Understanding the function, purpose, and theory behind power plant systems and the technology used generate electricity is vital to safe and reliable operation of power generation facilities.

April 7, 2023

Can Coal be Clean?

Burning Coal Burning coal for power generation gives rise to a variety of wastes that must be controlled or at least accounted for. So-called ‘clean coal’ […]
March 10, 2023

Understanding VARs (without using math)

(This article was originally published on 6/25/2018 as “VARs Explained in 300 Words, Without Equations or Vector Analysis.” Some edits have been made.) In my experience […]
January 20, 2023

Liquid Glass: The characteristics of Laminar Flow

Have you ever looked at flowing water, and it almost looks like glass because it is flowing so smoothly? That is called Laminar Flow. This flowing […]
September 23, 2022

Valve Packing: Understanding Packing for Maintenance

“Valves and actuators make up a small part of a power station – perhaps only two or three percent by capital cost,” according to Power Engineering […]
June 13, 2022

Understanding Valve Symbols in FDs and P&IDs

Power Plants and Process Facilities have millions of moving parts and diagrams show how they work. Few parts are more important than valves. A valve controls […]
June 6, 2022

Combustion Turbine: Glossary of Terms

Often, we find ourselves questioning what a term means in a manual, procedure, or even in conversation. And when we look up these terms via a […]
April 14, 2022

SWFGD Primer – Coastal Elite?

Location, Location, Location Location, location, location. This familiar mantra of the real estate business also has a particular application for sulfur dioxide-emitting industries: seawater flue gas […]
November 3, 2021

The Coal Comeback

Fueling the Comeback The seeming pariah of energy generation, coal, is making a comeback. And it’s quite ironic that climate change is a big reason why. […]