O&M

  • Adding Fog for Power Augmentation and Emission Reduction

    A pilot project was initiated by China’s largest energy provider to test the effectiveness of fog-based power augmentation for a gas turbine at a compressor station. The system provided a significant

  • Power Plants of the Future: 21st Century Coal-Fired Steam Generator

    Coal-fired plants have been powering the electric grid for more than a hundred years, but the technology being used in them is not stagnant, as many advancements have been made. One new design—the Clean

  • Equipment Showcase: Coatings and Corrosion Control

    A major part of maintaining a power plant at peak efficiency is dealing with or preventing damage from corrosion and corrosive objects that can enter air and water intake systems, including pipes and fluid

  • MET TECHNOLOGY WINS FGD AWARD IN INDIA

    Lebanon, Pennsylvania – July 24, 2019 | Marsulex Environmental Technologies (“MET”) has announced the award of a contract for flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems by an Indian government power company at its thermal power plant in the State of Jharkhand. MET’s licensee for India, Thermax Limited, has concluded the order for two FGD units at […]

  • BrandSafway adds precast refractory shapes to United States offerings

    BrandTech™ Precast Solutions deliver results to customers 90% faster Kennesaw, Georgia, USA, July 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) –Industrial Specialists by BrandSafway recently added a hot wire CNC (computer numerical control) foam-cutting machine to its portfolio of offerings, giving the company the ability to cut precast refractory forms within just hours (as compared to days, weeks […]

  • Digital leader ABB provides Enel Green Power with predictive software for sustainable hydro operations

    ABB is partnering with Enel Green Power to deliver innovative predictive maintenance solutions that will lower maintenance costs and transform the performance, reliability and energy efficiency of its hydropower plants throughout Italy. The three-year contract will enable 33 of Enel Green Power’s hydroelectric plants, comprised of about 100 units, to move from hours-based maintenance to […]

  • Babcock & Wilcox Awarded Patent For Innovative Coal Ash Conveyor

    B&W’s Submerged Grind Conveyor enables realization of operation efficiencies and maintenance costs improvements not available with traditional high-pressure sluice systems Design also helps customers meet proposed Coal Combustion Residual rules and Effluent Limitations Guidelines (BARBERTON, Ohio – July 8, 2019) – The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W) has been awarded a United States patent for […]

  • Lithium-Ion Batteries: Costs Down, Benefits Up [PODCAST]

    The price of lithium-ion batteries has plummeted over the past decade. Battery pack prices averaged $1,160 per kWh in 2010, according to BloombergNEF, but they dropped to $176 per kWh last year, and experts suggest they could be less than $100 by 2024. Tony Cooper, general manager of Green Cubes Technology’s Motive division, was a […]

  • A Clean Sweep for Invasive Mussel Biofouling

    The rapid proliferation of dreissena rostriformis bugensis—the quagga mussel—has major implications for power plant reliability. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation installed a groundbreaking solution at Parker

  • Ultrasonic Testing for the Power Generation Industry

    Ultrasonic nondestructive testing, also known as ultrasonic NDT or simply UT, is a method of characterizing the thickness or internal structure of a test piece using high-frequency sound waves. The

  • PVD Coatings Extend Life of Gas and Steam Turbine Components

    Industrial gas turbine (IGT) manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) personnel are continually seeking new ways to improve the performance and longevity of critical components. High-value

  • BrandSafway introduces BrandTech™ Power Distribution

    Innovative, new PDU revolutionizes circuit breaker design and reduces equipment costs by up to 40 percent Kennesaw, Georgia, USA, June 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) –BrandSafway is introducing the new BrandTech™ Power Distribution Unit, an Underwriters Laboratories (UL)/Canadian Standards Association (CSA) International-listed power distribution unit (PDU) with circuit breaker (CB) and ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). It […]

  • How to Monitor and Predict Operational Performance with Digital Analytics [PODCAST]

    Power plants are capturing operational data in ever-increasing amounts. However, analyzing all the data can be challenging. A number of tools are available that can help. In this episode of The POWER Podcast, two experts from one technology provider explain how big data can be analyzed to identify trends and create actionable information to solve […]

  • Flender and Wikov announce service cooperation

    • Joint service for gear units from other manufacturers • Fast and competent repair centers • Global presence and reach Flender GmbH, Bocholt and Wikov Industry a.s., Prague announce a comprehensive service cooperation for gear units from other manufacturers. Both companies look forward to this long-term and sustainable partnership. Plant operators will benefit from Flender’s […]

  • Wärtsilä and Summit sign Bangladesh’s biggest-ever service agreement to maintain Summit’s 464-MW power plants

    The technology group Wärtsilä has signed two major maintenance management and operational advisory agreements with Summit Group, the largest independent power producer (IPP) in Bangladesh and longstanding partner. The seven-year agreements represent the biggest ever signed service deals, in terms of MW generation, in the Bangladesh energy sector. The orders were booked by Wärtsilä in Q2, […]

  • The Future Direction of Respiratory Protection

    An estimated 5 million U.S. workers wear respirators. Employers are required to provide National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-certified respirators using a written respiratory protection program enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Design and manufacturing focus on fit, comfort, and ease of use across product lines incorporating advanced technologies, such […]

  • How to Hire the Best Talent

    It’s no secret that the power industry workforce is aging and managers are struggling to find qualified candidates interested in filling open positions. In my April column, I referenced a

  • Piloting Boiler Startup at Lightspeed

    Many combined cycle power plants are being operated as peaker plants, rather than as baseload units. That can pose a problem for economizer safety valves. Pilot-operated safety valves offer several advantages

  • Coal Power Plant Improves Pump Seal Performance

    A German power plant experienced premature wear and excessive seal corrosion in its boiler feed circuit and flue gas desulfurization slurry pumps. By upgrading the performance of the pump seals and

  • Temperature Monitoring Protects Low-Voltage Assets

    Early detection of increased temperatures helps avoid power distribution asset-related failures and unplanned shutdowns. Wireless technologies make implementing this predictive maintenance solution practical

  • Innovative Fabric Structures Offer Power Plants Options

    The design of a power plant often revolves around efficiency and mapping out operations in a manner that decreases unnecessary expenditures, while increasing productivity. This challenge produces the need for

  • Transformer Reliability: An Overview of Data-Driven Decision-Making

    Are you properly quantifying and assessing the health of your plant’s transformers? Oil testing, infrared scanning, electrical testing, and inspection provide a much deeper understanding of what is happening

  • Equipment Showcase: Valves, Pipes, and Fittings

    Proper valves, pipes, and fittings are important for the successful operation of power generation facilities. This equipment includes products with versatile designs to establish effective joining and sealing

  • Harrington Hoists, Inc. Introduces Model HFH Fork Truck Hook

    Manheim, PA – Harrington Hoists, Inc. introduces their HFH Fork Truck Hook which is designed to lift and carry loads on the fork of a fork truck using a single latched hook or swivel hook. It is available to fit fork widths of 5ÂĽ to 7 inches and 3ÂĽ to 3 inches in height with […]

  • Enel Green Power First in North America to Deploy New Predictive Maintenance Technology at Geothermal Plants

    The software technology, created by NarrativeWave, will enable Enel Green Power North America to better anticipate maintenance needs at its geothermal sites saving the company time and money The technology has now been deployed at all of Enel Green Power’s North American geothermal sites, Cove Fort, Salt Wells and Stillwater BOSTON, May 30, 2019 (GLOBE […]

  • FLIR Launched Addition to High-Performance T-Series Thermal Camera Family

    FLIR T840’s Integrated Color Viewfinder Simplifies Inspections Outside in Bright, Challenging Light Conditions WILSONVILLE, Ore., – FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) launched the FLIR T840, a new thermal camera in the high-performance T-Series family. The high-resolution T840 offers a brighter display and an integrated viewfinder to help electrical utility, plant managers, and other thermography professionals […]

  • Monitoring Solutions Acquires Optimal Air Testing Services

    Announces Expansion into Source & Compliance Testing Services May 7, 2019, Indianapolis, Indiana: Monitoring Solutions, Incorporated is excited to announce the acquisition of Optimal Air Testing Services (“Optimal”), a Casper, Wyoming based provider of stack and source testing to support compliance, guarantee, and engineering services. Addition of the Optimal staff brings tremendous industry knowledge, experience […]

  • Safety a Major Focus of CTOTF Conference

    Marc Yeston kicked off the Combustion Turbine Operations Technical Forum (CTOTF) spring conference on April 29 in St. Augustine, Florida, with a keynote presentation focused on safety, and how power plant managers and supervisors can improve safety programs. Yeston (Figure 1) has worked as a flight paramedic, a federal and state law enforcement officer, a […]

  • Extending Turbine Life to Meet Wind Power’s Potential

    Meeting increasing worldwide demand for wind energy depends on reliable turbine performance, and performance can significantly benefit from optimized main shaft and gearbox bearing selection. Wind turbine

  • Outstanding Combustion Turbine Operators Recognized by CTOTF

    The Combustion Turbine Operations Technical Forum (CTOTF) recently announced the winners of the first CTOTF/POWER Innovation Excellence awards, which recognize outstanding performance in various combustion