In This Issue
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Coal
Australia’s New Energy Paradigm
Investments into Australia’s power sector enable the industry to meet the collective goal of becoming a cleaner, greener nation. Download the report.
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O&MRepower or Build a New Combined Cycle Unit?
URS recently performed a combined cycle repowering study to determine the feasibility and economics of repowering an existing steam turbine that went into service in the 1950s. The competing option was building a new combined cycle unit. The results of the study provide insight for others considering the same alternatives.
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Instrumentation & ControlsTroubleshooting and Solving Poor Control Loop Performance
Only through proper troubleshooting and then solving the underlying problems can control loop performance be improved. Process design certainly plays a role in control loop performance, but experience has shown that the majority of control loops can perform better—provided that the root cause of the poor performance is found and corrected.
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Business
Expect U.S. Electricity Consumption to Increase
Lawrence J. Makovich, PhD, IHS CERA’s vice president and senior advisor for Global Power, predicts a rebound in electricity consumption from recession levels. Specifically, the rebound will be stronger than government projections, led by growth in electricity use by industry.
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GasNew England Struggles with Gas Supply Bottlenecks
New England’s big push toward gas-fired power collided hard with its historical pipeline constraints this past winter, leaving multiple generators unable to respond to start-up requests from ISO-New England during a major storm. In the wake of the episode, the region is looking for some long-term solutions.
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Nuclear
Too Dumb to Meter, Part 12
As the book title Too Dumb to Meter: Follies, Fiascoes, Dead Ends, and Duds on the U.S. Road to Atomic Energy implies, nuclear power has traveled a rough road. In this POWER exclusive, we present the 22nd and 23rd chapters, “The Jimmy, Ron, and Mo Show” and “Screw Nevada and Nevada Will Screw You,” the last two chapters of the “Waste Is a Terrible Thing to Mind” section.
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BusinessWhat Is the Worth of 1 Btu/kWh of Heat Rate?
Decisions about design and operational options often are determined by one metric: the impact on the cost of electricity produced. An enhanced screening algorithm for power generation system total ownership cost (capital and operating) and thermal performance (output and efficiency) simplifies the analysis.
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News
Opinions à la Carte
Have you ever experienced a restaurant menu overflowing with so many tasty entrées that making your selection seemed an impossible decision? Your deliberation probably ended when the waiter began tapping a pen on his order pad and your dinner-mates gave you the evil eye. Picking a commentary topic each month is much like scanning the dinner menu. There are usually many topics that deserve a good slice and dice, but it’s the deadline that forces a decision.
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BusinessScarce Projects Raise Red Flag for Skilled Labor
A combination of factors, including a relative scarcity of projects, has cut demand for skilled labor in the power generation sector. Despite the lull, workforce retirements are still expected to challenge the industry.
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HydroOntario Completes New Niagara Tunnel to Increase Output from Hydro Complex
A massive eight-year construction feat to bore a 41-foot-wide, 6.3-mile-long tunnel deep beneath hard rock under the City of Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, was successfully completed this March.
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NewsVarnish Removal System
Oil Filtration Systems introduced a new series of oil purification equipment to remove varnish from hydraulic and lubrication oils. By utilizing the two leading varnish mitigation technologies, a single varnish removal system (VRS) can remove either soluble varnish or suspended varnish from oil. VRS equipment employs granular adsorbent media to remove soluble varnish found in […]
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HydroOTEC Gets Boost with Possibility of 10-MW Plant in China
A 10-MW ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) pilot plant is being planned off the coast of southern China by global security and aerospace firm Lockheed Martin and Beijing-based cleantech firm the Reignwood Group.
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NewsFlange-Spreading Wedges
Equalizer International introduced SWi range, what it claims is the “world’s most powerful flange spreading wedges.” Designed to decrease downtime and provide a safe, efficient, and cost-effective way to access and spread flange joints, the tools are capable of generating a spreading force of up to 25T and the SWi range includes a hydraulic (SWi20/25TE), […]
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GeothermalU.S. EGS Project Adds 1.7 MW Grid-Connected Output
One of the first enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) was connected to the U.S. electric grid this April, marking a major milestone for the fledgling technology that seeks to tap the enormous terrestrial heat potential deep within Earth’s crust using directional drilling and pressurized water.
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NewsPre-Engineered Robotic Welding Cells
ESAB Welding & Cutting Products introduced three models of the new Swift Arc series of pre-engineered, robotic welding cells: Swift Arc AL (angle-load), Swift Arc FL (front-load), and Swift Arc SL (side-load) robot cells. Each system is an economic configuration for a complete work cell and is ideal for job shops introducing robotics to their […]
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NuclearNingde 1 Is Latest Chinese Reactor to Start Commercial Operation
Ningde 1, the first of four Chinese-designed CPR-1000 pressurized water reactors being built at a site in Fujian Province, began commercial operation this April after a 58-month construction period.
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NewsElectronic Voltage Detector
HD Electric Co.’s new single-range TAG-200, multi-range TAG-200MR, and single-range TAG-330 are electronic voltage detectors designed for detecting distribution and transmission voltages. These direct contact type detectors emit both audible and visual indications when placed in contact with an energized conductor. TAGs are designed for overhead and underground applications with optional underground bushing probes. (HDElectricCompany.com)
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Business
POWER Digest (June 2013)
NRC Poised to Rule on SCE Proposal to Restart San Onofre Unit 2. Southern California Edison (SCE) on April 5 submitted a voluntary request to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a license amendment to support restart of Unit 2 of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, and the NRC later said in a […]
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NewsRam Position Sensors
Alliance Sensors Group launched the MR Series of linear position sensors for use in measuring the ram position of hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders. The MR Series is designed to be a drop-in form, fit, and function replacement for magnetostrictive sensors but with much more robust construction and a lower cost of ownership, specifically targeting port-mounted […]
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HistoryTHE BIG PICTURE: Power Accident Impacts
The history of electric power has been stained by several devastating incidents triggered by natural hazards, technological failures, malicious actions, and human error.
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NewsMulti-Gun Valve
NLB Corp. introduced the MGV24-1200, a new multi-gun valve that allows two or more high-pressure water jet lances (or other accessories) to be operated from the same 24,000 psi pump unit and can be rebuilt in the field in just five minutes. The MGV24-1200 can be used with any dump-style lance, and the lances can […]
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O&MLADWP Harnesses LMS100 to Solve Once-Through Cooling Dilemma
Los Angeles sits alongside the world’s largest body of water, and naturally the city’s Department of Water & Power (LADWP) placed its generating stations along the shoreline to take advantage of that abundant resource for cooling. The LADWP built three coastal generating stations that provide the city with 2,162 MW, about 35% of the peak annual demand.
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Commentary
EPA to Limit Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction Defense
On Feb. 22, 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule, 78 Fed. Reg. 12459, that will require 36 states to eliminate an exemption to Clean Air Act (CAA) emission requirements for exceedances that occur during periods of startup, shutdown, or malfunction (SSM).
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Legal & Regulatory
Renewable Energy Policy Review Required
The Wall Street Journal ( WSJ) recently reported that 14 of the 29 states that have adopted a renewable procurement mandate are currently considering legislation that would “water down or repeal” the renewable set-aside. Proponents of repeal describe their motivation as simple economics: Renewable power increases costs to electric consumers.
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O&MImproving Warm Weather Performance of the LM6000
The LM6000 is the most widely used aeroderivative combustion turbine (CT) in the world, with more than 1,000 installations. As with all CTs, power output and heat rate degrade markedly during warm weather. The ARCTIC (Absorption Refrigeration Cycle Turbine Inlet Conditioning) system eliminates this deficiency.
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GasFast-Start HRSG Life-Cycle Optimization
Modern heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) design must balance operating response with the reduction in life of components caused by daily cycling and fast starts. Advanced modeling techniques demonstrate HRSG startup ramp rates can be accelerated without compromising equipment life.