Innovation in Global Power - Parsons Brinckerhoff

GENERATION:
Thermal – Achieving New Efficiencies, Reducing Carbon Emissions
Best Practices Across a Range of Technologies
The public awareness of climate change and energy issues has risen dramatically in the last two to
three years. There appears to be growing acceptance of the need to be energy smart and to
reduce carbon emissions.
An example is the identification of energy savings by finesse of thermal cycle. The NuGas
concept and the energy efficiency projects at Co-op City and the SUNY campus in Brockport,
New York combine an already efficient plant in a way that gains an extra advantage. The process
for cleaning the steam and evaporator units at the Keppel Energy Plant in Singapore reduced
on-site time and improved steam and water quality during commissioning. These are elegant
no-cost or low-cost solutions that were developed by thinking that went the extra step.
The demand for increasing thermal efficiencies in our power plants is pushing up temperatures,
making it even more important to ensure safe design and operation of these facilities. Stewart
Gray has developed an expertise in hazardous areas engineering due, in part to having witnessed
many instances of people not understanding the rules and vocabulary involved, and he knows of
the severe consequences that can result. His article highlights some of the steps engineers can
take a various stages to help ensure such disasters do not occur.
The paper on carbon capture and storage gives insight to a dilemma facing many of PB’s clients.
The world-wide management of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere is crucial to slowing
the rate of global warming. This can be achieved by combinations of improved efficiency in
combustion of fossil fuels, moves to low-carbon or carbon-free fuels, or carbon capture. At present
carbon capture is not mandated but this may arise, just as happened with reduction of nitrogen
oxides emissions (NO and NO2). As with Renewable Energy Certificates, a market may develop
to provide incentives to “clean” operators, funded by penalties on those with less clean processes.
PB is well placed to assist its clients in this topical and important area of technology.
The use of Monte Carlo techniques is a novel approach to optimize generation capacity for a
random load profile. The team went beyond traditional engineering analysis, reduced uncertainty
and provided the client with increased confidence in PB’s appraisal. Other PB teams can adopt
this approach to determine the most economical technical solution yet minimize the risk of a
shortfall in installed capacity.
The emergency power generation project for hospitals in New York City applied PB expertise
and good practice to solve a real and serious issue with old and inadequate life-safety
equipment. The projects required improvement work to progress on old, dispersed,
sometimes poorly documented infrastructure without disruption to essential services.
These articles illustrate projects and technologies with a range of complexity, but each team has
a depth of expertise and knowledge to assist clients in its sector.
Please see page 89 for a list of many additional thermal generation and carbon reduction articles
from past PB publications.
Paul Kenyon
Engineering Manager, Newark, New Jersey
PB Network #68 / August 2008 4