Power Engineering articles from May 2006

Power Engineering archives from May 2006

Wicked problems.(in power and energy sector)(Column)
May 1, 2006... Picture this heavyweight prize-fight match up: engineering's logical and rational approach to problem solving versus the sometimes-street brawling style of public policy development. Put the two in a ring and let them duke it out over issues...

Salina pumped storage project.(MANAGING THE PLANT)(Oklahoma state legislature created the Grand River Dam Authority which supplies electricity across a 24-county service territory)
May 1, 2006... Back in the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s, the Oklahoma state legislature created the Grand River Dam Authority, which built and operates three hydroelectric facilities and two lakes along the river's system in northeastern Oklahoma. These...

Industry faces fuel supply hurdles.(NUCLEAR REACTIONS)
May 1, 2006... With an expected uptick in the nuclear power industry on the horizon, many observers are concerned whether the U.S. will have the infrastructure needed to support the anticipated renaissance. Non-U.S. entities now control the traditional...

Renewable electricity: Poised to make a difference.(VIEW ON RENEWABLES)
May 1, 2006... Our appetite for electricity is insatiable. By 2025, global demand is projected to reach more than 26 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. That's a lot of power, almost double the 13.6 trillion kWh the planet consumed in 2000. While most of...

Combustion dynamics monitoring lets CT operators run with confidence.(UPDATE)(combustion turbine)
May 1, 2006... The need to adhere to strict N[O.sub.x] emissions is forcing power plant operators to make sure fuel mixtures fall within tight parameters. As they strive to meet optimum N[O.sub.x] emission levels, combustion turbine (CT) power plant...

Wind's who's who.(rankings)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... As indicated by the annual industry rankings of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) released in March, the U.S. wind industry easily broke records from in 2004 by installing more than 2,400 MW of new wind capacity in 22 states,...

Almost 4,000 air pollution projects underway.(UPDATE)
May 1, 2006... Utilities worldwide have initiated more than 3,800 air pollution control projects slated for completion within the next eight years. In the McIlvaine Company online database Utility Environmental Upgrade Tracking System and the companion World...

HF Controls.(contracts of Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... HF Controls, a unit of Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction, has received a contract valued at more than $17 million from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to provide an ECS-1200 platform digital plant control system for non-safety, and an...

ADA-ES.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... ADA-ES will supply activated carbon injection mercury control systems for two existing coal-fired power plants and for Omaha Public Power District's new 660 MW unit at Nebraska City. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ALSTOM.(contracts of ALSTOM Signaling Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... ALSTOM will upgrade two generators at BC Hydro's G.M. Shrum Hydroelectric Generating Station built in the late 1960s and currently producing 2,730 MW. ALSTOM will add new stators and coolers to increase output for each of two generators by 34...

Babcock Power unit Thermal Engineering International.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Babcock Power unit Thermal Engineering International will provide six feedwater heaters for Consumers Energy's D.E. Karn, J.H. Campbell, B.C. Cobb and J.C. Weadock plants. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Foxboro.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The Lower Colorado River Authority will use I/A Series digital automation from Foxboro in a control system modernization at the Fayette Power Project near La Grange, Texas. The new controls implementation will replace existing ash handling...

PG&E.(contracts of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. with Colusa County)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... PG&E's newly-announced system resource plan calls for building a 660 MW combined cycle gas-fired plant in northern Colusa County planned for service in 2010. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Wartsila.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Wartsila will provide 10, 18V50DF lean-burn dual-fuel engines that will comprise PG&E's 163 MW Humboldt Bay power plant in northern California expected to enter commercial operation in 2009. The reciprocating engines will run primarily on...

Shaw Stone & Webster.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Shaw Stone & Webster has received a contract valued at more than $100 million from PSEG Power Connecticut to retrofit Unit 3 at the Bridgeport Harbor Generating Station with mercury control equipment. Stone & Webster will also provide...

Babcock Power subsidiary Thermal Engineering International.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Babcock Power subsidiary Thermal Engineering International will design and fabricate 12 replacement feedwater heater bundles and two moisture separator reheaters for both units at the South Texas Project nuclear plant. Babcock's Vogt Power...

Open Systems International.(contracts of Open Systems International)
May 1, 2006... Open Systems International has been contracted by Tenaska to implement an energy and generation management system with supervisory control and data acquisition components. The project will incorporate several market interfaces to the ERCOT....

Cielo Wind Power and Edison Mission Group.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Cielo Wind Power and Edison Mission Group will build the Wildorado Wind Ranch in west Texas. Wildorado will be the largest single wind power facility to date in the Southwest Power Pool, which serves parts of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma,...

Plum Point Energy, a member of LS Power Group.(constructio of coal plant)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Plum Point Energy, a member of LS Power Group, has begun construction of its 665 MW coal plant in northeast Arkansas. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Northern Power.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Northern Power has been awarded a contract by Pathmark Stores to provide three 250 kV photovoltaic systems to three of the company's supermarkets in New Jersey. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The U.S. Department of Energy.(service of United States. Department of Energy)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The U.S. Department of Energy will allocate up to $1.6 million this year to fund industry studies on the best ways to utilize energy from existing commercial nuclear reactors to produce hydrogen. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman noted that using...

GE Energy.(partnerships)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... GE Energy has entered into a $27 million partnership with DOE to design a next-generation offshore wind turbine. The turbine's power rating will be optimized for minimal cost of energy but is expected to be between 5 and 7 cents/KWh. In 2005,...

Babcock & Wilcox.(megers and acquisitions)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Babcock & Wilcox has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In accordance with its previously announced settlement, B&W's financial results will be re-consolidated with McDermott International. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE...

Duke Power and Southern Co.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)(Duke Power Co.)(potential nuclear power plant)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Duke Power and Southern Co. have selected a site in Cherokee County, S.C. for a potential nuclear power plant. Duke would develop and operate the plant, which would be co-owned by Southern. The utilities expect to file an application to build...

Exelon.(rankings)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Exelon was named the nation's most admired electric and gas utility by FORTUNE Magazine. Exelon ranked first in each of the eight evaluation areas by the magazine's survey group of 10,000 executives, directors and securities analysts. Other...

Invensys Process Systems and Westinghouse.(partnerships)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Invensys Process Systems and Westinghouse have signed a long-term teaming agreement establishing a structure for working together to provide safety related application solution for nuclear power plants. The teaming agreement provides customers...

The merger of Duke Energy and Cinergy became effective April 3.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Cinergy Corp.)(Duke Energy Corp.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The merger of Duke Energy and Cinergy became effective April 3. Duke Energy becomes the largest electric utility in the United States with more than $70 billion in assets, 50,000 MW of generating capacity and 5.5 million retail electric and gas...

As part of British Nuclear Fuel's (BNFL) restructuring process and the UK government's decision to sell Westinghouse.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... As part of British Nuclear Fuel's (BNFL) restructuring process and the UK government's decision to sell Westinghouse, Westinghouse will assume the 15 percent share of South Africa's PBMR Ltd--the unit responsible for the Pebble Bed Modular...

Emerson has acquired Bristol Babcock--maker of remote terminal units.(acquisions)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Emerson has acquired Bristol Babcock--maker of remote terminal units, flow computers, transmitters and distributed process controllers--from FKI of Loughborough, England. Bristol becomes part of Emerson Process Management. BY STEVE...

The Wyoming Public Service Commission.(acquisition approval)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The Wyoming Public Service Commission has approved acquisition of PacifiCorp by MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. Wyoming is the last of six states where PacifiCorp provides electric service to provide written approval of the transaction....

J-Power USA.(acquisition of J-Power USA )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... J-Power USA formed to pursue expansion in the North American wholesale power market on behalf of parent Electric Power Development of Tokyo acquired 62 percent of the direct and indirect ownership interests in Tenaska Frontier Partners, an 830...

Energy Investor Funds.(acquisitions)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Energy Investor Funds has acquired a management stake in Tenaska Washington Partners, owner of a 270 MW dual-fueled combined-cycle plant near Ferndale, Wash. that sells its electric capacity and energy to Puget Sound Energy, and its steam to an...

Calpine.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Calpine has agreed to sell its 45 percent interest in the 525 MW Valladolid III plant currently under construction on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula to remaining partners Mitsui & Co. and Chubu Electric Power for approximately $43 million. To speed...

Energy Investors Funds' United States Power Fund II and USPF II Institutional Fund.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Energy Investors Funds' United States Power Fund II and USPF II Institutional Fund have acquired 14 hydroelectric plants in California, Michigan, Illinois, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina from affiliates of Northbrook Energy. A...

Sempra Energy and Riverstone Holdings.(acquisitions)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Sempra Energy and Riverstone Holdings have agreed to sell the jointly owned 632 MW Coleto Creek coal-fired power plant in Goliad County, Texas to International Power for $1.14 billion. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Spencer Abraham, former U.S. secretary of energy, has been named non-executive chairman of the board of French-based energy industry service provider AREVA.(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Spencer Abraham, former U.S. secretary of energy, has been named non-executive chairman of the board of French-based energy industry service provider AREVA. Bill Fox has been named vice president of construction and management for new plant...

Joseph (Buzz) Miller.(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Joseph (Buzz) Miller has been named senior vice president of nuclear development for Southern Nuclear Operating Company, a newly created position. He will be responsible for overseeing development of Southern Company's nuclear generation...

PG&E Corporation.(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... PG&E Corporation has named Richard Rollo vice president of strategic development and business integration responsible for evaluating growth opportunities including acquisitions and mergers within the regulated utility sector. BY STEVE...

NRG Energy.(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... NRG Energy has named Curtis Morgan executive vice president and regional president of the company's northeast region, replacing Scott Davido who left NRG to become CFO of Calpine. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

James Miller.(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... James Miller has been named to succeed William Hecht as chairman and CEO of PPL Corporation when Hecht retires at the end of this year, Miller has been president and COO. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

TXU.(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... TXU has named Mike Childers to the newly-created position of CEO of generation development, responsible for coordinating generation opportunities including the previously announced Oak Grove and Sandow 5 projects. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP,...

IDACORP.(PERSONNEL & PROMOTIONS)
May 1, 2006... IDACORP Executive Vice President LaMont Keen will succeed retiring Jan Packwood as president and CEO effective July 1. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Dr. Nelson Koopman.(appointments)(Engineering Systems Inc)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Dr. Nelson Koopman has been named president and COO of Engineering Systems Inc, succeeding Dr. Anthony Valentino who becomes president emeritus. Dr. Dan Wojnowski has been named director of mechanical and electrical engineering, retaining...

David Youlen.(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... David Youlen, vice president of New York operations for Brookfield Power, has been installed as president of the National Hydropower Association. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Nuclear industry service provider Enercon.(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Nuclear industry service provider Enercon has named Bob Evans vice president of new plant services and AI Schneider manager of projects. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Dan Yarbrough.(PERSONNEL & PROMOTIONS)
May 1, 2006... Dan Yarbrough has been named quality assurance/safety coordinator for InsulTech of Santa Ana, California, which supplies thermal and acoustical insulation. BY STEVE BLANKINSHIP, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Otto Kopietzki.(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... In a move that consolidates all operations under one executive, Otto Kopietzki has been named president of Kohler Power Systems. Kopietzki has previously served as president of European, Middle Eastern, African and Asia Pacific operations. ...

Powering the Northwest: Portland General Electric is constructing what will be the most efficient natural gas-fired generator of its type in the Northwest.(GAS TURBINES)
May 1, 2006... Barring any unforeseen problems, next spring, Portland General Electric (PGE) will begin operating the United States' first combustion turbine that uses Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' (MHI) G1 advanced technology. Construction of PGE's G class...

Strong wind uncovers weaknesses: Wind energy installations grew at a record pace in 2005. With the extension of production tax credits, the wind industry is in a boom cycle. However, challenges still buffet the industry.(WIND ENERGY)
May 1, 2006... The U.S. wind energy industry easily broke earlier records during 2005 by installing more than 2,400 MW--at a value of more than $3 billion--of new generating equipment in 22 states, according the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). AWEA...

Results: "the blessed agreement".(Cartoon)
May 1, 2006... LOOK, PROCESS CAPTAIN *, BY BURNING REF WE CAN SAVE THIS COUNTRY FROM OVERGROWN LANDFILLS, UTILIZE ENERGY FROM WASTE AND REPLACE FOSSIL FUELS. WE'LL WIN AN AWARD... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I'M IMPRESSED, BUDDY. BUT HOW DOES THE NEW...

Improved catalyst can clear the air: Catalyst technology can make clean coal plants look as clean as they are.
May 1, 2006... Over the past 30 years, emissions technology has vastly improved coal-fired power plant emissions in terms of their impact on air quality. Now, it can help improve stack emission visibility as well. Although such improvements are primarily...

Out with the old, in with the new: Intermountain Power Service Corp. replaced its vintage hard panel simulator with a new simulator designed around its modern distributed control system.(SIMULATOR UPGRADE)
May 1, 2006... Intermountain Power Service Corp. (IPSC) at its Intermountain Generating Station in Utah has begun training operators with its new full-scope, high-fidelity simulator that incorporates the latest "virtual stimulation" of the plant controls with...

Energy storage: Not just R&D nor necessarily expensive.(DG UPDATE)
May 1, 2006... Energy storage has long been recognized as a highly desirable and valuable component of electric power systems, whether for utility-scale or small to large distributed generation (DG) systems. Specifically, energy storage can greatly enhance...

Test stand allows plant to monitor, detect, analyze and repair RCP bearing failures.(FIELD NOTES)
May 1, 2006... NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS depend on electric motor-driven pumps to circulate coolant through a closed system of pipes to help dissipate excess heat. These machines, reactor coolant pumps (RCPs), must be monitored continuously to ensure dependable...

Ceramic Repair Putty.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... Devcon's Ceramic Repair Putty is a fast, economical way to repair or rebuild worn or damaged equipment. The alumina-filled epoxy compound is engineered to form a smooth, long-lasting barrier against abrasion, corrosion, cavitation and chemical...

Rotating equipment services.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... RoMaDyn now offers full and partial Turnkey Services for machinery protection and condition monitoring systems, including technical designs, installation, project management and on-site technical assistance. RoMaDyn's Turnkey Services are...

Portable supplied air system.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... MST Inc. has announced a line of air purification equipment for use with supplied air respirators. Respiratory Protector Portable CO Removal Systems provide clean, humidified air to workers, while allowing extra freedom of movement not...

Flowmeters.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... Hoffer Flow Controls offers the Premier Gas Series of turbine flowmeters, which provide accurate gas flow measurement at a cost less than typical mass or ultrasonic type flowmeters. Designed to measure flow through a pipeline, this flowmeter...

Report cards.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... School will be out soon and report cards will be coming home. Here's a guide to help you interpret what those teachers' comments really mean: 1. Your son has a remarkable ability to gather information from his classmates. Really...