RENEWABLE lop Pats ” mMAED EUD : Tr oe a CT a. A —— Pre Cu Rin slnlelmliads =") STEEL COMPONENTS eae E Megat) i—= a Pate 1 Amp ala =I j ama | I Oa : iN i | ‘ i bs 1 le RENTECH BOILERS. AS TOUGH AS TEXAS. eRENTECHe ‘At RENTECH, every boiler’s custom built. The conditions, demands and specs af your application are unique — and mission critical to suoce engineers will analyze design an int solution. Then we'll construct and deliver boiler thats durabl and clean running. Aways the best and never off the shelf BOILERS FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW AND CARE ® Pe Leewww.powermag.com Public vs. Private: What's Best for Power Customers? ‘Turkey Banking on Geothermal Projects to Boost Domestic Generation ‘THE BIG PICTURE: Renewable Portfolio Standards Nigeria Enlists Siemens to Help Shore Up Power Grid POWER Heavy Hauling: Moving 300-Ton Gas Engines from Europe to Michigan Shook Pulse Generators Help Clean Supercritical Power Plant Boilers Developing an ‘insurance Policy’ to Ensure Stability for Renewables-Heavy Grids ‘A Renewable Benefit: Texas Extends Tax Abatement Program By Tony Trahan, KE Andrews COVER FOCUS: RENEWABLE TOP PLANTS Successful Dam Stabilization Project Improves Safety and Reliability ‘The Bagnell Dam in Missouri created the Lake of the Ozarks some 90 yeers ago. The dam is a symbol of U.S. hydropower, and also represents the age of the nation’s hydro infrastructure. A recent stabilization project proves how everything old can be new again PV Peaker Plant a Model for SolarPlus-Storage Projects ‘An innovative solarplus-storage project on the Hawaiian island of Kaus‘ is @ ‘model not only as a PV peaker plant, but also for its ancillary benefits. It sup- pports three vital scenarios, including supplying the grid while charging the battery system: dispatching stored power during times of peak demand; and dispatching solar and battery power simultaneously when demand spikes. Solar Baseload in the Kalahari: Kathu Solar Park ‘A 100-MW concentrated solar power (CSP) project stretches across 4.5 square kilometers of a larger energy park in South Africa. The array is notable for its innovative technology, and also for its commitment to the economic, environ ‘mental, and social fabric of the region. Rush to Renewables Brings Wind Power to Colorado's Plains ‘A Colorado wind farm, spread across 95,000 acres at two sites on the state's Eastern Plains, is among the latest additions to the nation’s renewable energy fleet. Xcol Energy's Rush Creek instalation plays a key role inthe utility's push to expand its wind power resources. ‘Small Hydro Innovation Revitalizes Scotland’s Storr Lochs Plant ‘A decades-old Scottish hydropower plant has been refurbished with modern technology, part of an overhaul that should extend the facility's life a it re duces maintenance issues and improves the plant’ efficiency. Solar Plant Aims to be ‘Benchmark of Excellence’ ‘A solar farm in India is equipped with the latest tracker technology, enabling the solar panels to turn in syne with the sun's path through the day, and maxi mizing the energy captured from the sun by some 20%. The plant’s automa- tion system monitors the performance of each string of solar panels. Sette 2 8 10 2 “ 6 16 "7 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 ONTHE COVER This month, POWER recognizes Top Plant award winners in the renew. able energy category. The cover image comes from a 100-MW South African Concentrated solar power project. The Kathu Solar Park utilizes parabolic trough technology, and includes a 1,550-MWth molten salt system, which allows the plant to generate electricity even after the sun sets. Courtesy: SENERFEATURES: GAS TURBINE Decarbonizing the Power Sector with Renewable Gas 34 ecarbonizing the production of electricity is @ goal for many in the power sector, and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems is pushing its technology of re- rnewable hydrogen, or hydrogen produced from renewable power resources. Its @ process using excess solar and wind power to create hydrogen through electrolysis, and burning the hydrogen in gas turbines. ‘TECHNOLOGY Five Inspections Made Easier with Drone Technology 36 The use of drones, oF uncrewed aerial systems (UASS), continues to grow in the power industry. UASs can detect falling structures and equipment in less time and for less cost than traditional inspection methods, and are safer to use as they reduce the need for personnel to enter dangerous areas. COAL ‘The Theory and Application of Acoustic Cleaners 40 Sonic sootblowers and acoustic cleaners are no longer an afterthought for help with ash build-up issues, The technology has proven effective, and can be a plant operator's first choice as a cleaning technique, providing cost savings, improved efficiency, and reducing the risk of damage to important equipment. ‘Combustion Optimization to Improve Heat Rate and Lower NO, 4 Operating @ power plant in the comfort zone is not always the most-efficient option. A Midwest power plant used a combustion optimizer system to im- prove efficiency and lower emissions, while allowing for flexible operation of the boilers by manipulating fuel and air control settings via closed-loop biases. OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE ‘Changing Power Market Conditions Warrant Smart Boiler Servi a7 “wo executives from Sumitomo SFW and its new Americas service unit talk about the North American power market, and how the SFW group is support- ing power plant operators, particularly these running cool-fired units. BUSINESS ‘The X Factor in the Power Market's New Math ‘Web With customers increasingly demanding additional value from ther relation- ships with energy providers, there's a huge opportunity for utilities to expand their scope beyond delivery of an energy commodity. Given how heavily en- ergy consumers value experiences, experience management (XM) is becom- ing increasingly important to the long-term competitive standing of power companies. (Visit powermag.com and search “X Factor New Math” for this online-only exclusivel) PLANT RELIABILITY How to Ensure Plant Reliability and Regulatory Compliance Web Ensuring compliance with ever changing regulations —and comprehensively documenting thet compliance in case of incident review—takes timely, deep, and detailed attention. In some cases, third-party help can mean the differ ence between fully satistving requirements or failing customers CONNECT WITH POWER ‘and paying hefty fines. (Visit powermag.com and search “Plant Reliability If you like POWER magazine, follow us on- and Regulatory Compliance" for this online-only exclusive!) Line for timely industry news and comments. | EQUIPMENT SHOWCASE Pumps 51 Become our fan at facebook:.com/ The equipment showcase section includes products from a variety of ver FoWGinojtine dor tat ere the power generation ine This month the feu i os Follow us on Twitter COMMENTARY @POWERmagazine ‘What Keeps Energy Leaders Up at Night? It’s More About Climate Change Than You May Think 52 Join the LinkedIn POWER magazine ByYounghoon David Kim, World Energy Couneil Group and the Women in Power Generation Group 2 wwe powermag com POWER senabe 08Wood. Wood is a global leader in the delivery of project, engineering and technical services in energy, industry and the built environment. We operate in more than 60 countries, employing around 60,000 people, with revenues of around $11 billion. We provide performance-driven solutions throughout the asset life cycle, from concept to decommissioning across a broad range of industrial markets, including the upstream, midstream and downstream oil & gas, power & process, environment & infrastructure, clean energy, mining, nuclear, and general industrial sectors. woodplc.com ePOWER EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION tof Drctr: Diy Loxowst, doxowsh@eccessine con [Emevtive Edn: Avon Larson sarsonOncesentl cont Senior Associate Editor: So Pats onalaccssie cm ‘Aetociat Edo: Oss str epacer@vccesortalcom Senior Grape Designers Got mon nrodsccesnnte com Prodvtion Manager Carers tamgunsscessn com Conaoar: uk Spar Chases Fry Tony aan: Den Dai: Sve ares Don {33 Camron Nee Pa foe Kee Ro Karn: mas Ere ‘Chatgnar Smith ad ounghean Or er Vie Present and Group Pubshe, ‘Enoray& Engnenring Group: Vette: Gat, 71960-1682. mat oomema com [ADVERTISING SALES. Wester US/Canada: Cristo! Harte, 7138-353, chet Oaccessitel cm [Emtam U8 /Cande/Latin Aten: Son Ss, 122962158 tavsvocenit com [UktBeneue/Scandnaia Germany? ‘Snitrtana/ Asti Easto Europe: Pv Tastes, 9 69 £800 <0 pastnaccasielcon WalyFranee/SpainPortupat:Forucoo Sher, +20) 2208 6716 lorsese@aiora Chine Rs Ton. +06 13818181202, mason dents. con Sap: Kateeo om 8 3 86012038 aatsBérear com nd: Fardoon Bk, 1 22 6570208182, ukaBrmarae cm ‘South Kore: Pte van,62 2416259, 22222651 preonatareet Cisatedadvertting Dene Breen, 713444 039, eurasondpanemag com AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT ‘Managing Ovectox Events & Maretng: J Roa ‘diene Developmen Deter Ss Goons Manetng Manager: nn" MP Fattiment Manager: Gouge Sovrne CUSTOMER SERVICE For ssc serie: B07adh com. 847859738 ‘ecronie and Paper Reprints: ron esa, sesenintl@wremas com, 6776525205 | BUSINESS OFFICE ‘Access alge, 1000 Richmond Avenue, Sue 60, Houston. TX 77082 [ACCESS INTELLIGENCE, LLC ‘Chil Executive Ofer Doras A Pasar Chit Operating Office: Het Frey nee Vie President & Chie Fran! Ofear res Ooie ‘Chie People Ofer: iy Fes Senior Vee President & Group Pusher [Aerospace & Eneray Jee Sort ‘Senior Vee President & Chia domation Otten: od Pscreh ‘Vice Preside Dita. Jon Poy Vice President Production, Digit! Mada & Doig: ich a= ‘Vice Presiden/Comorate Contain: Gos Sis FRELCONNECTEDPLANT Gh ELECTRIC oisraiureD Fmconrenence. ObSweE CEHEraY Vis POWER on the web: wry omermeg.com ‘Sect onne we wrormeubmugcom/echn POWER (SS 00228870 publehad monty by Acca Inttigece LC. 9211 Copan Bd Flo Boal ‘oes 4024 do easton mating rs Poumaster, Sard sssest canges 10 POWER, 9211 19007778006 Fox: 309083847 emai: chenservens® Canadian Post 40612608. Ronen Un Caran Detreseas to IMEX Gls Soha, PO. BOX 28542, Subserpons: Aisle ato x urtesy: Xcel Energy Rush Creek—Kelly spoke with POWER from the utility's new Cheyenne Ridge wind farm, another large-scale project under construction in eastern Colorado— said, “Myself and many of the people on the Rush Creek team worked together on other projects for Xcel in the eight years or so before [Rush Creek] started. We worked on the Comanche coal plant” on a project that added a third coal-fired unit to the plant in 2010, and “we built the Chero- kee plant” a new gas-fired combined cy- Sennen 282. Acrane its 2 turbine blade as it prepares ‘to maneuver it into place for installation on the racelle on a turbine tower at Rush Creek Xcel Energy wind farm includes 300 Vestas ‘model VITO 2-MW wind turbines, feeturing S4-meterlong blades. Courtesy: Gerald Kelly Energy cle piant that came online in 2016, “We had the [project development} expertise and we demonstrated this expertise on the [Rush Creek] project” Kelly said. 300 Turbines, 83-Mile Transmission Line The 300 Vestas V110 2.MW wind tur bines at Rush Creek provide a stunning visual across Colorado's Eastern Plains. The wind farm covers 95,000 acres in Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson, and Chey: enne counties. The project included an .83-mile, 345-KV transmission line (Figure 1), which passes through Elbert, Lincoln, and Arapahoe counties, and two new substations. The transmission line con- ects the two wind farm sites and new substations to Xcel's existing Missile Site Substation in Arapahoe County. Kelly said the turbines’ components were all manufactured and assembled in Colorado. The tower sections, in three pieces, were fabricated at a Vestas plant in Pueblo. Other parts were manufactured by Vestas at facities in Brighton and Windsor. Kelly said Vestas delivered all the turbines to the Rush Creek sites by truck. The wind farm's two sites are near the towns of Limon and Hugo. Construction took place simultaneously at both loca- tions. There are 190 wind turbines at a site south of Limon, and 110 turbines are sited northeast of Hugo. Foundation work for the project's wind turbines began in May 2017, Each turbine foundation requires about 300 yards of cconerete, reinforced with steel. Once the foundations were in place, turbines were installed. That work included setting three tower sections for each turbine, attaching ‘a hub to @ nacelle (shown in the photo at ‘Sipam2018| POWER the boginning of this article) that houses. all the generating components, and then setting the nacelle on top of the tower and attaching the blades (Figure 2). Each turbine blade is about 180 feet (64 meters) long; each turbine hub is about 260 feet tall. Cable from the wind. turbines to the substations is buried. ‘An Xcel fact sheet breaks down the project by the numbers: 300 wind turbines ‘= 448 transmission structures '= 167 milion pounds (total weight of the turbines) '= 845,000 cubic yards of concrete = 15 million pounds of rebar = 35 million feet of wire for transmis- sion lines. = 1 million feet of underground cable ‘= 28 miles (distance covered if all the bine blades were laid end-to-end) Kelly said Invenergy was the origi- nal developer of the project. “Pre- construction, Invenergy was the site developer.” Kelly said. “We approached them in early 2016. They had been de- veloping the two sites for years, look- ing at the wind data, to determine the Capacity factor for the project. In March 2017, they sold the project to us, pro- viding all the paperwork, leases, bird studies, [and] environmental studies. Vaisala, an environmental consultancy, provided due diligence reports for Xcel, Which included detailed analysis of me- teorological observations at the project sites, weather simulation, expected energy production, and uncertainties Surrounding generation predictions for the project. “Vaisala worked fast.” said Kelly, allowing Xcel to keep to its project, schedule. “They were flexible and met ‘our deadline. This allowed us to continue with our plans.” Mortensen was the main contractor for the project. “It was a threedegged stool” Kelly said. “Mortensen, Xcel, Ves- tas” Mortensen said Rush Creek was the single-lergest wind contract it had executed. The company's work at the two sites included building access roads, foundations, the collection system instal lation, operations and maintenance build ing, and erection and wiring of the 300 turbines. Other companies with roles in the project included PAR Electric, Hoop- er Corp., Great Southwestern Construc- tion, and Redeker Excavating. Kelly said the sites began producing power in August 2018, when the final section of the transmission line was en- eae) EE) Pees trey ergized, “and we finished our generator interconnections on Dec. 7, 2018: Job Creation and Economic Impact “We spent a lot of time meeting with all the contractors on safety issues,” Kelly said. “At the end of every day, we talked about what we hed seen that day. If we had any concems, that data wes commu- niicated to workers each morning” Kelly said anywhere from 100 to 300 workers were at the sites each workday. Kelly said “there are three or four ful: time Xcel employees” who now work at the wind farm. "We have hired Vestas under 10-year service and maintenance contract, and there are about 30 Vestas employees that are out there.” Mortensen estimated that the project could “potentially generate $180 milion in landowner lease payments and prop- erty tax revenue” The Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado said Rush Creek ultimately is expected to create more than 7000 jobs in Colo- rado, based on a 25-year analysis. Kelly noted the economic impact of the project beyond the power it provides to Xcel's customers. “The landowners get royalty payments,’ he said, referring to those on whose land Rush Creek resides. “Depending on the power that’s produced for the next 25 years, all the landowners get a cut of that. And of course, the coun- ties get their [tax revenuel” « —Darrell Proctor is a POWER associate editor.Small Hydro Innovation i Scotland's IZes The refurbishment of Storr Loch: a small hydropower plant built nearly 70 Wire ete CoM LLM tel el cre ole ToL RMU el ML ROL SLL) given the project new life and purpose. Sonal Patel ne re8son tht the North of Seo Tivstinsttie ean a and s power station e Son Lochs, fi remete pena onthe ile of ino foaty wes um 3 more sk yours fart compam—afich become ton, and today is known es SSE—wes esteblahed” As lowmolars a tho tne ove, develomant of yeropower projects inte Stich Highlands wold Before the 24¢MW Stor Lochs smal 1952, fo doves ton ody, Skye’ 09 dheal gorau, The sper houses Broad e meandering vilge thet fos ing Red Cuillin mountains, sourced their power from an underwater cable that 10 miles from Kyle of Lochalsh, from a power plant on the Scottish mainland, Considering the project's complexity w quickly it was completed is a marvel 9 station, today equipped two Francis turbines, is built at the wit base of a steep 107-meter (m, 350-foot) cliff on the shores of Bearreraig Bay. To get to the power plant, its developers built a flight of 647 steps—as well as an electrically operated funicular. As SSE explained, the project essentially makes use of a gross head of water of 136 m (446 feet), which cascades over sharp liffs, from Storr Lochs, a reservoir on 1e eastern coast of the Ttternish ‘eninsula, and which combines waters from the nearby Lochs Fada and Lea- than (Figure 1) For decades, the facility produced an average of 8 GWh per year, making it an integral part of the national elec: tricity supply network. More recently, however, SSE determined that the 70-year-old original plant equipment did current standards, and owing to its remote location, it was becoming difficult and expensive to maintain. One issue it faced was that it lacked automa- tion, which meant that start and stop, or load changes, had to be made manu ally. The balance-of-plant systems were ‘also becoming unreliable with limited ‘alarm monitoring in place. Because new technology was widely available on the market that could solve these problems, SSE moved to overhaul and completely modernize the plant. ‘Automating Water Flow ‘As part of the upgrade, which was com: pleted at the end of 2017, the plant re ceived two new turbines, provided byglobal technology firm Voith Group. No- tably, as Voith told POWER, each turbine is equipped with a novel control unit that regulates water flow by automat: cally adjusting the guide vanes (Figure 2). The technology is enabled by a sel contained autonomous compact drive that requires no oil pipe-works in the powerhouse or an additional accumula tor, and it works with a very low volume of hydraulic fluid Voith said it developed the technology based on its tried-and-tested servo-hy- draulic linear drive closed loop differential pump (CLDP), which its subsidiary Voith Turbo has offered for some years now in ‘a wide range of plants in sectors such as the food industry, test rigs, and labora- tory machines. It has never been used at a small hydropower facility, it said, For use at Storr Lochs, Voith adapt ed the CLOP to SSE's requirements. It was a smooth undertaking, “thanks to the extensive flexibility of the CLF" it said. "This development besed on a proven design is especially compact and can be easily installed and ser viced,” Voith noted. “In addition, the hydraulic regulation is environmentally friendly and energy efficient.” While the self-contained technology is ideal for the remote site, it also fulfils SSE's desire to reduce costs “because Seon 208 it allows almost all pre-commissioning to be done and witnessed in the work: shop environment thus avoiding a com- plex task being done on the construction site,” the company explained. Because it requires a low volume of hydraulic fluid, it ensures “particularly safe operation without fluid losses.” That also means ‘that the regular checks and inspections necessary in conventional systems can be dispensed with” And because it was pre-assembled at the turbine manufac turer's facilty—already filled with oil and pre-charged with nitrogen, requit ing only electrical connections—instal lation and commissioning efforts were kept to a minimum: It has also offered ‘enormous cost savings in conjunction with service,” Voith said. The system has been functioning at maximum reliability since the end of 2017, it confirmed, izing the Units Along with the new turbines, SE's re- furbishment project also included a full upgrade and replacement of the low-volt: age distribution, protection, and control equipment, efforts that have provided the plant with a “modern robust platform to support the station's operation into eae) EE) Winer v a Se i could cu MOET a, erin TEL d the the foreseeable future.” The plant was essentially equipped with an automated station control, based on reservoir level; visual indication from a human-machine interface; improved alarm, event moni- toring, and data logging; and remote links to SSE’s central control room in Perth—200 miles away. UK-based automation firm Servelec Controls undertook all of the design, installation, and commissioning for all panels, cabling, and software required to upgrade the systems. The units re- Quire identical control, power, protection, main inlet valve, and automatic voltage regulator panels. Each unit has its own programmable logic controller (PLC), and a third PLC controls the station ancil- lary services, Servelec noted. “Further panels operate these ancilary services, Which include the station battery sys- tem, remote telemetry, building ventila tion and extraction, winch house, station service change-over, and communice: tions connections between the station, winch house and valve house. Servelec then supplied all spares, cabling, junction boxes and software to complete the in- stallation’’ it said. The various hardware and software from a variety of different manufacturers—including Allen Bradley, Rockwell, SEL, and Voith—is integrated into a single architecture, The new control system now pro- vides a reliable, fully automated and Userfriendly system to support Storr Lochs’ operations for the next 25 years, Servelec said. “Designed to standards Consistent with other facility upgrade projects across the SSE fleet, it will pro vide improved control, a commonality of spares and reduce the amount of opera: tor training required” « —Sonal Patel is @ POWER senior associate editor.Me TOP PLANT The Veltoor facility in India has been honored for its cutting-edge technology, Pie Mae Sues urea reyes ema cece ore kg ii Coe Pateiucas kein conc aace cus Darrell Proctor ‘opment of renewable energy resourc- es has moved rapidly in recent years, helped by the world's lowest prices for solar power, according to the Interna- tional Renewable Energy Agency (IREA) ‘A 2018 IREA report said half of the 10 largest solar parks under construction globally were in India. CLP India Pvt. Ltd., which has oper- ated in India since 2002, has embraced wind and solar power technologies as part of its strategy of greater investment in renewables and low-carbon energy. CLP India is a subsidiary of Hong Kong- based CLP Group, one of the largest in- vestorowned power businesses in Asia, and Caisse de dépdt et placement du ‘Québec (CDPO), one of Canada’s leading institutional fund managers. The group is considered one of the largest foreign in- vestors in the Indian power sector. ‘Among those investments is CLP India’s Veltoor Solar Farm, located in Mahbubnagar, Telangana. Veltoor began producing power in 2017, was officially fully commissioned in early 2018, and CLP considers the facility part of its promise of “Powering Asia responsibly; noting the Veltoor plant “helps avoid 126,429 tons of CO; emissions annually” The 100-MW Veltoor facility is “aimed at becoming a benchmark of excellence in India,’ CLP said in an email to POWER, “The plant implemented cutting-edge technology and systems. It was awarded the world’s first-ever solar project qual- ity certificate for a photovoltaic [PV] plant by DNV GL (Det Norske Veritas, a Nor | die's transition toward greater devel- 2 1. Aworker atthe Veltoor solar facil site. CLP the plant operator said the sing! the group's solar portfolio. Courtesy: CLP india ‘wegian global quality assurance and risk management company]. Equipped with the latest tracker technology, the solar panels turn in sync with the sun's path through the day, maximizing the energy captured from the sun by ~20%. The plant automation system monitors the performance of each string of solar pan- els helping to maximize their yield” CLP seid the single-axis sun-tracking system (Figure 1) atVeltoor is the most advanced of its kind being used by the CLP Group. The Veltoor plant's perfor mance across its first several months of operation, and its place as a model for India’s burgeoning solar power in- dustry, is among the reasons it is the recipient of a POWER Top Plant award for renewable energy. Low Cost of India’s Renewable Energy A recent report from energy consultancy ‘Wood Mackenzie (WoodMac) noted that India's renewable energy costis the lowest in the Asia Pacific region, WoodMac said looks out atthe thousands of soler panels in use at the axis suntracking syste India’s lovelized cost of electricity (LCOE) Using solar PV has fallen to $38 per meye- watthour (MWh) this year, 14% cheaper than coalfired power, which has tradition aly been the cheepest source of power generation in the region. LCOE comprises the cost of generating a MWh of electricity the upfront capital and development cost, the cost of equity and debt finance, and op- erating and maintenance fees. Government data shows India has installed power generation capacity of 421 GW, making it the second-largest power market in the Asia Pacific region, The country’s solar generation capacity is expected to reach 38 GW this year, or about 9% of the country’s total installed generation capacity. The WoodMac re: Port says the rapid scale-up of solar gen- eration, along with competition among solar providers and India's strong solar resources, “have pushed solar costs down to half the level seen in many other Asia Pacific countries.” The falling costs have made solar power and other renewables popular in- POWER teane 8vestments in India. A study from the In: ternational Energy Agency (IEA) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Wa- ter (CEEW) said investments in renew- able energy in India reached about $20 billion in 2018, doubling over the past five years, and surpassing capital outlays for the thermal power sector. The study highlighted the “reduced risk perception of financiers funding renewable energy projects in India” Government officials have set a target of 175 GW of installed clean-energy gen- ‘eration capacity by 2022, with 100 GW of the total expected to come from so- lar projects. The IEA/CEEW report says those targets will require additional in: vestment of about $80 billion over the next three years, and then $250 billion from 2023-2030, “Ambitious targets, supportive policies, ‘and falling technology costs have improved the attractiveness of financing utiity-scale solar PV and wind projects” the report says. “By May 2019, utilty-scale installed ‘capacity of solar PV [in India] was over 27 GW, and wind was more than 36 GW" Growing Solar Production The Veltoor plant is emblematic of India's growing solar production. Rajiv Mishra, managing director of CLP inda, in 8 news release mentioned the ONV GL certfice tion—which recognizes high standards for broject management and technical comp ance—for Veltoor as proof his company’s solar projects are moving in a positive direc- tion with regard to quality and standards. “The comprehensive requirements of DNV GL Project certification provided @ clear roadmap for us to ensure the highest ‘quality a8 we designed and buit Veltoor” said Mishra. “Operational excellence is part of our DNA and CLP maintains the highest-quality standards across all facets of our work. As the only certification body that provided complete guidelines for PV projects, DNV GL. has worked handin- hand with us to help the Veltoor project meet our quality objectives.” CLP nits email to POWER seid Veltoor ‘was commissioned progressively with the first commercial power production beginning in August 2017 “In this project, the land acquisition and the construction progressed simultaneously. There were some delays caused due to the land ac- quisition process .. CLP wanted t0 en- sure that the land acquisitions were done with due consideration of the stakehold ers to respect ther sensitivities “Safety was given topmost priority with involvement of senior management ‘Sipam2018| POWER ‘and a senior officer in charge of safety throughout the project phase” CLP said "We recorded zero lost-time incidents (LT) during the construction of the proj- ect, despite the workforce investing ‘more than 1 million man-hours. In addi- tion, several programs, like ‘Sunset Safe- ty meetings’ ‘Safety Partnership plan’ ‘and safety walks inculcated a safety culture and maintained the highest stan- dards ... [through July 2019] there hasn't been any lost-time incident during the ‘construction phase and since the plant became operational last yee CLP said the plant has digitized its op- erations and maintenance records, which “optimizes monitoring and resolution These measures taken have ensured @ highly efficient plant with generation ex- ceeding its targets” A Group Effort Several companies supplied equipment, construction, and other services for the \Veltoor plant. Suzlon led the land procure- ‘ment and project development, and Nex- ‘Tracker handled the tracker installation. JA Solar supplied the PV modules, Statcon provided the string monitoring box, and ‘TMIEC was the inverter supplier PETE - Hammond Power Solutions supplied the inverter transformer. Vidyut Electricals and Schneider Electric provid- €ed the ring main units, and Siemens was in charge of switchgear. Voltamo handled the power transformer, CGL the equip- ‘ment in the switchyard (substation), and ABB and GE were responsible for the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. CLP as with many companies that op- erate in India, is working with commu- nities near Veltoor to “be able to assist with pressing needs” CLP told POWER: “We are committed to socially respon- sible growth and to the development of communities around [ourl plants. The ‘company's contributions made through ‘community investment initiatives are ‘mainly focused on enhancing health and sanitation fecilties; education and skill building; infrastructure development; and. ‘special attention to youth and women empowerment” The company said some of the initiatives linked to Veltoor are un- der the “Suryodayam” umbrella CLP India launched Project Suryoday- ‘am—meaning sunrise—when_construc- tion of the Veltoor plant began. The project. includes programs such as water resourc- ‘25 management, educational support in schools, and a comimunity health program. ‘Water resources are of particular im- eS 0)? P| POWER POINTS Vitae eaNsal Ttrcocd portance, as Veltoor is located in @ low: rain area. CLP India has bult storage tanks capable of holding 2,000 liters of water in three nearby villages. As CLP told POWER: “Under this, the company has been working on a structured devel- opment plan. Due to this region being water deficient, initiatives have been un- dertaken to ensure water security such as the provision of clean drinking water for catchment villages around the plant by instalng three RO {reverse osmosis} plants, around 30 borewells have been installed with recharge through rainwater harvesting, and two aquifer recharge ar rangements implemented. Further, a mo- bile van catering to the healthcare needs of the populace hes been deployed. “In addition, we partnered with the Ak- shaya Patra Foundation to set up @ mod- em centralized kitchen in Nawabpet close to our Veltoor project, with a capacity to provide mid-day meals to 26,000 chiidren 6n [al day basis. Tis facity is fully fund- ed by CLP india. Moreover, we are also funding 10,000 meals per day for three years. The program is aimed to enhance enrollment and retention of students in government schools and Anganwadis [child care centers} with an underlying ob- jective to improve nutrition levels among children. We also run a CLP India Schok arship Scheme providing partial financial support to students near the Veltoor plant {and near other CLP assets across India) to complete their school and college edu- cation” the company said. a —Darrell Proctor is a POWER associate editor. 3MS GAS TURBINE Decarbonizing the Power Sector with Renewable Gas OM NCN ACH Recast mar Couceei Rennes MUM MrT Me CCU IPMN eee CuM ee ec Riu CU Uren erimcctc me Ices MMR coon Mit etiam neh ult cist tart c RUC Miu RuCCuCe eee Cun eek tr tice Ile Cukute econ EC Nene encima cack ite Rieter mit pee uaa her ge oun uke Don Daniels ne of the foundations of modern human prosperity is the reliable generation of vast amounts of electricity. It is what unleashes oppor tunity and enables economic growth around the world, Increasingly, the world must balance the need to generate enough electric- ity to satisfy growing worldwide demand with the global priority of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The United Nations’ 2018 climate change report was a clarion call for nations to take significant steps toward decarbonizing their eneray grids. Government policymakers are already en- acting rules and legislation that support a move toward a carbon-free future. For example, Utah House Bill 109 en- courages investment in hydrogen infra structure that could take advantage of lowscost solar power to produce hydro- gen for power production and transpor tation. Additionally, California Senate Bill 1369 would require the Califomia Public Utilities Commission to consider green electrolytic hydrogen an eligible form of energy storage and consider other poten tial uses of green electrolytic hydrogen. ‘Achieving the UN's energy vision will require developing new technologies and fuels to eliminate carbon dioxide produc tion, as well as modifying existing power generation technologies to reduce the in- tensity of their environmental impact. Mit Subishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) has brought focus to this effort through its support of the Power Sector Carbon Index, a Camegie Mellon University proj- ect that studies and tracks the intensity of carbon dioxide in the U.S. power sector. According to this index, US. emis- sions are down 29% since 2005, as power generation has steadily increased The driving force of this decrease is the ‘switch from coal to gas, which accounts for 54% of the reduction, and the growth of renewables, which accounts for an- other 40%. The remaining 6% is due to other factors, such as efficiency gains in existing technologies. The US. is on the right path, but as the country continues to decarbonize the grid, new challenges emerge, such as how to use a carbon-free energy source during gaps in generation of wind and solar. MHPS believes that “renewable hydrogen” (hydrogen produced. from renewable sources) will be an essential fuel of the future as the world continues down the decarbonization path. ‘Switching to Renewables and Natural Gas (One solution to decarbonizing the grid is to increase the percentage of power ob- tained from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. In 2017, clean- energy sources provided 12% of the world’s energy needs. The solar sector alone grew to $160 billion in investment. The cost of solar power has decreased 65%, and onshore wind 15%, in the past several years—along with the cost of gas turbines, which is decreasing 12% per year thanks to efficiency improvements. Natural gas will also play an incred: ibly significant role in decarbonizing the world’s power grids. I's easy to see why. The mix of natural gas turbines and renewable energy sources offers 85% lower carbon emissions than the coal fired plants they replace. Today, MHPS {gas turbines, such as the combined cycle MBOIJAC with efficiency approaching 65% and reliability of 99.5%, play a piv- otal role as they work with renewables to reduce carbon emissions, While the growth of renewables points toa future where, by 2040, 40% of the world's electricity is expected to ‘come from clean energy sources like wind and solar, intermittent renewable energy sources are subject to unpre- dictable weather patterns. To ensure reliable power generation, generators ‘must have readily available dispatchable resources to offset short-term volatility in renewable generation. Fossil fuels achieve this, but at a cost many people are no longer willing to pay. To achieve deep decarbonization, there must be a reliable solution to store en- ergy created by renewables for long pe- tiods of time so it has the flexibility to deploy power whenever it is needed. ‘A Hydrogen-Powered Future for Clean Energy with Zero Carbon Ulimately, to accommodate more re- newables on the grid in certain regions, the system will need bulk energy stor age solutions. MHPS sees hydrogen as the bulk energy storage solution for 8 sustainable, cost-effective, and reli- able renewable energy future. As the build-out of wind and solar continues, excess renewable energy will increase and can be used to create renewable hydrogen through electrolysis, which uses electricity to split water into hy- drogen and oxygen. The resulting hy- drogen, a clean fuel that can be used in gas turbines, can be stored for solid oxide fuel cells, transportation, and chemical production industries. Renewable hydrogen represents a multifaceted breakthrough. It can be generated from low-cost or free excess renewable energy. It can be stored for Jong durations, even on a seasonal level ‘And it can readily be combusted in gas POWER| eres 18turbines with the proper system design modifications. This makes it ideal to support renewable power and achieve carbon reduction targets. This shift is a “Change in Power” and one for which MHPS has been preparing, For hydrogen to take center stage as ‘a fuel source, the infrastructure to make, move, store, and utilize the large quan- tities ‘of hydrogen requires significant investment. New infrastructure will in- clude building vast networks of electro- lyzers, pipelines to transport hydrogen safely, and developing the hydrogen stor ‘age capacity, allowing the shift of power generation to periods of higher power demand. MHPS is deeply committed to investing in and building out this new in- frastructure, which will set the stage for {an energy future powered by hydrogen 50 Years of H, Experience, but New Challenges Ahead MHPS has been a leader in hydrogen- fueled turbine technology for almost 50 years. Currently, MHPS has 29 tur bines that use fuel with up to 90% hy- drogen content by volume, and these turbines have operated for more than 3.5 milion hours. Today's turbine combustion systems {are limited in the amount of hydrogen they ‘can burn, MHPS has a development road- map to solve these challenges and plans to validate a new modern combustion sys- tem firing 100% hydrogen. At Vattenfal's Magnum power plant in Groningen, the Nethertands (Figure 1), MHPS is working to convert a 440-MW combined cycle unit to run on 100% hydrogen. In 2025, when the conversion is complete, the unit will ‘generate zero CO; emissions. Hydrogen-burning combustor technol- ogy can be retrofitted on all MHPS tur bines currently operating today, when 1. Mitsubishi Hitaohi Power Systen project at Vattent of the three 440-MW combined cy coupled with hydrogen fuel delivery modifications. This allows operators to embrace hydrogen power with minimal changes to their gas turbine fleet. Mini- mal modifications to current MHPS tur bines functioning today will make them a future-proof investment. Advanced Clean Energy Storage (ACES) One of the projects MHPS is most ex- cited about is the joint development between the company and Magnum Development, an industry leader in storing and transporting natural gas, of the world’s largest renewable energy storage site, the Advanced Clean En- ergy Storage (ACES) project. ACES will utilize four technologies: renewable electrolytic hydrogen production. and storage, compressed air energy stor age (CAES), battery storage, and solid: oxide fuel cells. The batteries and fuel cells will be available for instantaneous generation for short durations of hours. The stored hydrogen willbe utilized as, fuel for dispatchable on-site turbines, and CAES will provide multi-day or lon- ger storage and generation. By 2025, the ACES project aims to have enough renewable hydrogen to power 250 MW of electricity supply. When completed, the site will be able to supply 1,000 MW of instantaneous electricity To enable this massive level of en- ergy storage, the ACES system will be developed on top of the only large salt dome in the Wester U.S. Salt domes are unique geological formations virtually impermeable to gases. Caverns can be formed within them to provide an eco- nomic form of bulk storage. Cavern sizes range from 1,000 ft to 1,500 ft in height and 160 ft to 300 tt in diameter. Magnum has identified and secured more than 11,000 acres of surface area (MHS) is supporting the Carbon-Free Gas Power 's Magnum power plant in the Netherlands. The project aims to convert one le as turbines to operate on 100% hydrogen, which will signticanty reduce CO, emissions. Courtesy: MHPS. Sipame2018| POWER es AS T),5\: aa 2._AIMHPS gas turbines currenty operat ing today can be retifited with hydrogen ‘burning combustor technology, which future-proofs curent owners’ investments. Courtesy: MHPS site. One medium-sized cavern can hold 5 million kilograms of hydrogen gas— providing more energy storage than the ‘combined capacity of all the grid-scale batteries currently installed in the world. MHPS ges turbines (Figure 2) are the key to turning this massive amount of stored renewable hydrogen into a dis patchable source of power. The ACES project enables a fundamentally differ. ‘ent storage and discharge model. Rather than thinking about storage in terms of seconds, minutes, or hours, the ACES system enables months of storage by housing massive mounts of energy. For example, the cavern could be filled with hydrogen in the spring, using ex. cess renewable electricity, and then the renewable hydrogen could be consumed {a8 needed throughout the year, by using it as fuel for gas turbines. This clean en- ergy will serve the power needs of the Western U.S,, seamlessly integrating with the current grid infrastructure. Clean Energy Future Filled with Opportunity Renewable hydrogen-powered technol- ‘ogy is the solution to a more energy-ef- ficient, carbon dioxide-free future-and incredible strides have been made in recent years. There are still challenges to overcome that vary from the cost Of production to the need for efficient storage, but with challenges comes opportunities. MHPS jis excited to address these challenges head on and tap the vast po- tential available to usher in a clean, more- efficient future. From future-proofing current product offerings with new tech- nologies to investments in new products for customers, MHPS sees a hydrogen society that is ready for the future. Taken together, these steps lead to a carbon dioxide-free future completely powered by renewables, made dispatchable by hydrogen. That's the “Change in Power” that the planet needs.= —Don Daniels is Chief Strategy Officer with Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas. asMe TECHNOLOGY am Five Inspections Made Easier with Drone Technology Today, drones equipped with sensors and cameras are proving their worth in Pann endahicerhutacun icicle cic Rem htar ut leur systems can detect failing structures and equipment in less time and for less cost than traditional methods. ‘Steven Perez ronment shows signs of strain. Major bridges have buckled, energy grid out- ages from severe weather are now com- ‘mon, and dams have filed. It's the result of several factors: population growth, climate change, and worn-out infrastruc- ‘ure systems. The American Society of Givi Engineers estimates the US. alone needs $3.6 tilion in infrastructure invest- ‘ment by 2020 just to bring the country's support systems to acceptable levels. Drones play a growing role in helping locate problems in the systems people rely on for dally life and business (Figure 1). Uncrewed aerial systems (UASS) can detect failing structures and equipment in less time and for less cost then traditional ‘methods. Usually, they're safer, too. For example, topographical and geo- logical data gathered by drones can gen- erate models that help identify promising cil and gas (8G) dril sites or the opti ‘mal layout for 2 solar utility array. High- resolution images collected from the air can reveal corrosion on transmission line conductors. Thermal sensors attached to drones hovering above pipelines can detect leaks and first-person, aeria-view video can scope structures after disas- ters when conditions on the ground are 100 risky for people. New use cases will emerge as drone technology continues t0 develop. Todey, drones equipped with sensors and cam- | ‘n America and overseas, the buit envi- 1. Drones come in various shapes and sizes. senseFiys eBee X fixed-wing drone is shown here ready for launch. Courtesy: sensaFly eras are proving their worth in gathering reabtime footage that can be stored for later analysis, such as up-close videos, thermal imagery and terrain maps, and ‘cloud points using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology and volumet- Tics. There are at least five inspection ‘areas that are benefiting from drone tech- nology: transportation, energy, renewable energy, water systems, and air quality ‘Transportation Infrastructure More than one-third of interstate bridges have been in service for more than 50 ‘years. More than $5,000 bridges in the US. are now considered structurally de- ficient—spans that are crossed by vehi- cles 185 million times a day. The nation’s largest single infrastructure system—in- terstate highways—is past its design life, Eighty percent of state highway de- partments now have UAS programs that ‘are helping them keep an eye on infra structure. They use drones for bridge, Pavement, and light-pole inspections, ‘and to gather aerial views of highway construction progress. Drones deliver much better data about what's going on, without requiring inspectors to climb to heights, go up in a bucket truck, or be in proximity of speeding traffic. One study found drones could detect concrete ‘crack sizes on bridges down to 0.02 inch- es, even in lowlight conditions. Railway infrastructure is also benefit- ing from drones. In one example, the time required to collect survey data on busy existing railroad tracks, needed as part of design work for a new line near London, was cut from an estimated three to six months to about two days, with photographs providing 1- to 2-mili- meter accuracy levels, Energy Infrastructure Some parts of the U.S. electric grid pre- date the turn of the 20th century, with most transmission and distribution (T&D) lines buit in the 1950s and 1960s having @ 50-year life expectancy. With ‘more than 640,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, 65 million miles of distribution lines, and thousands of elec- tric power generation facities, it takes 2 lot of maintenance. And right as the need for higher maintenance is growing, transmission line workers as a group are ‘aging, with baby boomers retiring and fewer line workers joining Further, America has more than 2.6 mit lion miles of O&G pipelines, also suscep- tible to periodic failures. Utities and O8G ‘companies see UASS as part of the solution for surveling these vast systems so that they/te kept in good working order, stayin regulatory compliance, and are more resi ient. A few additional weys O8G enterpris: es are leveraging drone data include: 1= Underground pipeline leaks can be pin- pointed by aerial photography that's run ‘through drone software to create high- fesolution vegetation maps showing plant kil-off zones, a sign of leaks. © Utilities map service areas using Li DAR cloud points, then compare such maps after a storm moves through. They use change detection to deter mine damaged assets, = Drones mounted with infrared cam: ‘eras can produce thermal imagery of Pipeline routes; hotspots may point to potential defects in pipeline insulation (F leaks invisible to the human eye, = Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) can 00m in for close-ups of equipment like flare stacks while they are running, instead of the traditional approach: shutting down the system while an in- spector climbs the stack to examine it The list of energy infrastructure in spection uses for drones is long, and will keep expanding as BVLOS (beyond- vvisualline-of sight) flights become an ac- cepted practice in the energy sector. POWER spade 28Solar farm developers using data from UASs have revolutionized how they site their farms. SunPower, a leader in global solar innovation, deploys drone fleets to capture geographic information used to create 3D models and maps. It integrates these into the company's software for site planning and energy harvest esti- mates, Then, it crunches the data to de termine which plant layout will generate the most megawatts, by factoring in the angles of the terrain and optimizing the positioning of panels (Figure 2). ‘Many of the nation’s 6,000-plus util- ty-scale solar facilities use UASs for in specting solar arrays. Drones can detect specific panels that have gone offline or ‘are underperforming by just flying over with a thermal sensor (see sidebar). There are also more than 270,000 wind turbines operating globally, making for an estimated 800,000-plus turbine blades worldwide that are battered by the elements and need regular inspec tions for wear. Drones provide close-up images of this equipment so field work- ers can remain safely on the ground. UAVs were a critically important tool dur ing a 2017 scare at the 50-plus-yearold Oroville Dam. Aerial views helped Cali fornia Department of Water Resources officials see what was going on in real time and guide responses, including evacuation orders and repairs. Many of the nation’s 90,000-pius state, federal, and privately owned dams ‘are reaching the end of their useful ives. Plus, dams, aqueducts, hydroelectric equipment, fish ladders, reservoirs, cul- verts, canal locks, and treatment plants also require frequent inspection. Infrared sensors on drones are in use for leak detection, and while ground- penetrating radar for this purpose is at an early stage, results are promising, Water system managers are also finding Seon 208 UASs beneficial for vegetation manage- ‘ment, equipment maintenance, security, environmental monitoring, and docu: ‘mentation during dam replacements and construction management. Colorado's largest O&G producer, Anadarko Petroleum, also uses drones equipped with infrared devices to survey sites with air pollution that could exceed limits. Once a leak is detected, ground crews are sent to tend to the site, Earlier this year, Bangkok's air pol lution levels reached dangerous new heights, To help reduce pollution, officials used a fleet of drones to spray water and norhazardous chemicals into the ait Though more testing is needed, results of a small test showed that the drones helped reduce dust particies in the air by roughly 10 micrograms per cubic meter. Similarly, following high ozone pollution readings in VWyoming, the state launched 2 series of czone strategies in an attempt to meet federal airquality standards, in- Rola \{-M Kate (lilo el MANS I eco) With Conco Tube Cleaning, Eddy Current Testing and Leak Detection Services customers have realized: * Reduced costs * Decreased unit downtime * Greater profitability * Increased productivity © Greater reliability The next time your condenser engineers do and call Conco. Achieve legendary Success by putting over 90 years of experience to work for you. Change Your World wit CHANGE YOUR WORLD WITH CONCO needs servicing, do what smart Conco. Conco Services Corp. 1.800.345.3476 www.conco.netcluding instaling a liquid-gathering pipe- line system to reduce vehicle traffic and converting pumps to run on solar energy. Jonah Energy, one of the largest privately held natural gas producers in the US, is tuming to onsite and drone-ounted ‘emission detection sensors. Wyoming De- partment of Environmental Quality docu- ments report that the company’s use of drones has resulted in thousands of tons. Cf volatile organic compounds and nitro gen oxides being offset and reduced. In addition, a recent report by Nature ‘Communications suggests that if carefully deployed, drones can be used for delivery to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) ‘emissions and energy use in the freight ‘sector. Truck transport accounts for 24% of transportation-elated GHG emissions and. comprises 23% of transportation energy in the US. UAVs are also proving to be valuable tools for delivering supplies to areas with poor road networks, such as villages in rural Africa. The report explores how, in most cases, ife-cycie GHG emissions and energy use of package delivery by small {drones are lower than ground-based deliv. ery, taking factors such as size and speed. into consideration, More Advances on the Horizon UAV remote-sensing end inspection technologies are rapidly evolving. AS attificial intelligence goes mainstream, predictive maintenance will become standard operating procedure, making it possible to head off equipment failures. Connected drones will soon make their debut in a 5G world, bringing more capa- bilities and data within reach So, how is the right data obtained from 2 drone infrastructure inspection. pro- ‘gram? By asking the right questions. The following are some of the most important. ‘queries for framing initial conversations: ‘= What area of operations present the big {gest potential gains for cutting costs? = Once data is gathered, how will it be analyzed to develop possible correc- tive actions? What integrations do in- house systems need? A utility with natural gas pipelines may need drone software to integrate with secure sys- tems that show pipeline locations. ‘= How will baseline data on traditional infrastructure inspection costs and safety be compared with that achieved using UASs? Having digital logging of flight hours, pilot rosters, training cer tifications, authorizations, aircraft, and projects in one place is invaluable Optimal Solar Efficiencies: SS TECHNOLOGY Saving $168,243 with Pree In search of a way to enhance the ef- ficiency of its solar farm, a leading provider of utility: and community: ‘scale solar power turned to senseFly's drone technology to increase produc- tivity and unlock financial savings. ‘A 16t-acre farm needed to be sur veyed in order to locate and identify ‘any anomalies across its photovoltaic panels that could compromise the > farm's efficiency. As inspecting the ‘area manually would have been heav- lly time consuming and labor inten- sive, the team turned to senseFly, the ‘global leader in fixed-wing drones, to ‘Support them in locating panel issues. ‘Thanks tots unparalleled ease of use ‘and streamlined data collection, sense- Fiy’s Solar 360 solution was selected, ‘a uniquely efficient thermal drone solu- tion that enables the automatic assess- ‘ment of solar plant performance at a ‘sub-module level. By combining sense- Fly's eBee X fixed-wing drone with its Duet T Sensor (Figure 3) and Raptor Maps software, the fast and fully au- ca tomated sensefly Solar 360 solution could be easily integrated into the pro- vider's workflows without requiring e- ther drone piloting skills or the manual analysis of aerial solar farm data. Furthermore, because the eBee X can tly for up to 70 minutes when ‘carrying the senseFly Duet T thermal RGB mapping camera, it allowed the 161-acre site to be documented in a single 42-meter (138-f flight while the minimal image requirements of the Raptor Maps software sped up the in- ‘spection to be at least five times faster than competing software. The radiometric thermal and visual jn RGB imagery captured during the single flight was analysed by Raptor Maps to identify, classify, and localize ‘anomalies automaticaly, In a matter of hours, @ detailed, actionable inspec- tion report identifying 312 anomalies, including issues with cells, diodes, ‘These logs provide insights on return (on investment (RO), transparency, and a record for legal teams, which are important quality-control aspects, Of any aviation program. Should programs be built in-house ‘or outsourced? Organizations using UASs take several different approach- €s to data collection and analysis. Ac cording to a 2018 survey about the state of drones in big business, al- most tworthirds of large enterprises said their companies don't outsource senseflys eBee X fixed-wing drone ‘with a Duet T Sensor can safely and quickly ‘identity solar panel anomalies so action can bbe taken to replace faulty components. Courtesy: senseFly, modules, and strings, was produced. ‘The result of using senseFly's Solar ‘360 solution generated an estimated ‘annual saving of $168,243 and a six fold return on investment due to the significantly reduced time on-site and the associated labor costs. Further cost benefits were delivered by the RGB camera data, which generated a geo-accurate digital ter ‘model that 3n be used to optimize the farm's de- ‘sign in the future. By integrating the sensefly Solar 360 solution into its site inspections, the energy provider was able to har ness the benefits of uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) technology without the need of a licensed pilot or having ‘someone capable of processing the results in-house. Withits efficient solar farm inspection, easy data collection, ‘and automatic processing, the sense- Fly Solar 360 solution enabled the surveillance of a large solar farm and subsequent discovery of sub-module anomalies that required maintenance a single day. The success of this, ‘project illustrates the value integrated UAV solutions play in the future of so- lar farm design, planning, and ‘nance, and their potential to optimize efficiencies across operations. —Troy Hittleis general manager, North ‘America, with senseFly. any aspect of their drone programs. Those companies handle their own flights, data processing, and data anal- ysis, as opposed to the companies that choose to outsource. lan in-house program is selected, what Preliminary steps should be taken? UAS programs have been implement: ed by many progressive businesses, and for most, the paybacks are substantial. » — Steven Perezis manager of Cent Srategy ‘at Skyward, Verizon company. POWER spade 28= PRESENTED BY: DISTRIBUTED POWER CONFERENCE S jmntve THE FOREMOST EVENT COVERING STRIBUTED GENERATION OCT 30-NOV I, 2019 | DENVER, CO Distributed generation technologies and grid capabilities continue to advance, an increase in distributed generation systems contribute to a more reliable and resilient power supply, and blockchain breaks through into the energy space, allowing digital information to be distributed across networks and consumers to buy and sell energy directly between one another. POWER will discuss this and more at the second annual Distributed Energy Conference. THE ENERGY REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN...DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND. Join these experts and more for honest discussion of the evolving world of distributed energy and how it is transforming the face of power generation. Ara = = KAY AIKIN JEFF COOK DANNY JONES MICHAEL LARSON CeO Renewable Energy CeO Director, Business Introspective Systems Market & Policy Analyst Off Grid Energy Ltd Development NREL DTE Energy Services a | PETERLILIENTHAL DARRELLPROCTOR —_BILLAITTER, JR. ALLAN SCHURR CeO Associate Editor Founder DirectorCenter Chief Commercial HOMER Energy POWER magazine forthe New Energy Economy Officer Colorado State University Enchanted Rock REGISTER WITH CODE POWERIS AND JOIN THE ENERGY REVOLUTIO8 COAL The Theory and Application of Acoustic Cleaners Sonic sootblowers and acoustic cleaners were once thought to be a last-chance al- RRs Cun AUN irl ue MCN Coats itey Aiea iene eer NR eens ais PCE Rin fer eee Liner MRea eel eae Teese Meee RuCl Cue) Croker mun cent nas \C oun aia cen eke are ACT Donald F. Cameron id you know there is a simple son- Diese cos at can rere process bottlenecks, optimize per formance, maximize production output, and improve thermal efficiency? I's not a theory, it's @ proven technique being used every single day in a range of pow- fe generation and dry processing plants in more than 70 countries worldwide. This innovative technology is put to work in acoustic cleaners and sonic soot- blowers. A few seconds of “sounding” at periodic intervals is all that is required to improve thermal conductivity in boilers, ‘economizers, air heaters, and more; pre- vent material build up within silos, fans, fk ters, cyclones, electrostatic precipitators (ESPs), and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems; maximize material flow in silos, hoppers, and ductwork; eliminate ‘unscheduled plant shutdowns in fans and filters; and reduce opacity spikes from ESPs and fiters. Acoustic cleaners are employed wherever ash, powders, or ‘renuler materials are processed, gener ated, stored, or transported. So, what exactly are sonic sound waves created by acoustic cleaners and how do they work? Sound can best be described as the passage of pressure fluctuations through a medium by means of a vibrating source. It is these pressure fluctuations and the resulting “compres- sion” and “rarefaction” cycles that are used by acoustic cleaners to move pow- ders by breaking particle bonds. ‘The ear does not actually hear sound. It is @ pressure sensitive mechanism that detects very rapid pressure fluctus- tions, and its these very rapid pressure fluctuations thet cause dry material to de-bond from both adjoining particles and from structures. In the case of an acoustic cleaner, the wave generator creates the “base” tone, and the variety of bell sections “0 ‘SPL romPAS 75 anatom Spacer unsure at 2 inept 0 f. g 1. This graph shows the sound pressure level caused by a PAS75 acoustic cleaner (dark blue line} and the vibration levels ofthe structure (orange line). There is no corresponding increase in the structure vibration atthe homn's fundamental frequency of 76 Hz or at harmonic frequencies, which means no fear of damage to the structure. Courtesy: Primasonics ‘amplify and convert this into @ particular fundamental frequency. Within the Pri masonics range, there are six selected frequencies ranging from 60 Hz to 420 Hz, All that is required to “power” the titanium diaphragm within the wave gen- ‘erator is normal plant compressed air at a pressure of 5 bar to 6 bar. So, what do these high-energy, low frequency sound waves actually do? They Produce very rapid pressure fluctuations (up to 840 times per second), which break the cohesion bonds between one particl ‘and another, and between each particle ‘and the structure to which they are ad- hered to. Once these bonds have been broken, the particles, such as cement Powder or fly ash, are removed either by ‘gravity or in the gas stream. ‘Another common question is: Will an ‘acoustic cleaner cause any damage to the structure? The answer is no. The wave ‘generator and exponential bell shape of @ Primasonics acoustic cleaner has been very caretully calculated to ensure that the unit has @ very high acoustic impedance. Just as an electrical coupling between ‘components is only efficient if impedance is similar, $0 too with acoustics. Primasonics, working with the Acoustic Research unit at the University of Liverpool in the UK, has conducted many laboratory and onsite tests to ensure that coupling ‘does not take place between the acoustic ‘cleaner and structures. Figure 1 shows the sound pressure level (shown as the two large peaks in the dark bive line) caused by a PASTS acoustic cleaner and the vibra- tion levels of the structure (shown by the ‘orange line). It can be seen that there is, no corresponding increase in vibration at the homn's fundamental frequency of 75 Hz ‘or at harmonic frequencies. This particular test took piace in a large steel flour silo ‘where an accelerometer measured the vir ‘bration on the silo wall. PoWeR | terete 32. Acoustic cleaners can be used in a variety of applications. This mage shows a cleaner installed on a power plant economizer. Courtesy: Primasonies ‘Acoustic cleaners have become the first choice to prevent ash build up from occurring in all sections of the power generation plant, including boilers, superheaters, economizers (Figure 2), ‘and air heaters. The main advantages sonic sootblowers have over steam sootblowers are: Price/Operating and Maintenance Costs. The sonic sootblower is cheaper to purchase and install. tis considerably more eco ‘nomical to operate and has virtually no maintenance costs. Physical Damage/Corrosion and Erosion. Sonic sootbiowers will not cause any physical damage or wear to tube bundles cr boiler structures. They operate at frequencies very much higher than the resonance frequency of steel, ceramic lin- ings, and concrete, and are therefore guaranteed not to cause any vibrational damage to vessels, structures, or tube bundles. Also, because they do not use any high-pressure steam or water, they will not cause corrosion or erosion problems and are eco-friendly. Cleaning Efficiency. Because sonic sootblowers use power ful sonic sound waves—waves that travel at @ speed of 344 meters per second and in a 360-degree radius—the entire circumference of the tubes and internal structure can be easily reached, instead of just the leading edge of the tubes as with a steam sootblower. A periodic sonic sounding is, all that is required to achieve these effects, typically 5 to 10 seconds every 6 to 12 minutes. Honeycomb catalyst blocks in SCR systems are often blinded and blocked due to solid particle build up. Acoustic cleaners are used to ensure the particles are excited and can be carried with the gas stream to a suitable filtration or ESP system. A partial ly blocked catalyst layer can disrupt flow, forcing all the gases through @ small number of catalyst blocks, which reduces the effectiveness of the unit. Acoustic cleaners are now recognized as the mostefficient and cost-effective means to ensure that a SCR unit continually operates to its maximum efficiency. ‘Acoustic cleaners and sonic sootblowers can be used in a vari- ety of power plant applications. Silos and Hoppers. The three main problems that occur n silos, Seon 208 and hoppers are bridging, ratholing, and cross contamination Bridging is caused when the design of the hopper section has insufficient angle of repose, side walls with excessive frictional properties, or an insufficiently sized outlet for the material being contained. Consequently, these problems can become severe if @ silo is used for materials different than it was designed for either through process or plant layout changes over time. To combat bridging, an acoustic cleaner is mounted just above the outlet. When it sounds, single particles and clus: ters of particles move at different speeds, therefore, bridges are collapsed and material flow is restored. Once the acoustic cleaner has ceased to sound, new bridges and arches will be- gin to form. To counter this, the sounding may be controlled in one of two ways: simply on a timer device, typically set for a few seconds every few minutes, or automaticaly via a flow sensor downstream of the outlet or triggered by load cells. Ratholing, or funnel flow, occurs when an insufficient angle of repose is used in the silo for the contained material. This usually occurs with material that displays mechanical interlock- ing properties or very quickly bonds without compaction, for example, because of heat or by means of solvent evaporation. To defeat ratholing, acoustic cleaners with a long wave length are placed on the top of the silo, usually through an existing ‘manhole or inspection hatch. Considering a full silo that is prone to ratholing being slowly ‘emptied, it's easy to imagine the central core of the material lowering a small amount while an outer ring close to the side walls remains at the same height. Without acoustic cleaning, this process would continue until eventually the central core is discharged and the outer ring is left adhering to the side walls. In this case, a decision has to be made whether to remove SHOCKING VEU ice Cy PO AL OMT Le Cee eee Porc kee ec Cer ato eet {800-344-3246 | procoproductscom The Bann it nd heck Ve Pole