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Blog - Post List

Alternative Energy Blog: Strategies for Remote Power Plant Operations

Jim Cahill

In an Emerson Exchange Americas Virtual Series industry forum, Power: Strategies for Tomorrow’s Utility, Emerson’s Brett Benson and James Nyenhuis joined two professionals in the electric power industry to discuss how the power industry is: …looking to new digital technologies to improve reliability, reduce costs, and increase operational flexibility of their plants and fleets. One method utilities are exploring is…
- 4 Feb 2021
Alternative Energy Blog: Ovation Digital Twin Technology

Jim Cahill

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…
- 2 Feb 2021
Alternative Energy Blog: Latest Ovation Release Improves Performance, Simplifies Troubleshooting and Provides Added Protections

Jim Cahill

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…
- 1 Feb 2021
Alternative Energy Blog: Welcome to Emerson Automation Experts Podcasts

Jim Cahill

Visit our podcast subscription page to subscribe with your favorite podcast player. The post Welcome to Emerson Automation Experts Podcasts appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.
- 1 Jan 2021
Alternative Energy Blog: Modern, Digital Technologies are Critical to Reliable, Clean Water

Jim Cahill

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…
- 27 Aug 2020
Alternative Energy Blog: Focus on Reliability and Performance to Drive Competitive Advantage

Jim Cahill

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…
- 25 Aug 2020
Alternative Energy Blog: Ovation Users’ Group – Pandemic Challenges and Shift Toward Renewables Drives Digitalized Control and Centralization

Jim Cahill

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…
- 24 Aug 2020
Alternative Energy Blog: Emerson and MHPS Collaboration Pushes Toward Cleaner, Renewable Energy Future

Jim Cahill

Power companies across North America are transitioning to more renewable fuel sources, and they require new digital technologies, software, and services to help them drive operational excellence across the enterprise. Emerson and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas (MHPS) have joined forces to meet this need with digital transformation solutions that enable better operational performance for utilities and provide…
- 21 Aug 2020
Alternative Energy Blog: Ovation Users’ Group – Cybersecurity, Customer Service and Flexible Deployment Strategies Drive Improved Operations and Performance

Jim Cahill

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…
- 20 Aug 2020
Alternative Energy Blog: Ovation Users’ Group – Creating Opportunities Through Digital Transformation

Jim Cahill

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…
- 18 Aug 2020
Alternative Energy Blog: Sensors and Analytics for Reliable and Efficient Electrical Generation

Jim Cahill

Brian Joe Juan Panama The reliable and resilient flow of electrical energy to our homes and businesses is the goal of every power producer. What are some ways that advancing technology is helping these producers achieve these goals? In a Power magazine article, New Monitoring and Analytics Tools Improve Plant Performance , Emerson’s Brian Joe and Juan Panama describe how Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies…
- 1 Apr 2020
Alternative Energy Blog: Automating Power Generation Startup Sequences

Jim Cahill

Doug Morris Plant staff at electrical power generating facilities are having to change the way they operate given the increasing amounts of intermittent renewable energy being added to the grid. More startup and shutdown cycles are being required to manage the constantly shifting energy supply to the grid. In a Power magazine article, Automated Plant Startups Reduce Fixed and Fuel-Related Costs , Emerson’s Doug Morris…
- 12 Aug 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Automating Power Generation Startup Sequences

Jim Cahill

Doug Morris Plant staff at electrical power generating facilities are having to change the way they operate given the increasing amounts of intermittent renewable energy being added to the grid. More startup and shutdown cycles are being required to manage the constantly shifting energy supply to the grid. In a Power magazine article, Automated Plant Startups Reduce Fixed and Fuel-Related Costs , Emerson’s Doug Morris…
- 12 Aug 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Ovation Intelligence Framework

Jim Cahill

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…
- 1 Aug 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Electrical Generator Excitation Control

Jim Cahill

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…
- 1 Aug 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Electrical Generator Excitation Control

Jim Cahill

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…
- 1 Aug 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Ovation Intelligence Framework

Jim Cahill

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…
- 1 Aug 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Gas Turbine Control Enhancements

Jim Cahill

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…
- 31 Jul 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Ovation Turbine Overspeed Protection

Jim Cahill

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…
- 31 Jul 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Ovation Turbine Overspeed Protection

Jim Cahill

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…
- 31 Jul 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Gas Turbine Control Enhancements

Jim Cahill

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…
- 31 Jul 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Air Management and Emissions Control

Jim Cahill

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…
- 30 Jul 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Cooling Tower Solutions

Jim Cahill

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…
- 30 Jul 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Cooling Tower Solutions

Jim Cahill

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…
- 30 Jul 2019
Alternative Energy Blog: Air Management and Emissions Control

Jim Cahill

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…
- 30 Jul 2019