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Show Preview: ELECTRIC POWER

The ELECTRIC POWER Conference + Exhibition celebrates its 21st birthday this year, with the event scheduled for April 23–26 at the Mirage Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. ELECTRIC POWER for the past two decades has been the place for those in the power generation industry to come together for up-to-date training and continuing education, providing the opportunity to gain a better understanding of regulatory and policy changes impacting the energy sector. This year’s event maintains that tradition, while also continuing to give attendees access to the latest products and technologies moving power generation forward. ELECTRIC POWER exhibitors will show how power plants are being made safer, more efficient, and more productive. A sampling of the conference sponsors and exhibitors, and their products and services, are highlighted in this section.

Babcock Power Helps Power Plants Reduce Emissions

Babcock Power has nearly a dozen business divisions serving the power generation industry, including Babcock Power Environmental (BPE), a leader in helping power plants reduce emissions while maintaining high levels of safety, quality, and performance. BPE is known for its selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, which can help power plants achieve NOx reduction as much as 3% to 5% greater than other solutions. BPE also provides wet scrubber technology solutions, which helps clients achieve SO2 reductions several percentage points higher than other solutions. BPE provides wet and dry flue gas desulfurization systems for controlling acid gases, with units in successful operation around the world. Several BPE technologies also help control mercury emissions, and the company provides multiple options for zero liquid discharge. Babcock Power, Danvers, Massachusetts

babcockpower.com

Chart Industries Offers Predictive Maintenance Tool

Chart’s Smart Layer is a predictive maintenance solution used by the natural gas processing industry. It is intended to provide prior warning that a brazed aluminum heat exchanger (BAHX) is getting toward the end of its normal service life and will require repair or replacement. When operated in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines, a Chart BAHX will provide years of trouble-free service. Thousands of units have been in the field for more than 25 years. However, thermal shock events will weaken the unit’s integrity and can lead to external leaks developing. Typically, because these operating upsets go unnoticed, the leaks manifest without warning. Smart Layer works by containing the leak path and simultaneously triggering an alert that remedial action is required. Crucially though, it enables the requisite operation to be planned and avoids the significant cost and upset of an emergency shutdown. Of course, prevention is always better than cure, and Chart is equally committed to the former and has introduced an annual service plan option through Chart Lifecycle. It incorporates modern analysis techniques to interpret plant data, and identify any regular operating patterns and irregular incidents that are outside manufacturer’s guidelines and potentially detrimental to the exchanger’s service life. Chart’s qualified personnel are subsequently able to help plant operators adjust their processes accordingly. Chart Industries, Ball Ground, Georgia

chartindustries.com

Cleaver-Brooks Serves C&I Sector with Boiler Systems

Cleaver-Brooks provides commercial and industrial boiler room products and systems, and offers after-market support. The company’s Nebraska D-style industrial watertube boiler provides up to 1,050F superheated steam in the lower-maintenance D configuration. This boiler can use natural gas, #2 and #6 oil, alternative fuels, and fuels in combination. It has a design pressure up to 1,750 psig. It is available to less than 7 ppm NOx, with ultra-low CO. The D-style is a 100% membrane water-cooled furnace, reducing costly, time-consuming, annual maintenance. The front and rear walls are welded and refractory-free, as well as the burner throat, when integrated with Cleaver-Brooks NATCOM burner. D-style boilers can be customized to provide superheated steam. Both single- and dual-stage integral superheater systems are available, with optional temperature control over turndown. Cleaver-Brooks, Thomasville, Georgia

cleaverbrooks.com

Hilliard Corp. Products Help Manage Fluids

Hilliard’s HILCO products bring fluid contamination problems under control, cost-effectively with the company’s full range of engineered filters, cartridges, reclaimers, coolant recyclers, and fluid conditioning systems. Hilliard provides a full-service fluids management process, from obtaining samples, to fluid analysis, consulting on equipment, field techs, start-up help, and more. HILCO products reduce the cost of new oil purchases, decrease disposal costs, lessen component wear, reduce downtime, and help curtail environmental contamination. The HILCO Coalescer Separator removes moisture and contamination from steam turbine lube oils that have good water separability and are commonly found in the power generation industry. Other applications may include refineries, chemical plants, heavy industry, and steel mills. Hilliard Corp., Elmira, New York

hilliardcorp.com

MHPS Steam Turbines Functional at China Nuclear Plants

Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) recently announced that the steam turbine generation facilities supplied for the Sanmen and Haiyang nuclear power plants in China have cleared all functional, safety confirmation, and other required performance tests. Full-fledged operations have begun for Sanmen Unit 1 and Haiyang Unit 1, both 1,250-MW class pressurized water reactors (AP1000), and this completes the work for all four units (total 5,000 MW) at the next-generation nuclear power facilities built in China. As with the first units for each plant, MHPS conducted the appropriate prior verification tests of the interface between the nuclear reactor and turbine sides. Accordingly, there were no problems with interface during the testing stage, and the meticulous project management and close communication led to a smooth start of official operations. This project has also demonstrated the high level of technology and consistent quality of the turbines and other equipment designed and supplied by MHPS. The company will continue to contribute to resolving the global issues of stable energy supplies, economic development, and reducing the environmental load by providing steam turbines for safe, highly reliable nuclear power generation facilities. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Yokohama, Japan

mhps.com

Siemens Covers the Entire Energy Value Chain

Energy systems are evolving, fundamentally and fast. The importance of individual energy sources and options for power generation are changing, as are the ways in which electricity is transmitted and distributed. Power generation is becoming more and more decentralized, making grid management increasingly complex. Electrical consumption continues to steadily rise all over the world. Meeting these challenges requires cutting-edge products and services covering the entire energy value chain. Specifically, it calls for a comprehensive portfolio of physical and digital technologies, products, and solutions that allow us to actively build our energy future. The Siemens portfolio ranges from state-of-the-art compressors, turbines, and generators to virtual power plants, intelligent grid management, and innovative storage solutions—all backed by exceptional service offerings and genuine commitment to effectively address customers’ individual needs. Global challenges are spurring a demand for increasingly efficient power generation products, solutions, and services. Trends like digitalization open up a variety of opportunities within the energy business. Siemens is helping customers gain competitive advantages, with the help of in-depth expertise and state-of-the-art products and services. Siemens, Munich, Germany

siemens.com

United Rentals Thrives on Diverse Fleet, Operational Efficiency

United Rentals has the largest market share in the equipment rental industry, at more than 13%. The company has nearly 1,200 locations in 49 U.S. states, and all 10 Canadian provinces. The company has a fleet of about 660,000 units, valued at about $14.2 billion. This large and diverse fleet which allows the company to serve large customers, and the company also has significant purchasing power, which gives United Rentals the ability to negotiate better prices, warranties, and other terms with suppliers. United Rentals maintains a National Accounts Program, which allows the company to offer large customers consistent service across North America with a wide selection of equipment and a single point of contact for all needs. This also allows for operating efficiency, with the ability to spread fixed costs over all branches, while consolidating common functions and sharing equipment. The company’s Information Technology System allows United Rentals to make rapid and informed decisions, enabling swift action to respond to market changes, and share equipment efficiently across branches. United Rentals, Stamford, Connecticut

unitedrentals.com

Black & Veatch Project Wins Engineering Award

Black & Veatch’s work on a high-efficiency power generation station that uses the latest gas turbine and water-cooling technology to deliver clean power has been awarded the Industrial Project of the Year by the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania. The Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station is a 926-MW natural gas-fueled power plant in Westmoreland County near Smithton, Pennsylvania. Black & Veatch provided engineering, procurement, construction, and startup services for the project. Construction began in 2016 and commercial operation was achieved in December 2018, well ahead of schedule. To maximize efficient water use during power generation, the plant recycles water through the cooling process multiple times. The project includes a 500-kV switchyard and switching station as well as 1.5 miles of power transmission lines to connect it to the PJM electric grid. Black & Veatch, Overland Park, Kansas

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ABB Launches Software to Help with Digitalization

ABB recently unveiled Envisage, a scalable and open software solution that helps reduce energy costs. The software is a tool to broadcast actionable data to increase uptime by digitizing maintenance. Envisage combines the software benefits of energy management, asset management, and predictive maintenance. The genesis of Envisage was to bridge the gap between smart edge devices and Enterprise Resource Planning systems with one software solution. This required the development of a software platform to support most third-party manufacturers for ease of integration. Envisage provides benefits across many heavy industries including utilities and water treatment plants. The software reduces energy and maintenance spend, and increases facility uptime. ABB, Zurich, Switzerland 

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