Una Nowling, PE
Articles By Una
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FictionMarnie Surfaceblow: The Scrubber Corrosion Case: How Manganese Disrupted Operations
Plant wastewater is not only an increasing environmental concern, but improper monitoring and treatment may lead to unexpected operations and maintenance problems as well. “I have a question Mrs
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FictionMarnie Surfaceblow: The Underperforming Air-Cooled Condenser Mystery
Maya and Marnie troubleshoot air-cooled condenser performance issues at a New Mexico power plant. Bad sensor data contributes to poor decisions, making the problem more complex. “Air-cooled condensers [ACCs]
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PowerMarnie Surfaceblow: Deploying New Technologies May Also Produce New Challenges
As science and technology advance, so too does plant engineering. Ensure you’re ready for the challenge by staying informed. It was only a half-hour call, but Marnie Surfaceblow, vice president of
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O&MMarnie Surfaceblow: Know What You Know and Know What You Don’t
Not everyone has to be an expert. Having a goal to do the right thing, listening to your team, and seeking experienced help often results in an expert solution. Wayne Fritz, the manager of a struggling ammonia
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BiomassMarnie Surfaceblow: It’s Ghostbusting Time … Again
Everything happens for a reason, and fantastic events often have mundane causes. Two women silently waited in their rental car next to a guard hut, sheltered under spreading banana tree leaves. Sunlight
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FictionMarnie Surfaceblow: Marnie’s Mailbag—Questions on Coal Ash and Tritium Lighting
Marnie and Maya answer real questions from readers. “Ma’am, don’t you think you should take a rest?” asked Maya Sharma, lead field engineer of Surfaceblow & Associates International. “But how can
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FictionMarnie Surfaceblow: What Helped Make Marnie, Marnie
Negativity can push you off your course in life. This is when Marnie first pushed back. “Any signal, Maya?” asked Marnie Surfaceblow, vice president of Surfaceblow & Associates International, as she
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FictionMarnie Surfaceblow: Bitter Rivalry Ends in Collaboration
Never forget the human factors that can impact safety and success at every level of a project. Marnie Surfaceblow, vice president of Surfaceblow & Associates International, watched the Maharashtra
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PowerMarnie Surfaceblow: Maya Bucks the Trends
Big data holds many secrets to help operate your power plant safer and more efficiently. But are you really seeing the entire landscape of your problem? Don’t miss the forest while focusing on the trees
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PowerMarnie Surfaceblow: Marnie Finds a Pest
Small clues can sometimes help reveal larger problems. Don’t ignore unusual events and remember not to let history repeat. “One unit’s offline, and it’s about to become two, right as power prices and