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JULY 2012

A WoodwardBizMedia Publication

www.energy-tech.com

ENERGY-TECH

Dedicated to the Engineering, Operations & Maintenance of Electric Power Plants

In Association with the ASME Power Division

Biomass benefits in power generation

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A balancing problem with an extra challenge Using magnetostrictive sensors for turbine valves Exploring oxy-fuel combustion

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ASME Feature
  • Investigation on flame characteristics of oxy-fuel combustion
Bidhan Dam, MD Islam, Norman Love and Ahsan Choudhuri

Oxy-fuel combustion, the burning of a fuel in the presence of oxygen instead of air, has been used previously and shows promise for becoming a successful post-combustion CO2 capture technique. It is currently being considered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Innovations for Existing Plants Program to meet the goal of capturing 90 percent CO2 capture without increasing the cost of electricity more than 35 percent. In a power generation system, implementing oxy-fuel combustion technology co...
Editor's Note
  • A seismic shift for coal
Andrea Hauser

On Wednesday, June 20, Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Inhofe brought Joint Resolution 37 to the U.S. Senate floor for a vote. The resolution was an attempt to block the EPA’s Utility MACT rule using the Congressional Review Act, which gives Congress the authority to overturn federal rules. According to an article in The State Journal, it’s been used successfully only once before. It was the first day of summer, but a last grasp at dominance for a fuel that has been the primary source of...
Feature
  • "Co-fire pellets" for emissions reduction and renewable energy generation
Andrew Friend

According to a report from the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), carbon dioxide emissions from power plants rose 5.56 percent in 2010 compared to the prior year, the biggest annual increase since the Environmental Protection Agency began tracking emissions in 1995. The EIP also reported that coal-fired boilers provided 45 percent of the electric power in the United States in 2010, and were responsible for 81 percent of U.S. CO2 emissions from power plants. In the past decade, carbon d...
  • Possible alternative to linear variable differential transformers
Justin Thibault

Results of a two-year field demonstration, sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute, indicate that magnetostrictive sensors might provide a possible alternative to linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) for monitoring turbine valves in power generation applications. In this field demonstration, the magnetostrictive sensors performed reliably and with results identical to the LVDTs — even continuing to produce results when the LVDT failed. This technology has several ...
Machine Doctor
  • A challenging balance problem
Patrick J. Smith

The purpose of this article is to present a case study of a challenging balance machine problem. A steam turbine rotor was sent to a machine shop for a standard low-speed balance during a planned turbine overhaul. Prior to the overhaul the turbine vibration levels were higher than desired, but had been stable for 6 years. This shop was very experienced with rotor balancing, and a turbine OEM representative was present to witness the balance job. But the problems encountered were not anticipat...
Maintenance Matters
  • Environmental contamination control
Kevin Kroger

From remote physical locations, to 24/7 operation to bulk supply storage, engines used in power generation are susceptible to a particular number of maintenance and environmental issues unique to the application. What is not unique, however, is that engines used in power generation need to remain at optimum performance levels since they are often the only practical means of providing electricity in remote or off-grid areas. This article will briefly explore the positive effect of bypass oi...