http://www.coalpowermag.com COAL POWER en-us 2013 Tue, 21 May 2013 9:02:05 EDT Dispatch competition between U.S. coal and natural gas plants has been a prominent feature of power markets since 2009. Gas prices have strengthened significantly over early 2012 levels, working to take pressure off coal plants for the upcoming year, according to a new analysis by SNL Energy.... http://www.coalpowermag.com/ops_and_maintenance/482.html Mon, 1 Apr 2013 0:00:00 EDT Fuel for power generation will account for about 55% of demand-related energy growth through 2040, ExxonMobil forecasts in its latest annual energy forecast. Like several other forecasters, the Irving, Texas–based oil and gas company also predicts that natural gas will emerge as the leading source of electricity generation by 2040.... http://www.coalpowermag.com/ops_and_maintenance/465.html Mon, 28 Jan 2013 0:00:00 EST The world’s first supercritical pulverized coal–fired low mass flux vertical tube Benson boiler is Jinzhushan 3, located in the Hunan Province of the People’s Republic of China. The 600-MW Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group Inc. once-through boiler burns Chinese anthracite using downshot pulverized coal (PC) technology. Part 1 of this three-part article presented a summary of the project design features. Part 2 discussed the boiler technology. This third and final part reviews the plant’s performance test results.... http://www.coalpowermag.com/ops_and_maintenance/468.html Mon, 28 Jan 2013 0:00:00 EST Proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules and a greater reliance on newer generation technologies have put the nation’s aging fossil-fueled generation units at risk of retirement. The numbers demonstrate that the U.S. power generating fleet is older than you may believe.... http://www.coalpowermag.com/ops_and_maintenance/470.html Mon, 28 Jan 2013 0:00:00 EST Duke Energy said  in mid-October that testing was under way in preparation for commercial operation next year of its 630-MW integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) Edwardsport power plant in Knox County, Ind.... http://www.coalpowermag.com/ops_and_maintenance/452.html Tue, 27 Nov 2012 0:00:00 EST This synopsis of today’s most interesting research related to power generation gives you a glimpse of what’s possibly coming to your plant in the not-so-distance future. Research under way today will surely determine how power plants are designed, operated, and maintained for many years to come.... http://www.coalpowermag.com/ops_and_maintenance/459.html Tue, 27 Nov 2012 0:00:00 EST Insulation and lagging are key to saving energy in a typical steam plant, and plant operators would be well advised to pay close attention to energy losses in their insulation and lagging systems.... http://www.coalpowermag.com/ops_and_maintenance/460.html Tue, 27 Nov 2012 0:00:00 EST The world’s first supercritical pulverized coal–fired low mass flux vertical tube Benson boiler is Jinzhushan 3, located in Hunan Province of the People’s Republic of China. The 600-MW Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group Inc. once-through boiler burns Chinese anthracite using downshot pulverized coal (PC) technology. Part 2 of this three-part article discusses the boiler technology. The third and final part will review the plant’s performance test results.... http://www.coalpowermag.com/ops_and_maintenance/463.html Tue, 27 Nov 2012 0:00:00 EST After years of development, design, and construction, your plant is finally nearly ready for startup. But don’t light that cigar yet—at least not until you’ve developed a strategy for commissioning your water cycle chemistry. Root causes of corrosion can be predicted and avoided. The best way to avoid corrosion is to develop and implement plant-specific cycle chemistry commissioning guidelines.... http://www.coalpowermag.com/ops_and_maintenance/437.html Mon, 24 Sep 2012 0:00:00 EDT Because Powder River Basin (PRB) coal is smaller, more friable, and contains more fine particulates than bituminous coal, controlling the fugitive dust generated as PRB coal moves from bunker to burner tip is problematic. The challenge for material-handling systems at power plants that have switched coals is to minimize this dust and capture it cost-effectively and without compromising safety.... http://www.coalpowermag.com/ops_and_maintenance/440.html Mon, 24 Sep 2012 0:00:00 EDT