Activity
  • Ovation Digital Twin Technology

    At the Emerson Exchange Americas Virtual Series, Emerson’s Shen Zhang and James Thompson shared an update on Ovation Digital Twin technology . Here is their presentation abstract: This session will provide an introduction to Ovation embedded simulation then step through what’s needed to develop a plant-specific simulator. An overview of new advanced models and simulation tools will also be provided. James opened describing…
  • Latest Ovation Release Improves Performance, Simplifies Troubleshooting and Provides Added Protections

    Emerson’s industry-leading Ovation platform integrates digitally transformative software and technologies into a unified system that helps customers tackle their toughest challenges. Rick Kephart , Emerson’s vice president of technology for the power and water industries, describes how we continue to evolve the Ovation platform by developing and delivering the automation scalability and flexibility sought by our customers…
  • Modern, Digital Technologies are Critical to Reliable, Clean Water

    A key topic on the mind of attendees at Emerson’s 2020 Ovation Users’ Group Conference water/wastewater industry panel was how technology can help with the influx of new challenges facing water management plants. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a glimpse of the many challenges organizations must overcome as they continue to reliably provide clean water no matter what is happening in the world. Using technology…
  • Focus on Reliability and Performance to Drive Competitive Advantage

    A common power industry theme at the 2020 Ovation Users’ Group Conference has been the many challenges organizations experience in a shifting environment. The need for maintaining reliability and compliance and avoiding obsolescence remain, yet organizations also face new complexity. Power generators are juggling an additional set of requirements associated with high utilization, daily cycling operation, and the need…
  • Ovation Users’ Group – Pandemic Challenges and Shift Toward Renewables Drives Digitalized Control and Centralization

    The challenges associated with a shift toward renewables and maintaining business continuity during a global pandemic have resulted in new opportunities that have been a constant topic among attendees at Emerson’s 2020 Ovation Users’ Group Conference . Customers are meeting these challenges with bold ideas and expansive projects focused on digital technologies, centralized operations, secure connectivity, and better visibility…
  • Ovation Users’ Group – Cybersecurity, Customer Service and Flexible Deployment Strategies Drive Improved Operations and Performance

    Day two of the Ovation Users’ Group Conference saw speakers focusing on the importance of cybersecurity in driving better operations across the power and water industries. Hyperconnectivity challenges cybersecurity Many organizations already maintain protection and prevention but haven’t focused on detection, which is critical to keeping protection up to date. Robert Lee , chief executive officer of Dragos shared…
  • Ovation Users’ Group – Creating Opportunities Through Digital Transformation

    Emerson’s 2020 Ovation Users’ Group Conference opened with Bob Yeager , president of power & water solutions, providing an update on the power and water landscape in our rapidly changing world. Bob opened with a look at how interaction and routines have drastically shifted in ways beyond our control, both in life and in business. One of the primary ways this change has manifested has been through a shift toward digital…
  • Improved Operations for Water and Wastewater Producers

    A vital business for every community is the water and wastewater utility. Providing safe, reliable water to consumers and businesses and safely treating wastewater is paramount for the health of the community. In a Water & Wastes Digest (WWD) video interview, The Benefits of Automation for Water & Wastewater Utilities , Emerson’s Pete Gabor highlights the role of automation in accomplishing this important mission. WWD…
  • Ovation Advanced Condition Monitoring

    Jason King Emerson’s Jason King shares an update on advanced condition monitoring in the Ovation distributed control system at last week’s 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference. This integrated machinery protection and condition monitoring module built directly into the Ovation system. It is capable of typical equipment protection functions, but also has condition monitoring technology built in, so no separate software…
  • Ovation Advanced Condition Monitoring

    Jason King Emerson’s Jason King shares an update on advanced condition monitoring in the Ovation distributed control system at last week’s 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference. This integrated machinery protection and condition monitoring module built directly into the Ovation system. It is capable of typical equipment protection functions, but also has condition monitoring technology built in, so no separate software…
  • Ovation Intelligence Framework

    Alvin Faustino Azime Can-Cimino Emerson’s Alvin Faustino and Azime Can-Cimino discussed plant prognostics with the Ovation Intelligence Framework at the 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference. Here’s a visual of the framework: Azime opened explaining that prognostic maintenance requires starting with data—sensor data and generated data. This data is pre-processed and used to develop a detection or prediction mode…
  • Electrical Generator Excitation Control

    Emerson’s Matt Musko shared the basics and installation best practices for generator excitation controls at the 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference. Matt opened describing the fundamentals of generator excitation. Three things are necessary to generate electricity: current carrying conductors in the generator armature windings, a magnetic field created by DC current supplied to the field windings, and relative motion…
  • Ovation System Forward View

    Rick Kephart rounds out the 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference with a look into the future around architectures and algorithms. Rick opened with a discussion of Ovation Droplets. It is a lightweight controller that’s part of the 3.7 release. Any Compact Controller can be configured as a Droplet in the Dev Studio configuration software. These compact controllers, configured as standalone, can be adopted as Droplets into…
  • Suppressing Plant Alarms

    Ben Poskie Since the early days of distributed control systems, much work has been done to improve alarm management and prevent alarms from flooding operators to prevent them from properly diagnosing and correcting abnormal situations. The ANSI/ISA 18.2 alarm management standard began development back in 2003 and built off of the work of other alarm management initiatives. It published as ANSI/ISA-18.2-2009 Management…
  • Suppressing Plant Alarms

    Ben Poskie Since the early days of distributed control systems, much work has been done to improve alarm management and prevent alarms from flooding operators to prevent them from properly diagnosing and correcting abnormal situations. The ANSI/ISA 18.2 alarm management standard began development back in 2003 and built off of the work of other alarm management initiatives. It published as ANSI/ISA-18.2-2009 Management…
  • Ovation Compact Controller Update

    Tom Snowdon As renewable energy supplied to electrical grids continues to grow, the need for more scalable options to control these additional sources of energy. In a 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference presentation on the Ovation Compact Controller (OCC) , Emerson’s Tom Snowdon shared an update on the OCC, the use of 3 rd party I/O and engineering tool options. Tom opened defining a standalone as one controller…
  • Gas Turbine Control Enhancements

    Emerson’s Laurence O’Toole and Felipe Londono were joined by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS)’s Michael Glover to present on gas turbine control enhancements at the 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference. MHPS and Emerson formed an alliance in 2008 to provide state of the art turbine and controls solutions. The solutions include balance of plant (BOP) controls, generator excitation, process control devices and…
  • Ovation Turbine Overspeed Protection

    At the 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference, Emerson’s Sam Onuska and Greg Lieb provided an update on turbine overspeed protection in Ovation distributed control systems. Sam opened discussing the purpose of turbine overspeed protection. It’s required for personnel safety and machinery protection against overspeed condition. Overspeed protection is applied to steam turbines, boiler feed pump turbines, combustion turbines…
  • Ovation Lifecycle Planning

    Emerson’s Mike Ames and Nick Koonce teamed up to discuss Ovation Lifecycle Planning and the need to think beyond periodic upgrades at the 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference. Nick opened by defining lifecycle planning for the Ovation system: Ovation Lifecycle Planning provides a broader or more holistic approach to best align Ovation products and services to customers’ business drivers (KPI’s) and problem-solving needs…
  • Air Management and Emissions Control

    Emerson’s James Bare shared how effective process control and tuning improves combustion air management and improves overall emissions control at the 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference. James opened describing different types of boilers and their operation in different regions. The focus of the presentation was on coal-fired boilers. Combustion of coal with air creates steam from water which drives a steam turbine…
  • Cooling Tower Solutions

    At the 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference, Emerson Jason King provided an update on Ovation DCS solutions for cooling towers. Jason opened explaining that $450,000 USD can be saved using automated cooling tower monitoring and optimization solutions. Several challenges exist for cooling towers in the power generation industry. Cooling towers are used to condense the steam exiting the steam turbine. This helps complete…
  • Ovation Digital Twin Technology-Embedded Simulation Update

    Some key ways simulation technology is used by manufacturers and producers for training, optimizing operating procedures and engineering to evaluate ways to improve overall performance. In a 2019 Ovation Users’ Group Conference presentation, Ovation Digital Twin Technology – Embedded Simulation Update & New Applications, Emerson’s James Thompson and Shen Zhang provides an overview of Digital Twin technology, how it integrates…
  • The Industrial Cyber Threat Landscape

    At the 2019 Ovation Users’ Group conference, Dragos CEO Robert M. Lee provided an update on the cyber threats facing manufacturers and producers. Emerson and Dragos yesterday announced an agreement, Emerson Selects Dragos to Collaborate on Cybersecurity Protection for Power and Water Industries . The news: Emerson and Dragos, Inc., developer of the Dragos Platform for industrial cybersecurity asset detection, threat…
  • Heat Recovery Steam Generator Purge Credit Success

    At the 2019 Ovation Users’ Group Conference , a U.S. power producer shared their story about shrinking down to a 17-minute purge on their combustion turbine (CT) startup. A heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) purge removes combustible levels of fuel mixtures prior to startup. A purge credit allows credit for a prior purge for the next startup with a normal shutdown occurs or modified fuel systems for both CT and duct…
  • 5 Questions for Cybersecurity Expert Jaime Foose

    Emerson’s Jaime Foose joins our continuing podcast series, 5 Questions for an Emerson Expert . Jaime is an ICS cyber security expert, Director of Security Solutions and Lifecycle Shared Services. She helps power producers and water & wastewater utilities with programs and processes to improve their cyber defenses and the ongoing health of their distributed control systems & operational technology (OT). https://www…