6100TA torque controlled impact wrench with the Auto-Stop feature to tighten bolts to a pre-adjusted tension. The 1-inch square drive MP-6100TA provides easy torque adjustment and uniform...

Boiler Monitor.(PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... Miura Boiler Inc. has introduced a customer version of online maintenance. Now, with a Miura Boiler Monitor (MBM), customers can perform their own basic troubleshooting. Information is not transmitted by modem, but by a cable that is hard-wired...

Business planning: key to successful renewables development and investment.
July 1, 2005... The business environment to attract investment in new renewable and clean energy companies has never been more attractive, as current investment levels reached $2.2 billion between 2001 and 2004. Why? Several key market variables have...

Advanced control & optimization.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... Pegasus Technologies has released the DeltaE3[TM] "Intelligent Power Plant" Optimization Portfolio, which addresses combustion and post combustion issues utilities are facing today. Whether you need to improve performance, reduce emissions...

Baghouse Leak Detectors.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... * No Optics * No Maintenance * Detect & Locate Leaks FilterSense is the world leader in Baghouse Leak Detectors and Leak Locating Systems. Field-proven since 1994 FilterSense's particulate monitors and filter leak locating systems...

Bolt Meter.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... Norbar USA Incorporated introduces its USM-2 Ultrasonic Bolt Meter for precise measurement of elongation and load in threaded fasteners. The compact, lightweight, field-portable unit operates on (4) standard "C" cell alkaline batteries, weighs...

Chimney Outages.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... Known worldwide since 1902, Pullman Power delivers complete chimney and structural repair services to power generating facilities. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chimney Outage Services: * Inspection & Evaluation * Maintenance *...

Ergonomically brilliant control rooms.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... Our designers combine the disciplines of industrial design, human factors, ergonomics and interior design to create custom workspaces that are both efficient and beautiful. We give special consideration to the ergonomic requirements of your...

New DAQSTATION Expandable model.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... The new Yokogawa DAQSTATION DX200 Expandable model provides panel-mounted graphical display, alarming, and archiving of up to 200 process values sourced from external measurement hardware and up to 30 built-in measurement channels. The DX200...

Conveying, Pneumatic.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... The Pneumatic Transport Department of FLSmidth Inc. (formerly known as Fuller Company) has been actively and directly supporting the Power Generation industry for over 30 years. FLS employs a combination of expert design, dependable components,...

Cooling Tower Drive.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... Universal Cooling Tower Drive from Philadelphia Gear This Universal Cooling Tower Drive from Philadelphia Gear offers a unique solution to the challenge of replacing cooling tower drives and spare parts. Base plate spacer adapters make the...

Cooling, wet/dry.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... GEA Power Cooling, Inc. provides wet and dry cooling solutions that deliver superior performance and years of cost effective service with minimal maintenance requirements. Its parallel condensing or PAC System[TM] combines wet and dry cooling...

Emergency showers.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Haws' Comfort Control[TM] ANSI Z358.1-2004 requires that outlet water temperatures for emergency showers and eyewashes be above 60[degrees]F and less than 100[degrees]F for the full fifteen minute use cycle. Anywhere water temperatures...

Engineering services.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Utility Engineering--Your Power Solutions Partner [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Utility Engineering Corporation is a full-service, nationwide engineering firm with more than 900 employees and major offices in Amarillo, TX; Atlanta; Denver;...

Engineering text.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... A practical text covering the fundamentals of machinery diagnostics for anyone who works with rotating machinery. Written for operators, managers, design engineers, and machinery diagnosticians. This comprehensive book thoroughly explains and...

Filters water.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Studies have shown that the accumulation of dirt in a screen filter actually improves the efficiency of the filter. As the solids accumulate on the screen, the particles form a layer, or "cake", of dirt on the surface, providing a finer mesh...

Filtration systems.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Mega EBS Provides High Flow Rates & Large Filtration Area [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Mega EBS is the largest automatic, self-cleaning, fine-filtration system available. With flow-rates up to 17,600 GPM and filtration area of 6200 in,...

Gas analyzers.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Thermo Electron Corporation launches iSeries line of gaseous pollutant analyzers. This line, with monitoring capabilities for a broad range of pollutants, has been introduced to enhance the many capabilities of Thermo's popular cSeries line of...

Gas turbine gensets.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Low-BTU fuel powers new Cummins generator sets [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new GQ Series generator sets from Cummins Power Generation are designed to run on low-BTU fuels such as dilute methane gas produced by landfills and sewage...

Gas turbines.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... GE Energy is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation technology, energy services and management systems, with an installed base of power generation equipment in more than 120 countries. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GE Energy...

Generating services.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Primesouth, Inc., a non-regulated subsidiary of SCANA Corporation, provides operating and maintenance services for utility and power generating facilities in different parts of the world. Primesouth has expertise in: * Power plant...

GenSet Starter Module.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... Caterpillar[R] 24 Volt Generator Set Start Module [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Peoria, Ill.) -- Caterpillar's Generator Set Start Module provides up to 1,725 cold cranking amps at 24 VDC to assist and back up a generator set's starting...

Linings.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... Dependable Materials [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With MSHA approval for use in chutes, hoppers, feeders and slider beds, as well as belt wipers and skirt-boards, TIVAR[R] 88 w/BurnGuard[TM] is the top choice for bulk material handling...

Metallurgical Services.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... Power Systems now offers a full range of Metallurgical Services designed to identify the root cause of failures and provide viable, high performance solutions. Our world-class engineers perform failure analysis, metallography, and verification...

NOx reduction.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... The Topsoe Group produces a honeycomb SCR-catalyst, recognized for high activity, high tolerance for catalyst poisons, low pressure loss and low S[O.sub.2] to S[O.sub.3] oxidation. It is proven in coal- and gas-fired boilers, combustion...

Portable XRF alloy analyzer.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Thermo's TN Alloy Pro can avert catastrophic consequences of a metal material mix-up in critical components like valves, fittings, and pipes by non-destructively analyzing and identifying the metal alloy of construction quickly and with...

Pumps.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Nagle Pump and Pontoon/Float [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Vertical Cantilever Pump or Submersible Pump 1" to 10" discharge size 10gpm to 3000gpm Custom materials available Nagle Pumps Phone 708-754-2940 Fax...

Software, plant performance.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... * Cost-effective, industry-standard performance test procedures and calculation templates (Excel) for: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Boiler & Air Heaters (Coal/Oil/Gas) * Compressors & Pumps * Condensers & Feedwater Heaters *...

Vacuum systems.(SUPPLIER'S SHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The Guzzler NX is a powerful and efficient industrial vacuum system designed to clean up and recover numerous materials--from solids and dry bulk powders to liquids, slurries and thick sludge. It can operate effectively in remote or...

Living in 2005.(efun@pe.laf)
July 1, 2005... You know you're living in 2005 when... 1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave. 2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years. 3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three. ...