Engineering
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Nuclear
China Starts Up First Fourth-Generation Nuclear Reactor
The first of two units at China’s much-watched high-temperature gas-cooled modular pebble bed (HTR-PM) demonstration project was successfully connected to the grid on Dec. 20. The achievement marks a major
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O&M
Four Key Allies for Keeping Powerhouses in Top Condition
Today, power generators often don’t have the same in-house capabilities that they did in years past. Therefore, managing operations and maintenance at many facilities has become more difficult. Here are some
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Wind
Wind Power and Its Impact on Wildlife: A Look at Current Efforts to Minimize Harm
The energy transition is likely to result in the continued growth of wind energy project development, and by 2030 more than 224.07 GW across 47 states could be installed, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Along with the environmental benefits of replacing fossil-fuel power with wind power, this will undeniably affect songbirds, raptors, […]
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Press Releases
Burns & McDonnell Completes Construction of Three West Texas Energy Storage Projects Delivering 60 MWh of Capacity
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Jan. 19, 2022) — Burns & McDonnell has completed construction of three 10-MW/20-MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) in West Texas. The three project sites were constructed, commissioned and put into operation in just five months, delivering the project on schedule amid a volatile supply chain and logistics market. The batteries […]
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Coal
New Year’s Resolutions: 10 Ways to Improve Coal Power Plant Operations
The new year is obviously a time when many people reflect on the past and make resolutions for the future. Surveys have shown that exercising more, improving one’s diet, losing weight, and saving money are
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Nuclear
Darlington Nuclear Plant Will Get a BWRX-300 SMR as GE Hitachi Bags Lucrative OPG Selection
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) will build a GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at its Darlington Nuclear Station in Clarington, Ontario, marking a major triumph for the nuclear vendor in a stiff competition for the much-watched utility-scale project. OPG announced the selection of the GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMR over competitors X-energy […]
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Hybrid Power
Why Thermal Energy Storage Offers Hot Prospects for Power
Thermal energy storage (TES) is gaining interest and traction as a crucial enabler of reliable, secure, and flexible energy systems. The array of in-front-of-the-meter TES technologies under development
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Solar
Space-Based Solar Power May Be Closer Than You Think
The vision sounds far-fetched: If a kilometer-scale satellite could be outfitted with a hybrid array of photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) panels and launched into orbit 22,400 miles above
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Coal
Unit Flexibility and Asset Optimization: Helping Coal-Fired Power Plants Survive in a Renewables-Driven Market
Many coal-fired power plants are being asked to ramp output up and down regularly, and often to levels less than units were originally designed to operate at. Implementing a Unit Flexibility and Asset
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Nuclear
Industry’s First Complete Accident-Tolerant Nuclear Assembly in Operation at Calvert Cliffs
The first complete accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) assembly is now operational at Exelon’s Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 in Maryland, bringing an industry-led quest to accelerate commercialization of the new nuclear technology closer to fruition. Inserted during the plant’s recent spring refueling outage, the lead fuel assembly (LFA) features a Framatome PROtect fuel design […]
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News
Quick-Mounted Lightweight Tower for Emergency Work on Power Lines
We have all experienced power outages; accidents, alas, do happen. The length of time it takes to restore the power supply always comes to the fore, because in addition to the millions of dollars in potential losses for the industry, a prolonged outage can have social consequences, especially if homes, schools, hospitals, and other vital […]
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Hydrogen
Ready for the Energy Transition: Hydrogen Considerations for Combined Cycle Power Plants
Following the European Green Deal, the European Union has set the objective to become climate-neutral by 2050, much like the U.S. and many other countries that joined the Paris Agreement. To meet this goal, greenhouse gas emissions cannot exceed capture and storage, meaning that fossil fuels will unavoidably need to be phased out. In power […]
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News
Gas Turbine Technology Advances That Could Boost Their Future Relevance
Gas turbines have grown into a hallmark of the modern power system for their high efficiency, reliability, operational flexibility, fuel flexibility, and low-emission power options. But if gas turbines are to
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Hydrogen
Environmental and Permitting Considerations for Decarbonizing with Hydrogen
Many experts believe hydrogen will play a key role in the effort to decarbonize the world’s energy supply. However, current hydrogen production methods release a lot of carbon dioxide, and carbon capture
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O&M
Effect of Eddy Grooves on Tilting Pad Journal Bearings
Tilting pad journal bearings are used in turbomachinery such as turbo compressors, turbo gears, gas turbines, or steam turbines. There is an ongoing and growing customer demand for bearings with increased
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Commentary
A Life Worth Living
I think it’s fairly common for people to reflect on the meaning of life from time to time. Often, those thoughts arise following the death of a loved one or the passing of some particularly influential person. Recently, POWER received an obituary for Ronald Stanley Redfield. Mr. Redfield was said to have been a lifelong […]
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T&D
Frost-Heaving Problems and Solutions for Power Engineers
For the progressive development of modern civilization, access to minerals is critical. The main recoverable reserves of such minerals are often located at high latitudes. For example, a significant number of the world’s hydrocarbon deposits are located above 60 degrees North latitude. Our company, Noyabrskie Power Grids, is also located in this area, and its […]
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Gas
SCR Design Considerations: Retrofit Challenges and Ratcheting Emissions Level Requirements
Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) projects often focus on the final NOx emissions levels achieved, but a successful project is about much more than that. Facility owners must consider the complete scope associated with an SCR installation, from supply chain issues and ultra-low NOx emissions levels to customization requirements associated with a given application’s pressure drop […]
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Press Releases
Burns & McDonnell Contracted to Build 250-MW of Solar Projects in Wisconsin
KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Burns & McDonnell is providing the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for three Alliant Energy solar projects in Wisconsin. The projects include Bear Creek (50-MW/ac / 64-MW/dc), North Rock (50-MW/ac / 64-MW/dc), and Wood County (150-MW/ac / 198-MW/dc) and are part of the path to generating cleaner energy in the […]
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Engineering
3D Printing: More Than Just a Cool Process, It Offers Real Benefits
3D printing is a process used to create an object by sequentially adding build material in successive cross-sections, one stacked upon another. It is a form of additive manufacturing. Once considered more of a novelty, 3D printing has evolved into an incredibly valuable production method used to create very intricate designs, including gas turbine components […]
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Ocean/Marine
A Big Splash for Marine Power: Minesto’s Underwater Kite
After more than a decade of development, Minesto’s novel underwater “kite” technology kicked off commercial operation with a 100-kW project in the Faroe Islands. Despite some hiccups, the pioneering
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Hydro
Red Rock Hydroelectric Project: Successfully Generating New Power from a Pre-Existing Dam
There are challenges to adding power generating capability to a dam built for flood control, but the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project shows that the obstacles are not insurmountable. With the right team, success