Power Engineering articles from June 2008

Power Engineering archives from June 2008

Feedback.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... To the Editor: Part 1 of the two-part Power Engineering magazine series on [CO.sub.2] capture technologies ("The Evolution of Carbon Capture Technology," March 2008) describes a costly process for eliminating a minor "greenhouse gas."...

Four reasons for optimism.(Opinion)
June 1, 2008... Next time you're feeling in doubt about the state of America's young people and their educational goals, think about these four students: Manishika Agaskar, Thomas Dickman, Eric Sweigart and Caroline Suen. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] These...

Powering Vegas.(Managing the Plant)
June 1, 2008... Drive up and over Railroad Pass east of the Las Vegas Strip, pass one lone casino on the city's outskirts and leave behind a range of hills on the right side of U.S. Route 95 and you'll see it far to the south, glowing brightly in the daylight...

POWER-GEN international@20: a look back at issues and events from 1988.(Conference notes)
June 1, 2008... Twenty years ago on page 6 of the January 1988 edition of Power Engineering magazine, a fullage ad introduced "POWER-GEN '88" to the world. The inaugural event, which grew to become POWER-GEN International, was held at the Orlando Convention...

U.S. wind industry adds 1,400 MW in first quarter.(Startup)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said the U.S. wind energy industry installed 1,400 MW, or around $3 billion worth of new generating capacity in the first quarter (see table on page 14). AWEA's quarterly report said new wind power...

AEP's Morris warns of possible power shortages.(Startup)
June 1, 2008... New power plants need to be built in the United States or the country will literally run out of power to fuel economic growth, perhaps in the next 10 years. That was the message Michael Morris, CEO of American Electric Power, made as part...

New wind power projects completed first quarter 2008.(Startup)(Statistical table)
June 1, 2008... NEW WIND POWER PROJECTS COMPLETED FIRST QUARTER 2008 State Project Name Capacity No. of Turbine (MW) Turbines Rating (MW) ...

Alstom power donation lifts scholarship fund.(Startup)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Alstom Power has become the latest industry leader to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Next Generation Scholarship Fund, now in its second year. Begun by Power Engineering magazine and JETS (the Junior Engineering Technical...

Cost escalations reported on power plant projects.(Startup)
June 1, 2008... Power generators are revising upwards the cost to build or complete a number of new power plant projects across the United States. Duke Energy told Indiana state regulators that the 630 MW Edwardsport coal-fired power plant currently under...

Ontario coal plants told to cut emissions.(Startup)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... A directive issued by the Ontario government ordered Ontario Power Generation to cut coal emission levels to two-thirds below 2003 levels by 2011. Energy Minister Gerry Phillips said emissions of greenhouse gases from the coal plants must be...

Union Pacific must cut coal rates for KC utility.(Startup)(Kansas City)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Federal regulators ordered Union Pacific Corp. to lower the rates it charges the Kansas City Power and Light Co. for delivering Wyoming coal to a power plant in Missouri, according to the Associated Press. The Surface Transportation Board...

NRC approves uprate for Hope Creek.(Startup)(Nuclear Regulatory Commission )(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved a 15 percent uprate to PSEG Nuclear's Hope Creek nuclear plant in New Jersey. The NRC said that PSEG could safely raise the boiling water reactor's output by upgrading certain plant systems and...

IPL invests in emissions control.(Startup)
June 1, 2008... Interstate Power and Light Co. (IPL), a unit of Alliant Energy Corp., said it plans to invest approximately $85 million in emissions reduction technologies at the Lansing Generating Station, a 317 MW coal-fired facility in Iowa. IPL...

NERC projects reliable electricity for the summer.(Startup)(North American Electric Reliability Corporation)
June 1, 2008... The outlook for electricity reliability for the coming summer season is generally good according to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) in its annual 2008 Summer Reliability Assessment. NERC officials noted...

GE Energy.(Business Briefs)(last stage bucket )(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... GE Energy said that it installed its new 26.8 inch last stage bucket (LSB) with axial entry dovetail at the Coal Creek Station in North Dakota. The new GE 26.8-inch LSB was applied to the first of the two GE steam turbines at Coal Creek...

Curtiss-Wright Corp.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Curtiss-Wright Corp. said it would provide Westinghouse Electric Co. LLC with reactor coolant pumps (RCPs) for up to four AP1000 Generation III+ commercial nuclear power plants or a total of 32 RCPs. Curtiss-Wright has also received purchase...

TVA.(Business Briefs)(Tennessee Valley Authority)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... TVA received $4 million from the Department of Energy to develop a conceptual design for a nuclear waste reprocessing plant, with an eye toward building a demonstration facility, possibly on the former Clinch River Breeder Reactor site. TVA has...

URS Nuclear Center.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... URS Corp.'s Washington Division has opened the URS Nuclear Center in Fort Mill, S.C., to serve as headquarters for the Washington Division's commercial nuclear energy engineering and construction business. The office is in addition to existing...

ExxonMobil.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... ExxonMobil said it plans to spend more than $100 million to complete an improved natural gas treating technology designed to make carbon capture and storage more affordable and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company plans to build a...

Honeywell.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Honeywell developed a new material to protect photovoltaic (PV) solar cells in tough environments. PowerShield PV325 is designed to be UV-, moisture- and weather-resistant and to withstand the electrical load produced by the modules, which can...

The St-Laurent Energies consortium.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The St-Laurent Energies consortium, which includes German wind turbine maker REpower Systems AG, has been awarded five wind projects by Hydro-Quebec Distribution representing a total capacity of 954 MW in Quebec, Canada. The consortium is led...

Duke Energy Carolina.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Duke Energy Carolinas said it will build a 620 MW gas-fired power plant at a cost of $275 million, or roughly $444/kW. The company's contract with Shaw Group Inc. calls for a combined cycle, natural gas-fired power plant at Duke's Buck Steam...

PPL Renewable Energy.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... PPL Renewable Energy plans to design, construct and operate a 1.7 MW solar system for Schering-Plough Corp. in Summit, N.J. When completed, the green energy project will be the largest rooftop solar installation in the United States. The solar...

Global Laser Enrichment.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Global Laser Enrichment, a unit of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, selected GE Hitachi's Wilmington headquarters site for a potential commercial uranium enrichment facility. Before moving ahead, Global Laser will look at the results of a...

TransCanada Corp.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... TransCanada Corp. said Salt River Project signed a 20-year power purchase agreement for 100 percent of the output from TransCanada's planned Coolidge Generating Station in Arizona. The US$500 million simple-cycle natural gas-fired peaking power...

Florida power & light.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Florida Power & Light plans to modernize its power plants at Riviera Beach and Cape Canaveral to natural gas units. The current generating units at the Riviera power plant went into service in 1962 and 1963 and generate 280 MW each. The Riviera...

Interstate Power and Light Co.(Construction & Contracts)
June 1, 2008... Interstate Power and Light Co. received pre-certification from the Iowa Utilities Board to build the Sutherland Generating Station Unit 4. Regulators approved IPL's siting application for the 630 MW hybrid plant pending a review of the...

Black & Veatch.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Black & Veatch has been selected by Eskom to provide project management and engineering services for a 4,800 MW power generation facility being constructed in South Africa. Black & Veatch is assisting with engineering services and supervising...

Walter M. Higgins.(People & Personnel)(retirement of Walter M. Higgins)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Walter M. Higgins will retire as chairman and a member of the board of directors of Sierra Pacific Resources, effective July 31. He will be succeeded 0as chairman by Philip G. Satre, the company's current lead outside director, who has been a...

Jay L. Johnson.(People & Personnel)(appointment of Jay L. Johnson)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Jay L. Johnson, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Dominion Virginia Power, a unit of Dominion, retired June 1. Johnson is joining General Dynamics as vice chairman of its board of directors and as an officer, effective...

Ron Bradley.(People & Personnel)(appointment at PECO Energy Co.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... PECO named Ron Bradley as vice president, Support Services, responsible for safety, environmental, methods and training, performance assessment, fleet services, real estate and facilities, IT and supply. He served most recently as chief...

Todd W. Filsinger.(People & Personnel)(appointment at Calpine Corp.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Calpine Corp. named Todd W. Filsinger interim chief operating officer. Previously, Filsinger, 46, served as head of the company's commercial operations. Filsinger will also retain his current responsibilities as a managing partner at PA...

Richard F. Abrams.(People & Personnel)(appointment at Babcock Power Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Babcock Power Sales Inc. named Richard F. Abrams to vice president of business development for "bpigreen," which focuses on new boilers, heat exchangers and air quality control systems in the green power" and renewables markets, targeting...

Black Hills Corp.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(Hastings Funds Management Ltd. and IIF BH Investment LLC.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Black Hills Corp. will sell seven gasfired plants with a total capacity of 974 MW for $840 million in cash, or just over $860/kW. The plants will be sold to affiliates of Hastings Funds Management and to IIF BH Investment LLC. Black Hills said...

Tenaska Capital Management LLC.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Tenaska Capital Management LLC said that a unit of the Tenaska Power Fund L.P. (TPF) and a partner of Warburg Pincus are selling three facilities with a capacity of 1,554 MW. TPF also agreed to sell the 303 MW Calumet Energy Power Station in...

Facing rising energy costs, Santee Cooper bucks the trend; [SO.sub.3] mitigation program yields payback beyond emissions control.
June 1, 2008... With the utility industry driven by ever-increasing regulatory guidelines and growing economic considerations, the emphasis has shifted to more cost-effective technologies to improve boiler operational efficiency. So how does a plant "buck the...

Air heater improvement: leakage due to faulty air heater seals represents low hanging fruit that can be picked with a small investment and quick ROI.(Small Investment/Quick Payback)
June 1, 2008... New multi-pollutant regulation and a heightened focus on greenhouse gas emissions have forced power plants to focus on certain operating parameters, some of which have not historically been given a high priority. Consequently, power plants are...

Meeting the power industry's workforce challenges.
June 1, 2008... Keeping up with the nation's growing electricity demand is creating big challenges for the power industry. According to the NERC (National Electric Reliability Corp.) 2007 Survey of Reliability Issues, an aging workforce and lack of skilled...

Inspecting for corrosion fatigue; Recent catastrophic failures worldwide are prompting a second look at the inspection tools and methods for mitigating corrosion fatigue.
June 1, 2008... Power boiler startup and shutdown cycling and proper water chemistry are paramount in extending the life and reliability of the unit. Loss of control of either of these processes can cause cracking of the protective magnetite scale on the...

Intermittent wind: problems and a possible solution.
June 1, 2008... It was almost inevitable that Texas would see one of the first big grid glitches induced by a growing reliance on wind capacity. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Late during the afternoon of Tuesday, February 26, the Electric Reliability Council...

COAL-GEN will examine coal-fired generation at the crossroads; The largest coal generation show in the United States comes to Louisville, Ky., this August 13-15.
June 1, 2008... The United States and the rest of the world appeared on the verge of a coal renaissance when COAL-GEN was launched in Chicago in 2001. A resurgence came, with 4,390 MW of new coal capacity built and placed into service since that time and...

Gas engine O&M issues; Strategies for protecting gas engines that run on nonconventional gas.
June 1, 2008... Collecting gases from landfill waste for combustion in gas engines prevents them from escaping to the environment, resulting in a positive influence on greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, electrical power produced with gas engines on...

Could mini-nuclear units find a Niche?(DG Update)(Hyperion Power Generation Inc. )
June 1, 2008... Here's something you probably never thought you'd read about in the distributed generation section of a magazine: a nuclear plant. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Think again. A solid state nuclear unit--The Hyperion Power Module--is being...

AES wind generation consolidates dispersed data.(Field Notes)(AES Corp. (Arlington, Virginia))(Company overview)
June 1, 2008... Wind-power generation has its own unique technical considerations. The central challenge faced by a large-scale wind-farm operator, however, is the same as that faced by conventional utilities: getting data from multiple geographically...

Long-lasting performance makes strong case for polyurethane coatings.(Field Notes)(Port Neal Power Plant )
June 1, 2008... In 1986, a tornado ripped through the Port Neal Power Plant owned by Iowa Public Service Co., now MidAmerican Energy. Not only was a large coal-conveying unit destroyed, but roofing was torn off and siding ripped away. One entire side of the...

Surge protection device.(Products)
June 1, 2008... Raycap Inc. developed a surge protection device (SPD) designed to provide continuous protection from over-voltage and other transient voltage activity for industrial equipment such as variable speed drives, programmable logic controls and power...

Noise attenuation trim.(Products)
June 1, 2008... Flowserve Corp. released the Flowserve Valtek Stealth, a gaseous noise trim that reduces sound pressure levels. Stealth laser-cut discs are stacked to form the seat retainer. The cuts in the discs form channels for the fluid to pass...

Uninterruptible power supply.(Products)
June 1, 2008... Staco Energy Products Co. added SNMP communications capabilities to their FirstLine three-phase Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). These models, which are available for 10, 15 and 20 kVA applications, allow users to network this UPS with their...

Earplugs.(Products)
June 1, 2008... Designed to keep workers connected to their environment without compromising protection, Howard Leight's new Clarity multiple-use earplugs are designed to improve worker safety and communication by blocking hazardous noise while allowing voice...

Mildew-preventing paint additive.(Products)
June 1, 2008... International Paint LLC introduced Interthane 990 UHS, a new low VOC Polyurethane technology that contains additives to help prevent the growth of mildew on the surface of exposed coated steelwork. The high-performance, two-component white...

Task light.(Products)
June 1, 2008... Winsted now offers an adjustable VESA Mount LED Task Light for a variety of desktop tasks. Dual light settings and a fully adjustable arm make it a lighting option for workstations shared by multiple operators. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Differential pressure switches.(Products)
June 1, 2008... Mid-West Instrument announced its new line of 220/240 explosion proof, differential indicating switches. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new 220/240 differential indicating switches are CSA, UL and ATEX certified. The 220/240 indicating...

Earmuffs.(Products)
June 1, 2008... Incorporating high-visibility earcups and reflective headbands, along with a dielectric construction, Howard Leight Thunder T2HV Hi-Visibility earmuffs provide workers with a solution for hearing protection and visibility in electrical...

Test Lamp.(Products)
June 1, 2008... Featuring an explosion-proof design, an intelligent built-in microcontroller and rechargeable batteries that provide 45-minutes of testing on a single charge, the new TL105 Test Lamp for General Monitors' UV, UV/IR and IR Flame Detectors allows...

Bird deterrent laser.(Products)
June 1, 2008... Bird-X Inc. announced their indoor-use bird deterrent laser, the Bird BLazer. It helps combat the expense, unsightliness and disease associated with birds and their droppings. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BLazer uses "fat beam" laser...

Workforce training partnership with Duke Energy.
June 1, 2008... The nuclear energy industry feces a critical shortage of workers over the next five years. According to Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) surveys conducted in 2004 and 2005 (1), up to 23,000 workers may be eligible to retire, representing 40...