Technology
-
Connected Plant
POWER magazine and Chemical Engineering magazine announce Eastman Chemical as the Host Chemical Process Industries (CPI) Sponsor for the 5th annual Connected Plant Conference
HOUSTON, TX, April 21 – The 5th Annual Connected Plant Conference is proud to announce Eastman Chemical as the host Chemical Process Industries (CPI) sponsor. The 2021 event will convene at The Renaissance Austin Hotel in Austin, Texas, August 30 – September 2. Hosted by Chemical Engineering and POWER magazines, the Connected Plant Conference will […]
-
Press Releases
Enerpac Introduces Safe T™ Torque Checker For Simple & Accurate Measurement of Torque Output
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (April 20, 2021) – Enerpac introduces the Safe T™ Torque Checker, the company’s first mobile torque wrench testing unit. The new portable tool offers a simple and accurate measurement of torque output wherever and whenever operators need it. A correctly calibrated torque system will deliver the right output to fasten bolts accurately […]
-
Press Releases
RESA Power Announces the Launch of its Transformer Assessment Portal (“RESA TAP”)
HOUSTON, April 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — RESA Power, LLC, a market leader in power systems services and life extension solutions for power distribution equipment, is pleased to announce the launch of the Transformer Assessment Portal (“RESA TAP”) as part of our continued commitment to expanding best available options that deliver high expertise and expert advice […]
-
POWER Podcasts
What’s Been Holding Hydrogen Fuel Cells Back, and How to Change That
The technology used in modern hydrogen fuel cells is not new. In fact, NASA used fuel cells for its manned space missions in the 1960s. But fuel cells have not really “taken off” (pardon the pun) in earthly applications since that time. Some industry insiders believe that will change very soon. “We’ve been sort of […]
-
Technology
Self-Tuning Artificial Intelligence Improves Plant Efficiency and Flexibility
Flexible plant operations are highly desirable in today’s power generation industry. Every plant owner desires increased ramp rates and the ability to operate at lower loads so their plants will remain “in the money” longer in today’s competitive power markets. This goal, while laudable, remains elusive. The ADEX self-tuning artificial intelligence (AI) system allows plants […]
-
Connected Plant
Two Keys for Better Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity
Two recent incidents have made the cost of not protecting our infrastructure and natural resources abundantly clear. First, there was the widely publicized SolarWinds attack that infected more than a dozen utility companies, and oil and gas manufacturing entities. Then, there was a dangerous incident in Florida, where a hacker gained access to a water […]
-
Energy Storage
A 100-Day Look at U.S. Battery Supply Chain Challenges
On Feb. 24, 2021, the Biden administration unveiled a sweeping plan to review the U.S. supply chain. The 100-day review will include categories such as computer chips, rare earth minerals, and lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). China is a key supplier of many of these items. There is an increasing realization that the lack […]
-
News
Power Infrastructure Prominent in Biden’s $2.25 Trillion Blueprint
A major chunk of President Joe Biden’s $2.25 trillion transformational plan to overhaul the nation’s infrastructure is dedicated to re-energizing America’s power infrastructure. The initiatives garnered the industry’s approval—with notable exceptions. The “American Jobs Plan,” released on March 31, strives to jumpstart the U.S. economy, which drooped under burdens posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. But […]
-
Nuclear
Compact Advanced Tokomak Concept Takes Fusion Power One Step Closer to Commercial Reality
Scientists at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility have released a new design for a compact fusion reactor that can generate electricity and help define the technology necessary for commercial fusion power. General Atomics, which operates the DIII-D facility in San Diego, California, for the U.S. Department of Energy, says the approach is based on the […]
-
Fuel
First Commercial Deployment of Supercritical CO2 Power Cycle Taking Shape in Alberta
Siemens Energy and Canadian pipeline company TC Energy in February agreed to commission a novel waste-heat-to-power facility in Alberta by 2022 that captures waste heat from a gas-fired turbine operating a
-
Fuel Cells
Understanding Fuel Cells and Their Role in the Green Energy Revolution
Future propulsion and energy systems must be designed to meet the social challenges of climate change, increased energy requirements, and the mobility and energy demands of a growing world population. Fuel
-
Hydro
Understanding Hydro Turbine Draft Tubes and Their Importance
Significant engineering goes into every hydropower facility. Among the items that require detailed design work are draft tubes, which are basically conical diffusers installed at the outlet of turbine runners
-
Water
How to Effectively Treat Power Plant Cooling Water with Fewer Chemicals
Power plants across the globe are looking for an alternative to traditional chemistry to manage the water used throughout the cooling process. An innovative non-chemical water treatment technology may offer
-
News
Troubleshooting Issues and Eliminating Headaches Related to Control Valves
An oscillating control valve may appear to be the source of control instability and repair efforts are usually focused only there. When this fails to solve the issue, further investigation often proves the
-
Business
Top Utility Considerations for Truck Electrification
There are many challenges to overcome before electric trucks fill the road, and the timing for full adoption is many years away. However, now is the time to prepare for the inevitable shift toward
-
News
POWER Digest [April 2021]
European Commission Probing Germany Lignite Power Compensation. The European Commission on March 2 opened an “in-depth investigation” to assess whether Germany’s plans to compensate its lignite-fired
-
Nuclear
New Mexico Sues NRC to Halt Consolidated Interim Nuclear Waste Storage Facilities
New Mexico has sued the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), challenging the legality of the agency’s proceedings involving separate proposals to build and operate two consolidated interim storage facilities (CISFs) for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in New Mexico and Texas. In a complaint filed on March 29 against the NRC and the U.S. government, New Mexico […]
-
Press Releases
Utility Study Demonstrates Benefits of Drones and IoT-Enabled Visual Software to Ensure Safer, More Reliable Power Grid
Cyberhawk drone-based inspections monitor over 11,500 transmission towers and nearly 150 substations across Scottish Utility Network DENVER – March 30, 2021 – Cyberhawk, a global leader in drone-based inspections and creator of iHawk, a cloud-based asset visualization software platform, has released a case study that examines how its drone-based visual assessment and data management of […]
-
Offshore Wind
Biden Administration Sets National 30-GW Offshore Wind Target
The Biden administration on March 29 laid out a spate of measures to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind in the U.S. by 2030, an ambitious target that will require a vast scale-up in investment and build-out of the still latent power subsector. But if achieved, the target would unlock “a pathway” to 110 GW […]
-
Nuclear
Centrus on Track to Produce HALEU Nuclear Fuel Material by Early 2022
Centrus Energy, a firm under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to demonstrate production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) with domestic technology, says it expects to begin producing the advanced nuclear fuel material by June 2022 at the American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio. Centrus President and CEO Daniel Poneman said on March […]
-
Power
Mechanical Seals and Bearing Isolator Solutions for Tidal Energy Equipment Protection
As clean-power technologies become more mainstream, offshore and river-based energy generating systems are beginning to come into their own in terms of proven performance. While the sea and rivers are widely available resources, they do come with a unique set of equipment protection and sealing challenges. The sealing solutions should be robust, safe, and effective—able […]
-
News
Why Pump Energy Savings Should Matter to Utilities
Utilities have a two-fold relationship with energy efficiency. On one side, public and private utilities gain from finding efficiencies in energy usage to reduce costs in their own operations—just like many other businesses. The U.S. Department of Energy’s 2002 Motor Market Assessment established that pumping systems offer the greatest optimization potential of all types of […]
-
Press Releases
Maintenance-Free-Bolting concept for bolts up to M80 (3 1/8”)
ITH Bolting Technology combines digital bolting tool procedures, advanced fastener design, and installation know-how to reduce maintenance costs significantly — proven for onshore and offshore wind-turbine installation projects. Meschede, Germany ITH Bolting Technology is a leading global system supplier in bolting technology providing bolting tools, engineering, fasteners and service. Under their brand, IHF Fastener Systems, […]
-
Press Releases
U.S. Department of Energy Awards $18 Million for Cutting-Edge Technologies to Optimize Vehicle Performance and Efficiency
Four Teams Funded to Work on Advancements in Vehicle Automation and Connectivity That Will Reduce Emissions and Create Jobs WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Energy today announced $18 million in funding for four cutting-edge projects that will help passenger vehicles operate more efficiently, reduce energy consumption, and contribute to the Biden Administration’s goal of reaching […]
-
Press Releases
Zetec introduces ElbowFlex scanner for quick, manual ultrasound examinations of pipe elbows
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. (March 9, 2021)—Zetec Inc., a global leader in nondestructive testing (NDT) technology, today introduced the ElbowFlex™ scanner for quick, manual ultrasonic inspections of pipe elbows in oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation, manufacturing and other industrial applications. ElbowFlex is the perfect tool for measuring wall thickness and detecting flow accelerated corrosion on elbows […]
-
News
GE Hitachi Advances Collaboration to Bolster BWRX-300 SMR Deployment in Estonia
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and Estonian firm Fermi Energia OÜ have entered into a teaming agreement to support potential deployment of a BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) in the Baltic country. The agreement between the technology company and the firm established in 2019 by nuclear industry professionals comes two years after the companies inked […]
-
POWER Podcasts
Battery Technology Used in Outer Space Could Be a Gamechanger on Earth
Lithium-ion has become the dominant battery technology used in energy storage applications around the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only, or even the best, technology available. Many companies are working on different battery chemistries that could provide safer, longer-lasting, and ultimately more cost-effective options. One alternative that has gotten little exposure until now […]
-
Fuel
Mitsubishi Power Developing 100% Ammonia-Capable Gas Turbine
Mitsubishi Power is developing a 40-MW class gas turbine that can directly combust 100% ammonia under an initiative that responds to heightened global decarbonization ambitions, as well as Japan’s recent roadmap for ammonia fuel. The Yokohama–headquartered power equipment firm, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), on March 1 said it is targeting commercialization of […]