June 2023 Previews
COVER FOCUS: Connected Plant
Emerging Digital Technologies
Digitalization, one of the most under-appreciated levers of the energy transition, is seeing a new burst of innovation that could have a concerted impact on component efficiency, reliability, and safety at power plants—but also optimize grid operations and improve retail-level utility operations. In this article, POWER will explore notable efforts under development to resolve longstanding or complex power industry issues through artificial intelligence, sensors, monitoring, simulation, blockchain, digital twins, and data analytics.
FEATURES
Coal Users’ Group Plant of the Year
Rawhide Unit 1 is a 280-MW coal-fueled power plant with a tangential-fired boiler. The unit includes a spray dryer absorber and baghouse for emissions control. Among its greatest accomplishments are a 436-day continuous run, an amazing 96.6% capacity factor one year (2013), and enviable heat rate, safety, and emissions performance records. The plant has incorporated many improvements over the years and was named the Coal Users’ Group (CUG) Plant of the Year in 2023.
Wind Technology
New technology continues to emerge as the wind power industry evolves, with companies building ever-larger and more powerful turbines, along with new designs for residential, and commercial and industrial applications. Offshore wind is being installed in deeper waters, utilizing floating platform technology. Bladeless rooftop turbines use advanced aerodynamics, and vertical-axis turbines can withstand hurricane-force winds, making them well-suited for offshore locations.
Five Reasons Why Power Plant Owners Should Consider Repurposing Their Assets
As a result of societal demands and legal regulations, more and more plant operators and owners are being forced to change the way they generate electricity. Often, the question is what to do with legacy plants that aren’t suitable for the future energy system due to high CO2 emissions and low operational flexibility. Today, modern technologies and creative approaches generate numerous opportunities to convert existing power plants into modern assets that are economical and future-proof, and that will contribute to a reliable and sustainable power supply.
Rethinking Energy Reliability with Modern Power Systems
Many experts recognize that inverter-based resources in the form of utility-scale wind, solar, and battery energy storage systems connected to the electric power grid have direct reliability impacts to the overall bulk power system. This article explains measures that must be put in place to mitigate risks, quantifies the associated costs, and helps the power generation industry budget accordingly.
Peaking Power Plant Restored to Peak Performance
For peaking facilities, having the ability to run at full capacity when the summer season begins is vital. When a plant in Louisiana started to experience tripping on a GE Frame 7A6 generator attached to one of its gas turbines in early March 2021, management knew there was a serious and time-sensitive problem. They quickly
commissioned a generator rotor rewind to address the issue. The work was completed in 45 days (three days ahead of schedule), extending the life of the rotor by 20 years and improving reliability by about 80%.
Vulnerabilities in the U.S. Electric Power System
The U.S. power grid is one of the most critical systems in the world. The country’s financial well-being, public health, and national security, among other things, depend on it to be a reliable source of electricity to industries, commercial entities, residential facilities, government, and military organizations. Considering the complexity and age of most of the equipment in the U.S. power system, its performance is extraordinary. However, future system reliability may be challenged by the effects of climate change, increasing supplies of renewable energy, and potential cyberattacks.
Modernizing the Energy Grid Using Network Technology to Enable Distributed, Reliable, and Flexible Power
Today, commercial buildings can bring more clean energy into cities and owners can get paid to do it. Modern network technology can transform the built environment into power sources that generate, store, and trade clean energy. A well-designed system can open the energy marketplace to real estate owners and operators so that they can generate new revenue and maximize investment returns, providing decarbonization and resiliency services to the grid, tenants, and surrounding communities.