O&M

“Cyber-physical systems” are the next generation of closely integrated physical and cyber systems. Several critical systems such as the power grid, autonomous transportation systems, and process control systems are examples of cyber-physical systems. They are liable to be attacked by malicious agents who can compromise the sensor measurements being used to control them. Indeed, there […]

CIRCOR International, Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of differentiated technology products and sub-systems, highlights its broad range of pumps and valves product technologies for the hydrogen economy. High pressure valve technologies, control valves, and pumps from CIRCOR are all made for use in the hydrogen economy. CIRCOR’s primary isolation valves, certified in accordance with […]

Gaskets and fasteners are vital to plant reliability and efficiency. While basic nuts, bolts, and gaskets haven’t changed much over the years, some of the materials used in them have evolved and designs have

Condensation-induced water hammer (CIWH) is the term commonly used when describing a variety of transients that occur when water vapor is rapidly condensed by cold water. This article describes the various

To manage the challenges of today’s complex electrical power systems and tightening budgets, facility managers need to understand the critical connection between electrical commissioning and acceptance testing, and planning for lifecycle management. To assist in this responsibility, this article will review the scope of services required for each stage of electrical system lifecycle management, and […]

Thermal imaging is a vital tool for detecting defects and anomalies at solar power plants. However, capturing thermal images with handheld equipment is time-consuming and susceptible to human error. Unmanned

Control of work, or CoW, processes have a long heritage in the power and utilities sector, acting as an extension to an organization’s existing process safety management approaches. And these

(Updated—May 6, 2022) The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) over the past week separately expressed concerns about power supply uncertainties in the face of upcoming warmer-than-normal temperatures. MISO raised an alarm on April 28 when it said that it projects “insufficient firm resources” to cover the summer […]

Refractory maintenance, though vital, can often be a logistical and financial burden. This is especially true for power plants, cement plants, and other large facilities that rely on boilers, kilns, coolers, preheater towers, and risers for day-to-day operation. These facilities stand to lose many thousands of dollars a day in production if their refractory can’t […]

Concrete is the world ’s most widely used construction material—and also one of its greatest contributors to greenhouse gas. The root cause is cement production, which alone accounts for approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions. At this rate, successful strategies to lower concrete carbon output are especially significant. MCI® Technology is one of those simple […]

DARMSTADT, Germany (May 4, 2022) – Brüel & Kjær Vibro (B&K Vibro), one of the leading worldwide independent suppliers of condition monitoring solutions for rotating machinery, has delivered a range of product enhancements for its VCM-3/SETPOINT® offerings to deliver a single, integrated SETPOINT® condition monitoring system (CMS) solution. VCM-3 data can be fully integrated with VC-8000 data […]

A saw and track system that rapidly cuts through water wall boiler tube up to 4″ O.D. to produce highly accurate and perfectly straight cuts with no HAZ (heat affect zone) has been introduced by Esco Tool HOLLISTON, Mass., May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Esco Tool has introduced a saw and track system that rapidly […]

Moving from reactive to predictive maintenance requires the right tools for use by subject matter experts. As the power industry continues to advance from preventative to predictive maintenance, one thing is

Location-based information has played an important role in the utility industry for decades, but that history is just a prelude to the dramatically larger role it will play in the industry going forward

MONROE, Wash. (April 7, 2022) —  Aquajet, a global leader in Hydrodemolition machine manufacturing, offers a lineup of cutting-edge Hydrodemolition equipment for concrete repair and restoration in hydropower applications. Paired with the highly versatile Aqua Spine, Aquajet’s Aqua Cutter 710V Hydrodemolition robot increases productivity and safety for challenging concrete removal and surface preparation tasks on […]

Maintenance equipment and tools have always been important for plant operators. In the early days, the tools were likely made entirely of iron and steel, copper and brass, lead, leather, rubber, or glass. Some

Hazardous area solutions from foreign suppliers may not be tested to the same standards as those in general use across the U.S. It’s essential to understand there is tremendous liability to use those

The Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) system wanted to install solar power to save money on energy costs, reduce its carbon footprint, and demonstrate its commitment to sustainability for

Power plants are planning very large investments in generators fueled by hydrogen, methane, mixtures, or ammonia. While hydrogen has the environmental advantage of zero carbon emissions, it has many disadvantages in terms of physical characteristics and safety. The demand on the valves, compressors, burners, NOx control, and other air, water, energy (AWE) products and services […]

Did you know that Val-Matic’s Plug Valves have 100% port? An excellent choice when you have more than just water flowing through your system such as when slurries, grit or solids are present. Its eccentric action allows the plug to rotate and lift out of it seated position minimizing rubbing or scraping. Features such as […]

Michell Bearings has secured an order from ANDRITZ Hydro Canada to provide three sets of PTFE thrust pads for the Sir Adam Beck I hydropower station Situated close to Niagara Falls and operated by Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the station diverts water from the Niagara and Welland rivers which is then released into the lower […]

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., March 14, 2022 – The Gas Turbine Filtration Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation, the global leader in motion and control technologies, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its clearcurrent® filtration solution. Since it was first introduced one decade ago, clearcurrent continues to provide customers in the power generation industry with improved gas […]

I’ve come to depend on the navigation system in my car. It predicts traffic jams, gives me the fastest route, informs me of store hours, and even tells me where to get a burger. To give me this experience, the navigation system draws on multiple data sources, puts it into context, and presents it through […]

Xcel Energy is exploring a role as operator of the 462-MWe Carbon-Free Power Project (CFPP), potentially becoming a key member of the first-of-its-kind small modular reactor (SMR) power plant that is under development at an Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site in Idaho Falls. The development is another sizable step for the six-module NuScale Power VOYGR project. […]

An innovative software program, coupled with an experienced team of engineers, allows plant operators to evaluate creep and fatigue stress in components exposed to more frequent cycling, thereby identifying

Severe weather conditions have a tremendous impact on our power grid as well as downstream costs for people, property, and brands that are costly and time-consuming to recover from. For example, Entergy New

Anthony Perera The U.S. is facing a growing power crisis. Millions of Texans were left without power for weeks during the severe winter storms of February 2021. Fears of summer blackouts across the western U.S.  were amplified by droughts and extreme heat. Hurricane Ida left another 1 million people throughout Louisiana, New York, and New […]

The U.S. power network received attention for tragic reasons in 2021. From February 10 through 20, Texas suffered a severe power crisis due to a confluence of catastrophic winter storms. Failures occurred across all types of electricity generation facilities—natural gas, coal, and nuclear plants shut down, and wind turbines froze. Problems cascaded, as the compressors […]

Scale removal is an important maintenance activity on heat exchangers and other industrial water handling equipment. Over time, calcium carbonate from hard water builds up on the surfaces of pipes and heat exchangers, reducing water flow and heat-transfer efficiency. Harsh minerals and organic acids like muriatic acid are sure to solve the problem quickly but […]

DAVIDSON, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Teledyne FLIR Defense to supply unmanned systems and integrated solutions to the U.S. nuclear power market and Department of Energy (DOE). Mobile unmanned systems (MUS), including drones, robotics, and submersibles, play a critical role in industrial and defense applications […]