Blog - Post List

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Alternative Energy Blog: Heat Recovery Steam Generator Purge Credit Success

    Jim Cahill
    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

    Jim Cahill
    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

    Jim Cahill
    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

    Jim Cahill
    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

    Jim Cahill
    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

    Jim Cahill
    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

    Jim Cahill
    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

    Jim Cahill
    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

    Jim Cahill
    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

    Jim Cahill
    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

    Jim Cahill
    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…

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