COAL POWER Direct

Big Rivers Electric Corp.—a member-owned, not-for-profit, generation and transmission cooperative serving western Kentucky—plans to idle two of its coal-fired power plants following the loss of its largest industrial load. The D.B. Wilson Station, a 417-MW plant located in Centertown, Ky., will idle on Feb. 1, barring a miracle. Big Rivers simply doesn’t need the power […]

Alabama Power Co., a subsidiary of Southern Co., has applied for air permits that would authorize the company to retrofit four coal-fired electric generating units, enabling them to add the capability to burn natural gas as a primary fuel. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management gave public notice of the application on Jan. 8. The […]

Important process variables that affect unit efficiency were reviewed in Part 1 of this two-part report. Many of those process parameters were also identified as related to boiler air in-leakage.  These stealthy combustion losses are difficult to identify or locate yet have a significant effect on boiler combustion efficiency. Keeping your plant operating at or near […]

Coal Power Stay Connected Current Issue | Find a Job | Post a Job Five Energy-Saving Tips for Compressed Air Systems 01.15.2014 | Aaron Larson Compressed air is vitally important to all power plants. Although in some cases it is used simply for convenience, such as when operating certain pneumatic tools, in other cases, compressed […]

The acquisition of Sherritt International’s Prairie and Mountain coal mining operations will push Westmoreland Coal Co. well into the top 10 of North American coal producers. The purchase helps Westmoreland diversify its assets. As the oldest independent coal company in the U.S., it has established mining operations in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Texas. The […]

With an electrical efficiency of 45.95%, the Lünen hard-coal-fired power plant, located on the Datteln-Hamm Canal in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany, is Europe’s cleanest and most efficient. The 750-MW unit is owned by Trianel Kohlkraftwerk Lünen GmbH und Co. KG and has been online in continuous operation since Dec. 1. The plant had […]

Coal-fired power stations rely on storing coal in large bunkers or silos. Over time, changes in the type and quality of coal can lead to poor flow during discharge, creating production inefficiencies and significantly reducing storage capacity. Manual intervention is frequently used to promote flow; however, this is a hazardous process for operators and fails […]

Anyone operating a coal-fired power plant has faced the challenge of keeping coal-handling equipment free of blockages and plugging. Not only do material flow problems interrupt smooth plant operations, but they also require dirty, sometimes dangerous, and often unscheduled maintenance work. As in many other industries, remote-controlled tools can help solve this problem. Bulk material […]

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COAL POWER DIRECT   Email to a Friend Subscribe Free Current Issue        Find a Job        Post a Job        Back Issues        September/October 2013 In This Issue Electrical Area Classification in Coal-Fired Power PlantsEIA: Four U.S. Coal Companies Supplied Over Half of 2011 U.S. Coal World Coal Association Promotes Practical Steps to Combat […]