Blog - Post List
  • Alternative Energy Blog: 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…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: 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…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: 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…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: 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…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Improved Steam Temperature Control Strategies

    As electrical power producers and cogeneration facilities must handle the load swings produced on the supply and demand side. Optimizing steam temperature control is one key way to improve the reliability of on boilers and heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) caused by load swings. Jeffery Williams I caught up with Emerson’s Jeffery Williams who shared the details of a steam temperature optimization project with…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Improved Steam Temperature Control Strategies

    As electrical power producers and cogeneration facilities must handle the load swings produced on the supply and demand side. Optimizing steam temperature control is one key way to improve the reliability of on boilers and heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) caused by load swings. Jeffery Williams I caught up with Emerson’s Jeffery Williams who shared the details of a steam temperature optimization project with…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Early Detection of Heat Recovery Steam Generator Tube Leaks

    A NACE International paper, HRSG Tube Failures: Prediction, Diagnosis and Corrective Actions highlights the challenge of these failures: Many HRSGs were originally designed for base load operation. Recent economic factors have led to drastically increased cycling of many units. This has exacerbated the rate of failures. These leaks can lead to forced outages that create associated costs including fines, lost time…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Early Detection of Heat Recovery Steam Generator Tube Leaks

    A NACE International paper, HRSG Tube Failures: Prediction, Diagnosis and Corrective Actions highlights the challenge of these failures: Many HRSGs were originally designed for base load operation. Recent economic factors have led to drastically increased cycling of many units. This has exacerbated the rate of failures. These leaks can lead to forced outages that create associated costs including fines, lost time…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Digital Transformation in Electrical Power Industry

    Today is Power day at CERAWeek 2019 where the focus is on the electrical power generators and distributors bringing electricity to our homes and businesses. Like the other industries this week, digital transformation initiatives are on their minds. In a panel, Power: Realizing value from digital transformation, Emerson’s Bob Yeager discussed the use of digital technologies to help predict, manage, and control complex…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Digital Transformation in Electrical Power Industry

    Today is Power day at CERAWeek 2019 where the focus is on the electrical power generators and distributors bringing electricity to our homes and businesses. Like the other industries this week, digital transformation initiatives are on their minds. In a panel, Power: Realizing value from digital transformation, Emerson’s Bob Yeager discussed the use of digital technologies to help predict, manage, and control complex…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Digital Transformation in Electrical Power Industry

    Today is Power day at CERAWeek 2019 where the focus is on the electrical power generators and distributors bringing electricity to our homes and businesses. Like the other industries this week, digital transformation initiatives are on their minds. In a panel, Power: Realizing value from digital transformation, Emerson’s Bob Yeager discussed the use of digital technologies to help predict, manage, and control complex…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Balancing Natural Gas and Renewable Sources of Power Generation

    Renewable sources of energy continue to grow as a percentage of energy provided to electrical power grids. In a CERAWeek 2019 panel, Renewables & Gas Integration: Is there an efficient frontier?, Emerson’s Bob Yeager shared his perspectives on the role of technology and automation in managing this energy mix. Panel moderator, IHS Markit’s Tim Gardner open by showing some statistics on how the incremental costs of adding…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Balancing Natural Gas and Renewable Sources of Power Generation

    Renewable sources of energy continue to grow as a percentage of energy provided to electrical power grids. In a CERAWeek 2019 panel, Renewables & Gas Integration: Is there an efficient frontier?, Emerson’s Bob Yeager shared his perspectives on the role of technology and automation in managing this energy mix. Panel moderator, IHS Markit’s Tim Gardner open by showing some statistics on how the incremental costs of adding…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Balancing Natural Gas and Renewable Sources of Power Generation

    Renewable sources of energy continue to grow as a percentage of energy provided to electrical power grids. In a CERAWeek 2019 panel, Renewables & Gas Integration: Is there an efficient frontier?, Emerson’s Bob Yeager shared his perspectives on the role of technology and automation in managing this energy mix. Panel moderator, IHS Markit’s Tim Gardner open by showing some statistics on how the incremental costs of adding…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Integrated Simulation for Power Generation Digital Transformation

    We hear the phrase “Digital Transformation” bandied about across the manufacturing industries. For each segment it can mean something different. At this past December’s Power-Gen conference , president of Emerson’s Power & Water Solutions business’ Bob Yeager gave the keynote address. In his presentation, Digital Transformation of Power: From Concept to Reality , Bob described 3 key reasons why electrical power producers…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Integrated Simulation for Power Generation Digital Transformation

    We hear the phrase “Digital Transformation” bandied about across the manufacturing industries. For each segment it can mean something different. At this past December’s Power-Gen conference , president of Emerson’s Power & Water Solutions business’ Bob Yeager gave the keynote address. In his presentation, Digital Transformation of Power: From Concept to Reality , Bob described 3 key reasons why electrical power producers…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Integrated Simulation for Power Generation Digital Transformation

    We hear the phrase “Digital Transformation” bandied about across the manufacturing industries. For each segment it can mean something different. At this past December’s Power-Gen conference , president of Emerson’s Power & Water Solutions business’ Bob Yeager gave the keynote address. In his presentation, Digital Transformation of Power: From Concept to Reality , Bob described 3 key reasons why electrical power producers…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: 3 Steps to Better Steam Temperature Control

    Optimizing steam temperature reduces energy costs and increases operational reliability. In an 18-minute webcast, 3 Steps to Better Steam Temperature Control , Emerson’s Douglas Morris shares how advanced steam control for boilers and heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) improves performance. Doug shares how to effectively validate critical steam measurements, ensure optimal steam attemperation, and improve control…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: 3 Steps to Better Steam Temperature Control

    Optimizing steam temperature reduces energy costs and increases operational reliability. In an 18-minute webcast, 3 Steps to Better Steam Temperature Control , Emerson’s Douglas Morris shares how advanced steam control for boilers and heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) improves performance. Doug shares how to effectively validate critical steam measurements, ensure optimal steam attemperation, and improve control…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: 3 Steps to Better Steam Temperature Control

    Douglas Morris Optimizing steam temperature reduces energy costs and increases operational reliability. In an 18-minute webcast, 3 Steps to Better Steam Temperature Control , Emerson’s Douglas Morris shares how advanced steam control for boilers and heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) improves performance. Doug shares how to effectively validate critical steam measurements, ensure optimal steam attemperation, and…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Prevent Valve Delamination in Conventional Power Plants

    Author: Paolo Tomaini Conventional power plants are being disrupted by an increasing demand for renewable energy. The priority in providing energy to the grid associated with the intermittent intrinsic nature of the renewable energy output is creating a shift from base-load power down to cycling in traditional plants and causing failures. The demand for renewables is only expected to grow over the next few decades…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Prevent Valve Delamination in Conventional Power Plants

    Author: Paolo Tomaini Conventional power plants are being disrupted by an increasing demand for renewable energy. The priority in providing energy to the grid associated with the intermittent intrinsic nature of the renewable energy output is creating a shift from base-load power down to cycling in traditional plants and causing failures. The demand for renewables is only expected to grow over the next few decades…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: Prevent Valve Delamination in Conventional Power Plants

    Author: Paolo Tomaini Conventional power plants are being disrupted by an increasing demand for renewable energy. The priority in providing energy to the grid associated with the intermittent intrinsic nature of the renewable energy output is creating a shift from base-load power down to cycling in traditional plants and causing failures. The demand for renewables is only expected to grow over the next few decades…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: What Digital Transformation Could Mean for a Combined Cycle Plant

    Author: Douglas Morris The growth of renewables and distributed energy resources are challenging the traditional economic models of the utility industry. A growing school of thought in power generation is that embracing some form of digital transformation could very well provide an avenue for better economics. The problem is, though, that digital transformation has been ill defined and the focus is on “the technology…
  • Alternative Energy Blog: What Digital Transformation Could Mean for a Combined Cycle Plant

    Author: Douglas Morris The growth of renewables and distributed energy resources are challenging the traditional economic models of the utility industry. A growing school of thought in power generation is that embracing some form of digital transformation could very well provide an avenue for better economics. The problem is, though, that digital transformation has been ill defined and the focus is on “the technology…