Power Engineering articles from May 2008

Power Engineering archives from May 2008

To the editor.(Feedback)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Like life itself, environmental buzzwords evolve over the years. A generation ago it was simply "pollution." As we've become more sophisticated, "global warming" has metamorphosed into "climate change." Today, "anthropogenic (man made)...

To the editor.(Feedback)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... In the March 2008 article "Modular Construction Gains Ground," credit should be given in the article to Alstom Power ECS. The bag house modules shown in the photo on page 54 for the Elm Road project were designed and engineered by Alstom Power...

A big deal in the Big Apple.(Opinion)
May 1, 2008... In February 2007, this column looked at some of the major power plant sales dating from 2006. It's worth revisiting the topic, particularly in light of TransCanada Corp.'s recent bid to take a big stake in the Big Apple's power generation mix....

Shining the light on solar.(View on Renewables)
May 1, 2008... Solar energy capacity will be exploding over the next decade as a result of federal and state incentives, a world class resource in the Southwest and significant technology advances. Utilities signed power purchase contracts for 2,339 MW of new...

Steam dryers face scrutiny in uprates.(Nuclear Reactions)
May 1, 2008... The nuclear power industry has added the equivalent of five 1,000 MW reactors over the past 30 years through power uprates at existing plants. While most have proceeded uneventfully, a few "extended" power uprates (EPUs) at boiling water...

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

Texas wind transmission to cost $3 to $9 billion.(Startup)
May 1, 2008... The price tag to build new power lines to bring wind power to Texas' biggest cities could range from $3 billion to $9 billion, according to a report filed by the grid operator with state regulators. Following legislation passed in 2005, the...

Coal study moves ahead with Calif. ok.(Startup)(California, United States)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Southern California Edison (SCE) will spend $50 million over two years to study the feasibility of combining several advanced coal technologies at full commercial scale. The decision to move forward with the technology assessment followed...

PG&E repowering project set to begin.(Startup)(Pacific Gas and Electric Co.)
May 1, 2008... Wartsila North America Inc. began detailed engineering and manufacturing on a 163 MWe gas-fired power plant for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E). Plant construction could begin later this year and be completed in the fall of 2009....

Plans advance for large-scale Hydro.(Startup)
May 1, 2008... Manitoba Hydro took a step closer to building a new set of hydroelectric dams in the northeastern corner of the Canadian province. The firm plans to build two new dams on the Nelson River, the 620 MW Keeyask project and the 1,250 MW Conawapa...

The face behind the advertisements.(Startup)(Interview)
May 1, 2008... It should come as no surprise that Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy's anti-coal plant activities, aimed at proposed plants in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, have riled the coal industry and companies that want to build new coal-based...

Kiewit Power.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Kiewit Corp. recently formed Kiewit Power, which brings together two subsidiaries: Kiewit Industrial Co. (now Kiewit Power Constructors Co.) and Bibb and Associates Inc. (now Kiewit Power Engineers Co.). Kiewit Industrial Co. began operations...

Active power inc.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Active Power Inc. received an order for its CleanSource UPS (uninterruptible power supply) 1500iC system. The system will be deployed at a regional healthcare facility in the Netherlands.

UniStar nuclear energy.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... UniStar Nuclear Energy said it is partnering with Accenture to develop an information technology platform, called "Galaxy", capable of supporting the data needs of a potential new fleet of nuclear power plants. Galaxy is expected to enable...

NDI Inc.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Basin Electric Power Coop. formed PrairieWinds NDI Inc. to develop wind power. PrairieWinds is expected to begin operating a 115.5 MW wind project near Minot, N.D., by 2010.

Florida Power & Light Co.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Florida Power & Light Co. asked Florida regulators for approval to build a 1,219 MW combined cycle natural gas-fired power plant at the company's West County Energy Center in Palm Beach County, where two units are already under construction.

Public Service Electric and Gas Co.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Public Service Electric and Gas Co. won approval from New Jersey state regulators to begin offering $105 million in loans to help finance the installation of solar systems on homes, businesses and municipal buildings. Initially, the program...

Bruce power.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Ontario-based Bruce Power estimates the cost of returning two idle reactor units to service at between C$3.1 billion and C$3.4 billion (US$3.06 billion to US$3.36 billion), up from an original 2005 cost projection of C$2.75 billion (US$2.72...

Entergy corp.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Federal regulators accepted an application from Entergy Corp. to build a nuclear reactor at the Grand Gulf site near Port Gibson, Miss. Entergy's application is the seventh combined license application accepted for review by the Nuclear...

Bechtel construction.(Business Briefs)(American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD) and Bechtel Construction Co. agreed to negotiate a labor contract for Bechtel's involvement in a proposed third reactor at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Maryland. Under the...

Xcel energy.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Xcel Energy asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to extend its current 40-year operating licenses for the Prairie Island site to 60 years. Xcel is also submitting a request to increase the power generation of each reactor by 80 MW, bringing...

U.S. department of engery (DOE).(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The. U.S. Department of Engery (DOE) announced plans to issue loan guarantees in two stages this summer for up to $38.5 billion for projects that use advanced technologies that avoid, reduce or sequester emissions of air pollutants and...

Enexus energy corp.(Business Briefs)(EquaGen L.L.C.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Entergy Corp. selected Enexus Energy Corp. as the new name of the independent, publicly traded nuclear power company it plans to spin off later this year, and EquaGen L.L.C. as the name of. the new joint venture Entergy and Enexus will copown...

Thermal Engineering International Inc.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Thermal Engineering International Inc. was awarded a contract by Siemens Power Generation Inc. to supply the feedwater heaters for Longview Power's supercritical cycle pulverized. coal-fired mine-mouth generating facility in Maidsvilie, W.Va....

Curtiss-wright corp.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Curtiss-Wright Corp received orders from Westinghouse Electric Co. to. provide four Generation II reactor coolant pumps and pump seals supporting the. completion of Unit 2 of the Tennessee Valley Authority Watts . Bar nuclear power plant as...

Westinghouse Electric Co.(Construction & Contracts)(South Carolina Electric and Gas Co.)(The Shaw Group Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. reached an agreement with Westinghouse Electric Co. and The Shaw Group Inc. authorizing the purchase of long-lead-time materials for up to two new Westinghouse AP1000. nuclear electric generating units. The...

Westinghouse Electric Co.(Construction & Contracts)(Progress Energy Florida Inc.)(The Shaw Group Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Progress Energy Florida * a-unit "of Progress Energy, said it signed a letter of intent with Westinghouse Electric Co. and The Shaw Group Inc.'s Power Group authorizing the purchase of long-lead-time materials for up to two Westinghouse AP1000...

Marsulex environmental technologies.(Construction & Contracts)(Marsulex Environmental Technologies got a contract for design, supply and instal a wet flue gas desulfurization system)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Marsulex Environmental Technologies has been awarded a contract by Minnkota Power Cooperative to design, supply and instal a wet flue gas desulfurization system and lime preparation system at its lignite-fired, Milton R.Young Station near...

Babcock Power Environmental Inc.(Construction & Contracts)(Babcock Power Environmental Inc. has awared contract)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Babcock Power Environmental Inc. was awarded a $100 million contract to supply the wet flue gas desuifurization systems (WFGD) for South Carolina Electric *& Gas' coal-fired Wateree Station and Williams Station, both in South Carolina. The...

Kiewit and TIC-the Industrial Co.(Construction & Contracts)(DJ Power Partners)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... DJ Power Partners, a joint venture between Kiewit and TIC-The Industrial Co., signed a contract with PacifiCorp for the full engineering, procurement, construction and startup of a new dry flue gas desulfurization system and baghouse at...

Fluor corp.(Construction & Contracts.)(Luminant)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Fluor Corp. said it will provide construction and commissioning support to Luminant for a $100 million-plus contract for air quality control upgrades on its Sandow Plant Unit 4 in Texas. The Sandow Steam Electric Station Unit 4 is a...

Pacific Gas and Electric Co.(Construction & contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Pacific Gas and Electric Co. received approval from the California Energy Commission to build its 660 MW Colusa natural gas-fired generating station. The plant will be next to an existing PG&E natural gas compressor station, a 230 kV...

Korea electric power corp.(Construction & contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Korea Electric Power Corp. signed an agreement to build and operate a $500 million, 240 MW coal power plant in the Dominican Republic. The plant would cost the equivalent of $2,080/kW. The plant would replace a plant currently operated on fuel...

TransCanada corp.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... TransCanada Corp. plans to buy from National Grid plc control of the 2,480 MW Ravenswood Generating Facility in Queens, N.Y for US$2.8 billion (or $1,129/kW) plus closing adjustments (also see page 6). Ravenswood is a gas- and oil-fired...

Tennessee Valley Authority.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(Southaven Power LLC.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Tennessee Valley Authority agreed to buy a three-unit, 810 MW combined-cycle combustion turbine facility owned by Southaven Power LLC located in Southaven, Miss. The utility will pay $461.3 million, or $570/kW, for the natural gas-fired plant...

U.S. Geothermal Inc.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(Empire Geothermal Power LLC)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... U.S. Geothermal Inc. contracted with Michael B. Stewart and Empire Geothermal Power LLC to acquire a 3.6 MW geothermal plant and roughly 28,358 acres of geothermal energy leases and certain ground water rights in Nevada. The power plant,...

Maxim power corp.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(Pittsfield Generating Co.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Maxim Power Corp. is buying the Pittsfield Generating Co. and its 170 MW power plant in Pittsfield, Mass. from affiliates of GE Energy Financial Services for $52.9 million, or $311/KW. The facility is a 170 MW combined-cycle, dual-fuel power...

Tenaska capital management LLC.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(Hoosier Energy)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Tenaska Capital Management LLC, a unit of Omaha-based Tenaska Power Fund LP, announced the sale of Holland Energy, a665 MW generating station in Illinois, to Indiana electric cooperatives Wabash Valley Power and Hoosier Energy. TPF acquired...

Nevada Power Co.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Nevada Power Co. reached an agreement with Reliant Energy Inc. to buy Reliant's Bighorn Generating Station, a 598 MW natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant 35 miles from Las Vegas, Nev. The Sierra Pacific Resources business unit will pay...

Andy White.(People & Personnel)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Andy White is now chairman of the London-based World Nuclear Association (WNA), following his election by WNA members last year. White was recently appointed to head General Electric's New Energy Ventures business unit. White has 30 years of...

Michael Liebelson.(People & Personnel )(appointment at NRG Energy Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Michael Liebelson is joining NRG Energy as executive vice president and chief development officer for low-carbon technology. Liebelson will oversee NRG technology initiatives including coal gasification, carbon capture and sequestration and...

Latest steam turbine offerings enhance plant performance; Four OMEs discuss their companies' latest steam turbine designs, how those designs will improve plant performance and how they plan to meet upcoming market demands.(Discussion)
May 1, 2008... The growing demand for electricity and its increasing price are prompting generators to make more megawatts. Some are planning new plants, others are focused on getting the most out of existing baseload power plants and a few are pursuing both...

Meeting gas quality challenges.(American Gas Association predicts that 22 percent of the natural gas in pipelines will be supplied Supply and demand of liquefied natural gas)
May 1, 2008... The United States has enjoyed not only an ample supply of natural gas for many years, but natural gas of consistent quality. Demand, however, is growing rapidly and experts predict that it will soon outpace the consistent supply that has been...

A tool to calculate corrosion-related costs; Paint or hot-dip galvanize? this tool may help you decide.
May 1, 2008... A large percentage of a generating facility's budget is often dedicated to maintenance of steel structures, repairing or replacing steel because of corrosion. The use of hot-dip galvanized steel is already widely endorsed in the distribution...

The Evolution of Carbon Capture Technology (Part 2); Carbon capture may be the future, so technology development and testing are underway today.
May 1, 2008... Unless something dramatic happens to alter the political landscape within the next few years, it seems all but certain that coal-fired power plants will someday have to capture and sequester carbon dioxide ([CO.sub.2]) . Power Engineering...

Carbon capture at an existing power plant.(Coal-fired electric power plant usage Amine-based. CO. Scrubber )(Report)
May 1, 2008... DOE conducted a study evaluating the technical and economic feasibility of retrofitting an existing coal-fired electric power plant with [CO.sub.2] capture using "advanced amine-based" scrubbing at various levels of [CO.sub.2] capture (30...

An approach for plants to address INPO's Nuclear Safety Culture expectations.(Institute of Nuclear Power Operations)(Editorial)
May 1, 2008... The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) is a well-respected guiding influence in the nuclear power industry. It was created by nuclear power plant owners to be a self-policing authority aimed at achieving excellence in reactor safety...

Avoiding new source review when injecting activated carbon.(Field Notes)
May 1, 2008... Activated carbon injection (ACI) at the air-heater is an effective technique for controlling mercury emissions from coal-fired boilers. Therefore, many utilities are planning to use this technology to obtain the mercury reductions required by...

Thermally conductive silicone compound.(Products)
May 1, 2008... Bacon Industries has introduced a thermally conductive silicone compound. This compound is a filled silicone-based resin that cures to a resilient solid that has high thermal conductivity, good thermal stability and excellent electrical...

Plastic ball valves.(Products)
May 1, 2008... The new Series TBV2 Plastic Ball Valves by Dwyer Instruments Inc. are designed for use in chemical and wastewater applications. The valves are designed for manual on/off service of process pipelines. Units come in PVC or CPVC plastic bodies...

Flowmeters.(products)(Universal Flow Monitors Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Universal Flow Monitors Inc. introduces upgrades in Coolpoint vortex shedding flowmeters for totalization and improved consistency of cooling flows in power generation. CoolPoint flowmeters are designed to measure and monitor flows in...

Torque transducers.(Products)
May 1, 2008... S. Himmelstein and Co. announced the MCRT 48200V Series Digital Torquemeters. These compact, non-contact devices have full-scale ranges from 25 to 10,000 lbf-in (2.82 to 1,130 Nm). They output (+or-)10V or (+or-)5V analogs of torque, as well as...

Tank level sensor.(Products)
May 1, 2008... Red Valve Co. Series 40TL Tank Level Sensors are designed for sensing level in storage tanks. Designed for sewage, clean water, fuels, oils, etc., the 40TL Tank Level Sensor is not affected by foaming, ice and other conditions that can cause...

Slurry knife gate valve.(Products)(Red Valve Company Inc. has introduced DX Slurry Knife Gate Valve)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Red Valve Co. Inc. introduced the Series DX Slurry Knife Gate Valve, designed for heavy slurry applications in the power and mining industries. When the Series DX valve opens, the reinforced elastomer sleeves seal against each other. The...

Transparent receiver.(Products)
May 1, 2008... Pinpoint Laser Systems introduces a new transparent, Microgage 2D receiver designed for aligning production machinery and equipment. A narrow laser beam provides a measuring reference line and the new transparent receiver determines the...

Molybdate Analyzer.(Products)
May 1, 2008... Hach's new MO42 Molybdate Analyzer is designed to provide continuous and cost-effective monitoring (0 to 5 ppm) in industrial water analysis to minimize chemical over-feed and maximize corrosion control. Ideally designed for cooling towers and...

Mass flow meter.(Products)
May 1, 2008... The FlexMASSter ST98 Flow Meter Series from Fluid Components International now meets the Profibus-DP/-PA standards and includes its own Device Type Manager (DTM) software for use in large-scale process and plant automation systems. Fully...

Pneumatic torque gun.(Products)
May 1, 2008... The FLIP from HYTORC has a single-hand pistol grip and a run-down handle for pre-torque of fasteners for parallel joint closure with up to 1,800 rpm. Once the flange is pretorqued, a flip of the wrist turns the run-down handle into a reaction...

Absorbent pads.(Products)(Oil Eater has introduced a line of woven construction absorbent pads)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Oil Eater has introduced a line of woven construction absorbent pads made of natural plant by-products. These pads help companies to meet OSHA and EPA requirements. The line includes oil only pads and rolls, universal pads and rolls and...

Position sensor.(Products)(Airpot Corp. offered Position sensor)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Airpot Corp. announced the addition of a position sensing option to its line of Airpel non-stiction air cylinder actuators. The company offers non-contact electronic switching sensors from Sick Inc. using state-of-the-art GMR technology. For...

A huge, strange cloud that won't go away.(Generating Buzz)(United States. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Uncertainty over where the United States is headed on climate change looms large despite pressure from the public to get something done, FERC Commissioner Philip Moeller told an exec-level forum hosted by consultancy KEMA. [ILLUSTRATION...

Slow going on the [H.Sub.2].(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Four years ago, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order aimed at creating a network of hydrogen fueling stations where the state's motorists could fill up fuel cell cars. "Hundreds of hydrogen fueling stations will...

[CO.sub.2] cuts too optimistic?(carbon dioxide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Cutting global [CO.sub.2] emissions over the next hundred years may be tougher than was first thought, according to the journal Nature. Authors from the University of Colorado at Boulder, the National Center for Atmospheric Research and...