Fluctuating Choke Valve Market Will Bounce Back

The choke valve market ranges between $250 million and $400 million per year depending on the definition and where we are in the oil and gas cycle. A significant portion of choke valve sales are to oil and gas companies. So, in the present depressed oil price market, we are in the lower range of sales. The definition also has a major effect on the revenue determination. The terms choke, control and axial are used in different ways.  With some definitions the market is much larger than with others.  Here are some ways the term is defined:

·       Flow path: Angle most important - if it is axial it is control, if it is angle it is choke.

·       Trim:  If one type of trim is used it is most suitable for choke, if another it is for control.

·       Location:  If it is extraction it is choke, if it is other applications it is control.

·       Valve type:  For some valve suppliers “choke” is just one of a number of applications and not a type of valve.

McIlvaine is pursuing refinements to its choke valve forecasts in N028 Industrial Valves: World Market.

At the same time, a Decision Guide on choke valves is being updated. This guide is displayed at: Choke Valve Decision Guide. 

Some additional information not yet posted to the guide includes the Severn globe and angle control valves where “choke” is an application and not a valve type.  Ross Waters of CGIS has guided us to the API Composite list which is updated daily.  It lists suppliers authorized to use the API Monogram on API Specification 6 A products for well head and Christmas Tree products. The highest specification level is 4.  Here are suppliers A-J meeting that level for chokes.

There are a substantial number of additional level 4 suppliers in the J-Z range as well as substantial numbers of companies with a level 3 authorization.

There is also API specification 16-C for choke and kill systems where drilling chokes are listed.  Among the suppliers included are Aswan National Oilwell Varco, Cameron, Chengde, Chongqing, Control Flow, Inc., Cortec, Delta, EXPRO and many others.

For more information on the reports, custom forecasting and technical analyses contact Bob McIlvaine at 847-784-0012 ext. 112 rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com

Market for Water used in Power Plants is Large and Fast Growing

Power plants extract and discharge more water than municipalities and industry combined. Water shortages and environmental regulations are opening a large market for many different technologies. The opportunities can be divided into three segments:

·       Water delivery

·       Water discharge

·       Water avoidance

Water Delivery:  The need to utilize alternative water sources presents a several billion dollar per year opportunity for:

·       Desalination:  A number of Chinese and Indian power plants have already incorporated desalinated water for cooling and boiler feedwater. Combined power and desalination plants already provide both municipal drinking water and power for many areas in the Middle East.

·       Use of treated municipal wastewater: Most power plants are within 100 miles of municipal wastewater plants.  With additional treatment this source is ideal for power plant needs.

Water discharge:  Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) is mandated for new power plants in China and is being evaluated for all new plants in water stressed regions.  In some areas, with plentiful water supply, ZLD has been chosen as a way to avoid delays in obtaining water discharge permits.

Regulations are tightening for plants which are discharging wastewater.  U.S. power plants have to meet new Emission Limit Guidelines (ELG).  The retrofit of scrubbers in the U.S., China and elsewhere has created new wastewater treatment challenges.

Water avoidance:   The steam plumes emanating from the stacks and cooling towers of plants are not only testimony to water loss but to inefficiency.  District heating is an alternative which can nearly double power plant efficiency. More modest efforts such as placement of the Blue Flint ethanol plant at one of the Great Rivers Energy power plants need to be explored.

Recirculated water for cooling towers results in a big reduction in water consumption versus once- through water.  The problem is the net water loss through evaporation. Dry cooling eliminates the water loss but requires considerable energy.  It is not practical in warm climates.

Initiatives to improve power plant efficiency have a direct effect on water consumption per unit of energy produced.  McIlvaine is conducting webinars on greater heat recovery from flue gas with more efficient air preheaters and the use of high temperature particulate removal to allow for the use of more efficient heat exchangers.

These opportunities need to be addressed on a plant by plant basis.  A number of Indian power plants have immediate needs. Adani Power has shut down five units of 660 MW capacity at the Tiroda plant in Maharashtra due to an acute water shortage. The 2100 MW coal-fired Farakka power station in West Bengal shut down its six turbines due to lack of water. The 1720 MW Raichur Thermal Power Station in Karnataka state has been hit by lack of water also. Since March 15, it has had to shut down several of its units indefinitely. The 1130 MW Parli power station in Maharashtra state has been shut down since July 2015 due to lack of water. NTPC's Solapur power plant is facing commissioning delays due in part to uncertainty over water supplies. In Karnataka's Krishna Basin, NTPC's Kudgi power plant and KPCL's Raichur power plant were affected by lack of water this summer.

Individual coal-fired power plant opportunities are tracked in two services:  42EI Utility Tracking System tracks all projects worldwide except China where projects are tracked in 42EIC Chinese Utility Plans.  Gas turbine projects are tracked in59EI Gas Turbine and Combined Cycle Supplier Program.  Biomass, hydro and geothermal projects are tracked in  N042 Renewable Energy World Markets.  The market opportunity is also addressed in a number of multi client market research reports Markets.  End users are aided by the following services 44I Power Plant Air Quality Decisions, Gas Turbine and Combined Cycle Decisions, Decision Guides.

Utility E-Alert Tracks Billions of Dollars of New Coal-fired Power Plants on a Weekly Basis

Here are some headlines from the Utility E-Alert.

UTILITY E-ALERT

#1281 – July 15, 2016

Table of Contents

COAL – US

• Settlement reached in Colstrip Environmental Litigation pending Court Approval
• Restrictions of Emission Levels for Cheswick Coal-fired Power Plant in Springdale Township, Allegheny County, PA
• Environmentalists and Utilities eye Virginia Coal Ash Trial
• Amec Foster Wheeler wins Coal Ash Treatment Project in Kentucky

COAL – WORLD

• China to add Coal Plants despite Pledge to lower Capacity
• Bangladesh and India sign Rampal Power Plant construction Agreement
• GE to supply Equipment for Turkish Coal-fired Power Plant modernization

The 41F Utility E-Alert is issued weekly and covers the coal-fired projects, regulations and other information important to the suppliers. It is $950/yr. but is included in the $3020 42EI Utility Tracking System which has data on every plant and project plus networking directories and many other features.

 HOT TOPIC HOUR (HTH) SCHEDULE

Click here to Register for the Webinars

Details on Webinars

McIlvaine conducts periodic webinars which are in a discussion format and are free of charge to all participants. The displayed material and recordings are free to purchasers of the products and services and by subscription to others.

Format:  50-90-minute recorded discussion using McIlvaine display material. The session will be free of charge to all participants but registration is required.

Approach: There are two types of webinars. One is focused on Markets and directed to suppliers. The other is focused on aiding purchasers make the best Decisions relative to purchases of flow control and treatment equipment and services.

Markets HTH
General overviews of the market including size and major variables will be discussed with heavy emphasis on technology and regulatory drivers. The presentation will be based on the latest information appearing in McIlvaine multi-client reports. Questions and views from both subscribers and non-subscribers are encouraged.

Decisions HTH
McIlvaine has been publishing information systems on pollution control since 1974. Each subject is organized by the pollutant control technology e.g. fabric filter, scrubber etc. There are search capabilities to retrieve information on any application. The newest addition has been slide deck systems displaying the issues and options relative to specific applications. Coal-fired power, cement, steel, and waste combustion decision slide decks are continually updated.

The continually updated slide decks are displayed on the applicable Decision System.  It is recommended that participants view the slide deck in advance of the session and be prepared with questions and views.

Value to purchasers and specifiers:  Your questions and interests will be prioritized in the discussion. You will get a monthly newsletter and have continuing access to the system and multiple ways to interface in the future along with a networking directory of suppliers.

Value to Suppliers:  You have the opportunity to provide data to be considered at no charge. If you are also a subscriber you will see the summaries in advance and be able to shed light on issues and options not properly covered in the slide deck.  If you are a subscriber you will receive the monthly newsletter and continuing yearly access to the system including networking directories.

44I Power Plant Air Quality Decisions  includes 1ABC, 3ABC, 4ABC, 9ABC decision services but not 2ABC. So those with multiple technologies and at least partial focus on power will find this combination most cost effective. 

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Bob McIlvaine
President
847-784-0012 ext 112
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com
www.mcilvainecompany.com