BIOS, ABSTRACTS, PHOTOS
August 8, 2013
“Improving Power Plant Efficiency and Power Generation”
RICHARD F. (DICK) STORM - STORM TECHNOLOGIES
BIO: Dick Storm is the Founder (1992) and a Senior Consultant for Storm Technologies in Albemarle, NC. Storm has worked in the power industry for over 45 years. Storm has been involved for decades in clean, reliable, efficient coal combustion for electric power generation. Experiences include boiler diagnostic and acceptance testing, operations and maintenance, outage planning, boiler renovations for performance and reliability improvements, design of burner and combustion systems, design of airflow measurement systems, boiler emission reductions improvements and consulting services to the electric power, primary metals and other heavy industries. Prior to starting Storm Technologies in 1992, Storm has been a Results Engineer for Babcock and Wilcox, Field Service Engineer for Riley Stoker, Principal Engineer at Carolina Power and Light and head of the Technical Services department for Flame Refractories.
Storm is a co-presenter of the short course, "Large Electric Utility Boiler Combustion and Performance Improvements".
Storm has long supported applying the fundamentals in combustion and performance improvements of large coal fueled utility boilers. The basics of measuring and controlling fuel and air are more important than ever in today's competitive generation markets.
ABSTRACT: Here are some suggestions to consider.
There are both competitive pressures of natural gas fueled plants combined with ever increasing regulations. An engineer in a coal fueled utility or large IPP plant might want to take a fresh look at some fairly low cost options to improve emissions, provide fuel flexibility, improve reliability, increase capacity and while at it, make the generating units more responsive to load demand changes. These are difficult challenges. The vastly overlooked opportunities are to first apply the Fundamentals. You may have heard me say this before, I have been publishing and presenting this approach for a long time. The facts are that most pulverized coal plants can still reap major benefits by applying the Fundamentals first. What fundamentals? Here are some examples:
The path to excellence in applying the above is relatively low cost compared to the large capital costs of major backend equipment. However, those of us that concentrate on the furnace “Inputs” wonder why so much capital is spent on the backend when it is the “Inputs” that can make a dramatic impact for performance improvements.
CHARLES W. BULLINGER - GREAT RIVER ENERGY
BIO: Charlie Bullinger is presently Senior Principle Engineer for Great River Energy. He has been working for Great River Energy since 1977; first as a systems engineer during start-up of two 550MW lignite-fired electric generation facilities and then held a variety of positions including Performance Engineer and Engineering Leader for 13 of those years. In 1997, he organized and led a team of professionals who developed GRE's Coal Refining Technology (DryFining); Round 1 Clean Coal Power Initiative project selected by the NETL/DOE. Presently, as Senior Principle Engineer, Charlie is responsible for marketing the “Dryfining” technology and also investigating new generation as well as carbon capture & sequestration methods for Great River Energy. He is utility chair for EPRI's CoalFleet Advanced Generation Program (Program 66) and advisor for programs 75 and 165 Carbon Capture and Sequestration.
A Mandan, North Dakota native and North Dakota State University graduate in Mechanical Engineering. He is also a Registered Professional Engineer in North Dakota (#3773) & Minnesota (#24364). He has been a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for over 30 years.
ABSTRACT: Application of the DryFining™ Technology for Improved Efficiency & Emission Reduction
The DryFining™ technology is a patented process developed by the Great River Energy (GRE). The technology utilizes fluid bed based heat exchangers to reduce coal moisture content by recovering waste heat generated by a power unit. In addition, the DryFining beneficiates coal by separating undesirable constituents, such as sulfur, mercury and ash. GRE has been continuously operating eight 125 ton/hr DryFining units at their 1200 MW Coal Creek station since 2009, where implementation of the technology resulted in a significant improvement of the plant thermal efficiency.
TODD MELICK – PROMECON USA, Inc.
BIO: Todd is Vice President of PROMECON USA, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of PROMECON, GmbH with offices in Orrville, Ohio. PROMECON manufacturers a number of process flow measurement instruments which can be applied to optimize a wide variety of industrial processes.
Before joining PROMECON, Todd worked for Babcock & Wilcox and General Electric. His duties were focused on fossil fuel combustion for 23 years. Todd received his BSME degree from Akron University.
ABSTRACT: Advanced Instrumentation for Improved Plant Operation
PROMECON provides process instrumentation for measuring coal, air, unburned carbon-in-ash, and high temperature gas streams. Balancing the air and fuel will allow a reduction in excess air while monitoring the carbon-in-ash, which will result in improved boiler efficiency.
SCOTT AFFELT – ZOLO TECHNOLOGIES
BIO: Scott Affelt is Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Zolo Technologies. Zolo offers a unique laser-based sensor that can provide combustion constituent measurements and profiles in ultra-harsh combustion environments. Zolo is currently offering sensors to the coal-fired power and process industries to improve process efficiency and reduce emissions. Prior to joining Zolo Technologies, Mr. Affelt was President of Doosan Babcock Energy America LLC (formerly Mitsui Babcock USA LLC) and has over 20 years of experience in the energy field. Mr. Affelt holds a B.S. degree in Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an MBA from the University of Southern California.
ABSTRACT: This presentation will discuss how real-time, laser-based measurements can be used to create two-dimensional profiles of key combustion constituents (Temperature, O2 and CO) directly in the furnace. Measurement information from the furnace can allow operators and/or automated control systems to properly balance combustion thereby allowing more optimized combustion: improved efficiency and reduced emissions. Examples of how the real-time, in-furnace measurements have improved performance in coal-fired power plants will be discussed.