Enhancing Plant Start-Up Reliability: Independent Critical Equipment Evaluations

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calvin E. Kinsel ◽  
Richard Eckersley ◽  
Stephen Stulak
Keyword(s):  
Start Up ◽  
Commercial Operation ◽  
Equipment Failures ◽  
Under Construction

This paper describes a program instituted by Reliant Energy in 2002 to enhance the reliability of certain equipment that have been designated as being critical to the successful start-up of their plants under construction. The goal of the program is to reduce the risk of failing to meet forecasted Commercial Operation dates on plants under construction due to equipment failures during commissioning and start-up.

Commissioning and Early Operating Experience Point Aconi Circulating Fluidized Bed, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

1995 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-404
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Fluidized Bed ◽  
Circulating Fluidized Bed ◽  
Operating Experience ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Site Testing ◽  
Cape Breton ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Commercial Operation

The paper gives a summary description of the commissioning and early operating experience on the Circulating Fluidized Bed Unit at Nova Scotia Power Incorporated's Point Aconi Generating Plant. The experience quoted is limited to the boiler and auxiliaries including ash handling. Both coal and limestone characteristics have presented some unique challenges to the start-up of this unit and have required major on site testing and some field modifications to address them. The current status of the unit is given with a description of the on-going activities that will follow to complete the final commercial operation of the plant.

The Effect and Remedy of Nozzle Loads on Boiler Feed Pumps

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan P. Flory ◽  
William C. Livoti
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Base Plate ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Real Cost ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Commercial Operation ◽  
Current Design ◽  
Ring Section ◽  
Section Type ◽  
Motor Vibration

Many frequently encountered start-up and operational problems in current design combined cycle power plants can be traced to pipe strain and nozzle loads placed upon pumps. This is most dramatic when the boiler feed pump is affected. Many of the symptoms are significant and can include misalignment, dynamic (changing) alignment, pump or motor vibration, bearing problems, mechanical seal failures and seizure of equipment on start-up and shutdown. While these are all nuisance items that can plague plant shake-down and commissioning, some can generate huge costs and plant unscheduled outages. More profoundly, these symptoms are often all present, making accurate diagnosis of the true cause very difficult. The real cost of these problems can be seen in plants missing commercial operation dates. Some of the piping issues that can cause these symptoms will be discussed, items including hydraulic aspects of the piping design, straight runs, horizontal runs, venting, location of minimum flow valve, and pipe hanger location. Also, the use of pre-fabricated pipe and spool pieces will be discussed. A short discussion will also be presented on how these piping issues impact various designs of pumps, such as barrel pumps, horizontal split case and ring section type pumps. This will also include some comments on pump mounting issues such as base-plate installation, the use of pin & key blocks and pedestal design. All of the discussions will be summarized and then presented with several recommendations for piping repair, operational changes, and material reinforcement. Optional pump features will be presented, indicating what items can be used to improve operation and reliability when abnormal nozzle loads are expected, including comments on internal clearances, wear part metallurgy and bearing upgrades. These recommendations will be compared against several field experiences for confirmation, with some focus on nozzle load data vs. design, and operation prior to and after strain removal. This combination of field results and engineering analysis of this topic should prove quite useful to the engineer attempting to diagnose any symptoms found in the field. Often times several symptoms may be present, making diagnosis difficult and it is only the methodical steps of symptom elimination that will get the new power plant on the way to commercial operation.

scholarly journals Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Project and Hydropower Development in Laos

1970 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 14-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xaypaseuth Phomsoupha
Keyword(s):  
Hydropower Project ◽  
Success Story ◽  
Hydropower Development ◽  
Hydro Power ◽  
Energy And Environment ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Commercial Operation ◽  
Under Construction ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Power Project

Hydropower development and exporting electricity to neighboring countries is a success story in Laos. Several projects are under construction and some projects are already exporting electricity. The Nam Theun 2 Hydro-power Project (1000MW+86MW) started commercial operation on 15 March 2010. This project is exporting electricity to Thailand which is part of the MOU signed between Governments of Thailand and Laos for exporting 7000 MW to Thailand. In almost all projects, the Govt. of Laos is also a share holder.Key words: Hydropower development; Cross border electricity export; Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Project; LaosDOI: 10.3126/hn.v7i0.4227Hydro Nepal Journal of Water, Energy and Environment Vol 7, July, 2010Page: 14-16Uploaded date: 31 January, 2011

Bidding of the ‘Agua Prieta’ Wastewater Treatment Plant for the city of Guadalajara, México

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Pérez ◽  
C. Coll ◽  
R. Robles ◽  
T. Martínez ◽  
G. Limón
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Primary Treatment ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Activated Sludge Reactor ◽  
Under Construction ◽  
Technical Features ◽  
Bidding Process

During 2008 and 2009 a bidding process was undertaken for the Agua Prieta Wastewater Treatment Plant. The awarded contract included partial financing, design, build, equipment supply, start up and 20 years operation and maintenance. Plant capacity is 8,500 L/s as mean flow and population equivalent of 4.9 millions. The treatment process is composed of pretreatment, primary treatment, activated sludge reactor and secondary clarification. Sludge is anaerobically digested, using the produced biogas for electricity cogeneration. The site in which the plant is located has significant restrictions in relation to size and other features. These had a relevant impact in the offered treatment processes. The purpose of this paper is to share the experiences gained in this complex bidding process, including the guidelines and design criteria incorporated in the bidding documents, as well as the main technical features of the selected proposal. The plant is presently under construction.

Mechanical Handling Aspects of the Tilbury Grain Terminal

1970 ◽  
Vol 185 (1) ◽  
pp. 895-909
Author(s):  
J. B. Griffith ◽  
D. W. R. Addicott
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Remote Control ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
Dust Suppression ◽  
Dead Weight ◽  
Mechanical Handling ◽  
The World ◽  
Commercial Operation ◽  
Under Construction

The grain terminal for the Port of London Authority (P.L.A.) began commercial operation in April 1969. It is designed for discharge of ships up to about 45 000 ton dead weight (d.w.) at rates up to a maximum of 2000 ton/h. The installation provides two discharging machines of the marine tower type, 105 000 ton of silo storage capacity and an ability to handle from ships to silo, rail, road, coaster or to adjacent flour mills. It also permits loading out to coaster or barge either by direct trans-shipment or from silo. Many alternative handling routes are provided and a very large degree of remote control has been incorporated. The majority of the routes are capable of handling up to 1000 ton/h over a single conveyor. The marine towers are unique in Europe and probably incorporate a greater degree of sophistication than exists in any similar equipment in the world. This paper describes briefly the background leading to the construction of the terminal and the layout of the whole installation. Some of the more interesting points in the mechanical handling control system employed with particular reference to the marine towers, methods of routing, tripper control and dust suppression are described in detail. Comparisons are made between the installation at Tilbury and the installation at present under construction for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company at Seaforth.

Aerated biological filtration for the removal of ammonia and manganese in a major new water treatment works under construction in Hong Kong

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.R. Heard ◽  
B.G. Hoyle ◽  
M.J. Hieatt
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Ammonia Removal ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Transfer Scheme ◽  
Biological Filtration ◽  
Manganese Removal ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Flow Changes ◽  
Under Construction

Construction is currently under way in Hong Kong of a US$ 575 million water treatment and transfer scheme including the first 250 Ml/d stage of a new water treatment works at Tai Po, with an ultimate capacity of 1,200 Ml/d. The design incorporates primary aerated biological filters for ammonia and manganese removal as a key element of the treatment strategy. Pilot filter work was carried out for a period of over twelve months covering seasonal variations. The work included investigations into “start up” times; ammonia removal efficiency at different filtration rates; effects of flow changes; ammonia peaks and temperatures; aeration and chemical dosing requirements; recovery after a “kill” and operation in both downflow and upflow modes. The pilot filters demonstrated the process to be effective and robust and provided design parameters for the sizing of the process units and for the provision of chemical dosing and aeration equipment. The paper sets the context to the scheme, describes the pilot filter work and the results, discusses the reaction kinetics and shows how the design parameters obtained from the pilot filter work were used in the development of the engineering design of the treatment works.

Sewage Sludge Disposal in Southern California, U.S.A.

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 1431-1440 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Garber
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Southern California ◽  
Federal Court ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Sludge Disposal ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Under Construction ◽  
Dried Sludge ◽  
Short Time ◽  
The City

Disposal of sewage solids resulting from wastewater treatment processes has historically been the most difficult and “unsolved” problem in the handling of water-carried wastes in Southern California. Continuing rapid growth combined with Federal laws which essentially prohibit any discharge of sludge to the ocean regardless of net effects upon the land) water and air total environment have exacerbated this problem to an almost critical state. Complex incineration processes directed at producing energy from dried sludge while minimizing negative atmospheric impacts are under construction. Their complexity has resulted in start-up problems related to the short time allowed for design and break-in by Federal Court action. Increased sludge disposal amounts are also resulting from Federal insistence upon full secondary treatment prior to ocean disposal regardless of net environmental impact. Four large facilities were examined: the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, the City of San Diego and the City of Los Angeles. Differing approaches to disposal have been chosen with landfills receiving most sludge at the present and incineration planned for most in the future. Description of the current practices with the amounts of solids to be disposed of and the current costs are outlined.

scholarly journals The Ablation Casting Process

2009 ◽  
Vol 618-619 ◽  
pp. 591-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Grassi ◽  
John Campbell ◽  
Martin Hartlieb ◽  
Fred Major
Keyword(s):  
Direct Contact ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Eutectic Silicon ◽  
Casting Process ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Commercial Operation ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Enhanced Properties ◽  
First Time

A new patented casting process is described, based on a precision aggregate mold, bonded with a water-soluble binder. For the first time the twin functions of the mold (i) defining shape and (ii) providing cooling have been successfully separated allowing the production of castings of all sizes and shapes (thin and thick walls) for all Al and Mg alloys. Because solidification and cooling are separately controlled by the application of water a number of advantages follow immediately. The mold is ablated (i.e. eroded) away by the water without fume or dust and the ‘air gap’ is eliminated by direct contact with the water, enhancing the rate of solidification to levels normally unattainable, resulting in significantly enhanced properties. The unusual microstructures of Al-Si alloys having large DAS but micron-sized eutectic silicon indicates, in agreement with earlier predictions, that DAS per se does not control strength or ductility. The process is currently proving itself in commercial operation, having the additional advantages of modest start-up and tooling costs as well as low competitive piece part costs because of the use of low cost materials and the recycling of aggregate and water.

scholarly journals Commercial Operation of the Racer Combined-Cycle System

1985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Truman
Keyword(s):  
Energy Recovery ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Rankine Cycle ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
First Year ◽  
Cycle System ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Commercial Operation ◽  
New System

The RAnkine Cycle Energy Recovery (RACER) System represents a significant departure from the traditional approach to combined cycle. Innovative features are incorporated to provide benefits in reliability, simplicity, and cost of operation. This paper discusses experience gained with start-up and commercial operation of the new system and presents results of hardware inspection following the first year of use.

A Magnetic Spectrometer for a Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope

1974 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 436-437
Author(s):  
A. Kosiara ◽  
J. W. Wiggins ◽  
M. Beer
Keyword(s):  
Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope ◽  
Magnetic Spectrometer ◽  
Fringe Field ◽  
Curvature Radius ◽  
Magnetic Pole ◽  
Quadrupole Field ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Scanning Transmission ◽  
Under Construction ◽  
Image Position

A magnetic spectrometer to be attached to the Johns Hopkins S. T. E. M. is under construction. Its main purpose will be to investigate electron interactions with biological molecules in the energy range of 40 KeV to 100 KeV. The spectrometer is of the type described by Kerwin and by Crewe Its magnetic pole boundary is given by the equationwhere R is the electron curvature radius. In our case, R = 15 cm. The electron beam will be deflected by an angle of 90°. The distance between the electron source and the pole boundary will be 30 cm. A linear fringe field will be generated by a quadrupole field arrangement. This is accomplished by a grounded mirror plate and a 45° taper of the magnetic pole.

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