Power Engineering articles from September 2007

Power Engineering archives from September 2007

IGCC in a box.(Opinion)
September 1, 2007... James M. Childress, executive director of the Gasification Technologies Council, said that gasification development between 2004 and 2010 was a baseball game, then China would be leading the United States by the score of 29-0. ...

Wind turbines' magnetic appeal.(View On Renewables)
September 1, 2007... Adistinct trend is emerging in the manufacture of wind turbine generators--the use of permanent magnets (PM). At the American Wind Energy Association's Global Windpower2007 Conference and Exhibition held in Los Angeles in June, for example, a...

How much is that power plant in the window?(Industry In Focus)
September 1, 2007... Asking how much a new power plant is going to cost these days is a lot like asking a middle-aged woman about her age. The answer is almost certainly to be on the low side, and even with strategic nips and tucks to drive the number down, it's...

A nuclear future for water supply.(NUCLEAR REACTIONS)
September 1, 2007... This past summer brought uncommon focus on the mal-distribution of water in the United States. Forest and brush fires raged in the tinder-dry western parts of the country. At the same time, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma suffered flooding as...

COAL-GEN attendees hear there's no magic bullet.(Startup)
September 1, 2007... Those attending COAL-GEN 2007 in August heard there is no magic bullet for meeting the formidable energy and infrastructure needs facing the US. More than 2,700 people and 250-plus exhibitors attended the three-day event in Milwaukee. ...

Mojave project aims to cool solar cost.(Startup)
September 1, 2007... It would be hard to imagine a more ideal venue for solar-generated electricity than the Mojave Desert. The 50,400 square-mile expanse of high elevation desert the size of Alabama is located close to electric load centers in California and...

PSEG Power has awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management contract to The Shaw Group to install mercury control, FGD and SCR systems on its 600 MW Unit 2 at the Hudson Generating Station in New Jersey.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... PSEG Power has awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management contract to The Shaw Group to install mercury control, FGD and SCR systems on its 600 MW Unit 2 at the Hudson Generating Station in New Jersey. The work, set for...

Siemens Power Generation will supply two entrained-flow gasifiers including gasifier island design packages for the Secure Energy Gasification Plant in Decatur, Ill.(Construction & Contracts)
September 1, 2007... Siemens Power Generation will supply two entrained-flow gasifiers including gasifier island design packages for the Secure Energy Gasification Plant in Decatur, Ill., scheduled to be completed in 2009 and designed to produce 20 billion cubic...

AREVA will procure the second set of heavy forgings that could be used by AmerenUE in an Evolutionary Power Reactor.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... AREVA will procure the second set of heavy forgings that could be used by AmerenUE in an Evolutionary Power Reactor, which, should Ameren decide to build it, would be among first new nuclear power plants in the U.S. in 30 years.

Toshiba unit Westinghouse Electric has finalized an agreement to supply four AP 1000 third-generation nuclear reactors to China's State Nuclear Power Technology Company.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Toshiba unit Westinghouse Electric has finalized an agreement to supply four AP 1000 third-generation nuclear reactors to China's State Nuclear Power Technology Company. Shaw Group is Westinghouse Electric's consortium partner for the project.

CH2M HILL subsidiary LG Constructors will provide engineering, procurement and construction for the 535 MW Besicorp/Empire combined cycle plant in Rensselaer, N.Y.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... CH2M HILL subsidiary LG Constructors will provide engineering, procurement and construction for the 535 MW Besicorp/Empire combined cycle plant in Rensselaer, N.Y. Projected cost for the plant, which will have peaking capacity of 635 MW, is...

EPRI's Coal Fleet for Tomorrow program has contracted Foster Wheeler Italiana to conduct a feasibility/optimization study covering engineering and economic assessment of IGCC coal plants for near-term deployment.(Construction & Contracts)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... EPRI's Coal Fleet for Tomorrow program has contracted Foster Wheeler Italiana to conduct a feasibility/optimization study covering engineering and economic assessment of IGCC coal plants for near-term deployment. Foster Wheeler will undertake...

Fluor Corp. said Toshiba Corp. awarded its power group a contract to provide engineering, procurement and construction-related services for two nuclear reactors planned for a South Texas project.(Construction & Contracts)
September 1, 2007... Fluor Corp. said Toshiba Corp. awarded its power group a contract to provide engineering, procurement and construction-related services for two nuclear reactors planned for a South Texas project. Financial details were not disclosed. Fluor will...

NRG Energy Inc. and STP Nuclear Operating Co. signed a project services agreement with Toshiba Corp. regarding two new nuclear units planned for the South Texas Project location.(Business Briefs)
September 1, 2007... NRG Energy Inc. and STP Nuclear Operating Co. signed a project services agreement with Toshiba Corp. regarding two new nuclear units planned for the South Texas Project location. Toshiba will provide design, engineering, construction and...

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reached a preliminary agreement with NRG Energy Inc.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reached a preliminary agreement with NRG Energy Inc. to cut annual emissions of sulfur dioxide by an estimated 4,300 tons, nitrogen oxides by an estimated 2,900 tons and...

Washington Group International was selected by Nuclear Power Qinshan Joint Venture Co. LTD.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Washington Group International was selected by Nuclear Power Qinshan Joint Venture Co. LTD (NPQJVC) to provide project management consulting services related to NPQJVC's nuclear power activities in China.

AES Corp. began commercial operation of its 233 MW Buffalo Gap 2 wind farm expansion near Abilene, Texas.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... AES Corp. began commercial operation of its 233 MW Buffalo Gap 2 wind farm expansion near Abilene, Texas. The company said this expansion makes the wind farm the state's third largest with a total wind power capacity of 354 MW.

Constellation Energy and EDF have entered into a joint venture--UniStar Nuclear Energy -to further develop, own and operate new nuclear projects in the U.S. and Canada.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Constellation Energy and EDF have entered into a joint venture--UniStar Nuclear Energy -to further develop, own and operate new nuclear projects in the U.S. and Canada. Constellation and EDF will each own a 50 percent interest in UniStar...

ConocoPhillips and Peabody Energy will build a facility at a mine where Peabody already has access to large coal reserves and an existing infrastructure to convert coal to pipeline-grade natural gas using ConocoPhillips' E-GAS technology.(Business Briefs)
September 1, 2007... ConocoPhillips and Peabody Energy will build a facility at a mine where Peabody already has access to large coal reserves and an existing infrastructure to convert coal to pipeline-grade natural gas using ConocoPhillips' E-GAS technology....

BP Alternative Energy and Powerspan will develop and commercialize Powerspan's ECO2 carbon dioxide capture technology.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... BP Alternative Energy and Powerspan will develop and commercialize Powerspan's ECO2 carbon dioxide capture technology. The deal includes pilot and commercial scale-up activities that may include joint development of largescale demonstration...

One of the largest CT-121 wet flue gas desulfurization system in North America has gone into service at Dayton Power & Light's 615 MW Killen Station Unit 2 in Ohio.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... One of the largest CT-121 wet flue gas desulfurization system in North America has gone into service at Dayton Power & Light's 615 MW Killen Station Unit 2 in Ohio. The system was engineered and installed by Black & Veatch. The firm is working...

The first wind turbine blades manufactured at Siemens' new blade factory in Fort Madison, Iowa, left the facility in mid August.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The first wind turbine blades manufactured at Siemens' new blade factory in Fort Madison, Iowa, left the facility in mid August. The blades for the SWT-2.3-93 wind turbines are bound for the Sweetwater Wind Farm, west of Abilene, Texas. Each...

GE Energy shipped its 1,000th F-class gas turbine to Saudi Arabia.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... GE Energy shipped its 1,000th F-class gas turbine to Saudi Arabia. The Frame 7FA gas turbine will be one of four installed at the Saudi Electricity Company's Riyadh Power Plant No. 8 expansion project in Saudi Arabia's Central Province.

Westar Energy, Inc. plans to spend $465 million to reduce regulated emissions from its coal-fired Jeffrey Energy Center.(Business Briefs)
September 1, 2007... Westar Energy, Inc. plans to spend $465 million to reduce regulated emissions from its coal-fired Jeffrey Energy Center. The project is aimed at meeting requirements of the Clean Air Visibility Rule and reduce emissions over the utility's...

Westinghouse Electric Co. will purchase IST Nuclear of South Africa.(Mergers & Acquisitions)
September 1, 2007... Westinghouse Electric Co. will purchase IST Nuclear of South Africa, a leading provider of services and systems for the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor The acquired company will operate under the name Westinghouse Electric South Africa.

DTE Energy Services and ArcLight Capital Partners.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... DTE Energy Services and ArcLight Capital Partners will sell their interests in the 328 MW Crete Energy Venture and the 656 MW Lincoln Generating facilities near Chicago to Tenaska Capital Management.

American Electric Power said it plans to sell its 50 percent interest in the Sweeny Cogeneration plant in Texas to ConocoPhillips for approximately $80 million.(Mergers & Acquisitions)
September 1, 2007... American Electric Power said it plans to sell its 50 percent interest in the Sweeny Cogeneration plant in Texas to ConocoPhillips for approximately $80 million, including working capital items and the assumption of project debt. The sale is...

Babcock & Brown bought Celanese Corp.'s Pampa, Texas facility where it intends to develop as much as 800 MW of coal-fired generation.(Mergers & Acquisitions)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Babcock & Brown bought Celanese Corp.'s Pampa, Texas facility where it intends to develop as much as 800 MW of coal-fired generation. Terms were not disclosed. Celanese began operations at the Pampa site in 1952. Joint operations at the plant...

WorleyParsons has hired Doris F. Galvin as Vice President and Power Sector Strategy Director for the company's U.S. and Latin America regions.(People & Personnel)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... WorleyParsons has hired Doris F. Galvin as Vice President and Power Sector Strategy Director for the company's U.S. and Latin America regions. She will lead the development of the power strategy based on the overall global power strategy,...

WorleyParsons has hired John Kovach as Director of Business Development--USA Nuclear, and Jeffrey L. Armbruster as Business Development Specialist for Power Delivery Services in the USA.(People & Personnel)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... WorleyParsons has hired John Kovach as Director of Business Development--USA Nuclear, and Jeffrey L. Armbruster as Business Development Specialist for Power Delivery Services in the USA. Mr. Kovach has over 25 years of nuclear industry...

So you want to build a power plant: with all the barriers thrown up to block new capacity, it's a wonder any new plants get built at all. Experts warn it won't get any easier, but say success is possible.
September 1, 2007... As if traditional barriers such an environmental opposition and NIMBYism weren't enough, the challenges to building any kind of power plant have increased further with recent and rapid escalation of engineering, construction and material costs....

Avoiding underground utility conflicts: using subsurface utility engineering and 3-dimensional underground imaging before construction can be a smart, cost-effective design move.
September 1, 2007... Imagine this scenario: A power generating plant's planned environmental upgrade includes the installation of new concrete support foundations. The most recent records of existing underground facilities are not recent enough and fail to show a...

Cyber security in the control room.
September 1, 2007... Operating nuclear power plants, as well as many large, base-load coal-fired power plants, were designed before modern digital controls, networking and communication technologies were available. As these plants age, obsolete analog technology is...

The nuclear renaissance's future.
September 1, 2007... Growing demand for electricity coupled with concern about global warming are promoting the idea of new nuclear power plant construction worldwide. Like other countries, the United States is looking at nuclear power as a solution to its growing...

Modeling multi-pollutant compliance options for power companies.
September 1, 2007... Emissions control regulations in the United States now require that utilities consider retrofit of reduction technologies for multiple pollutants at all plants in their fleet. Regulatory requirements vary from state to state. Determining an...

An old idea is new again.(DG Update)
September 1, 2007... An old approach to energy efficiency--one especially popular in Europe and other parts of the world--appears poised for a renaissance in the United States. A confluence of trends, market forces and energy prices could make district...

Alloy 33 weld overlay extends boiler tube life and saves money.(Field Notes)
September 1, 2007... To comply with ever-tightening restrictions on emissions of N[O.sub.x] (NO, N[O.sub.2], and so on), special "low N[O.sub.x]" burners have been installed in many coal-fired utility boilers. These special burners reduce the combustion region in...

Optical scanning system.(Products)
September 1, 2007... NVision Inc. has introduced the MAXOS optical scanning system. The MAXOS scanner uses a non-contact probe consisting of a point of white light that allows the collection of individual points at a rate of 70 per second. Like a touch probe CMM,...

Spatial data capture tool.(Products)
September 1, 2007... Leica Geosystems and COADE Inc. have introduced the CADWorx fieldPipe, a spatial data capture tool that works within Leica fieldPro, a field-based plug-in to CAD products, to interface with total stations in the field. This product gathers 3-D...

Abrasive wheel.(Products)
September 1, 2007... Rex-cut Products Inc. has introduced an all-purpose, flexible mesh abrasive wheel for the grinding and light sanding of fiberglass tanks, vessels, hulls and composite structures. Sigma-Screen Multipurpose Discs are depressed center Type 27...

Sodium Monitor.(Products)
September 1, 2007... Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has introduced the Thermo Scientific Orion 2111XP Sodium Monitor. This product is built to withstand the demands of continuous on-line use in severe conditions and is suited for a variety of applications around the...

Wrenches.(Products)
September 1, 2007... Stanley-Proto has introduced two new lines of Engineers' Wrenches and Leverage Wrenches; it has also expanded its lineup of striking wrenches. These wrenches are made for use in high torque applications, and each of the wrench types has a...

Antimicrobial earplugs.(Products)
September 1, 2007... North Safety Products has introduced the industry's only reusable earplug made with an antimicrobial agent to protect from both noise hazards and potentially degrading microorganisms. The antimicrobial agent will not wear out or wash off. The...

Pump training.(Products)
September 1, 2007... Volk & Associates offers a comprehensive short course on proper pump application, selection, operation, troubleshooting and maintenance. Topics covered include basic and advanced hydraulic principles; pump selection and sizing; pump system...

Edgewound coils.(Products)
September 1, 2007... Edgewound coils used for high and low voltage AC and DC motors, generators and transformers are available from Swiger Coils Systems Inc. The coils are made of copper and manufactured using a 900-pound press. This pressure ensures coil flatness...

Mechanical Vibration Switch.(Products)
September 1, 2007... The new Model 685A07 Mechanical Vibration Switch from the IMI Sensors Division of PCB Piezotronics (PCB) provides a solution for continuous vibration monitoring. This product comes standard with an external pushbutton reset and does not require...

Air pollution control technology.(Products)
September 1, 2007... Tri-Mer Corp. has introduced CCS ("Cloud Chamber System") technology. This product is regarded as the first technology to demonstrate high removal efficiencies when operating at the flow volumes typical for large diesel engines. It is effective...

Polymer makedown system.(Products)
September 1, 2007... Neptune Chemical Pump Co. Inc. has introduced an explosion-proof polymer makedown system for preparation, activation and injection of liquid polymers in water and wastewater treatment applications. The system can produce dilute solution (0.1...

Mass Flow Meter.(Products)
September 1, 2007... FCI's MT91 Multi-Point Mass Flow Meter is designed for rugged CEMS pollution control applications. The combination of FCI's no-moving parts thermal mass sensor technology and its chromium carbide coated sensor assembly delivers flow measurement...

Monitoring device.(Products)
September 1, 2007... A new monitoring device to verify and validate the operation of tank cleaning systems has been introduced by Spraying Systems Co. SprayCheck TW is the first monitoring device to work from the exterior and require no modification of the tank....

High water blues.(Generating Buzz)(Santa Barbara City Council)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A group in Santa Barbara, Calif. wants $12,000 in city money to paint 12-inch high blue lines on street curbs to mark how high water levels would rise if ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland melt due to global warming. [ILLUSTRATION...

Fair weather friend?(Generating Buzz)
September 1, 2007... FPL Group Inc.'s second-quarter earnings may help answer the question: What happens when the wind doesn't blow? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Seems that while overall earnings rose 72 percent to $405 million, FPL faced the worst weather...

Three pickups and a tractor.(Generating Buzz)
September 1, 2007... Already the site of one of the nation's first and largest carbon capture/sequestration plants, North Dakota can now boast about one of the first wind-to-hydrogen power projects in the U.S. A joint effort between energy companies, research...