Supplies at Work: Flowserve pumping systems ordered at Nevada solar power plant
Flowserve (www.flowserve.com), a provider of flow control products and services, has received an order for key pumping systems at the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project near Tonopah, Nevada.
The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project is a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant that utilizes mirrors to focus the sun's energy on a central receiver that sits atop of a tower. The 110-megawatt (MW) solar energy project's "molten salt power tower" design captures and stores the sun's thermal energy. The liquid molten salt, which is pumped to the receiver atop the tower where it captures the thermal energy, is then piped down to tanks to store the energy until it's needed. The stored heat is then used to generate steam to power a standard steam turbine and generate electricity.
At the heart of this CSP plant are Flowserve molten salt pumps, which must operate at temperatures up to 565° C (1050° F). The pumps use variable frequency drives designed to regulate pump speed and optimize the efficiency of the system. During the day, the liquid molten salt is heated from 260° C (500° F) to 565°C (1050° F) and stored in insulated tanks, so the plant can provide firm, reliable electricity whenever the utility needs it, even after the sun goes down. The station incorporates a new configuration which eliminates intermediate tanks and relies fully on the Flowserve pumps to transport the molten salt to the 269 meter-high (653 feet) receiver. Depending upon the number of daylight hours available, this "green" plant design can operate up to 24 hours per day.
Learn more about Flowserve’s work at the Nevada solar power plant
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Supplies at Work: ABB wins order to increase wind power use in Texas
ABB (www.abb.com) has won an order worth over $50 million from Electric Transmission Texas LLC (ETT www.ettexas.com) to provide electrical equipment that will improve reliability, strengthen the existing transmission grid and facilitate the integration of wind power.
The project, to be completed by 2013, is part of the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ www.texascrezprojects.com) program, aimed at increasing the contribution of renewable energy in Texas by up to 18 gigawatts.
ABB will design, supply, install and commission four static var compensators (SVCs) at two sites. SVCs are part of ABB’s family of FACTS (flexible alternating current transmission systems) technologies, which help enhance the capacity, and flexibility of power transmission systems and also contribute to the development of smarter grids. FACTS technologies allow more power to reach consumers with minimal environmental impact, lower investment costs and shorter implementation times than the traditional alternative of building new power plants and transmission lines. They also help address voltage and frequency stability issues and enable the transmission system to run more efficiently.
Learn more about the partnership between ABB and Electric Transmission Texas
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Supplies at Work: Honeywell to upgrade Los Angeles’ wastewater system
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) has been awarded a 15-year, $88.6-million contract to completely overhaul the technology controlling the wastewater treatment system in Los Angeles.
The project will allow the city’s Bureau of Sanitation to replace the current control systems. It will also enable the city to realize its vision for a city- and network-wide integrated operation. The system capacity is 550 million gallons of wastewater each day, and controls 6,700 miles of sewer lines that serve more than 4 million residential and commercial customers in Los Angeles and 29 other cities.
The Honeywell technology will allow the city to link its four main treatment plants with geographically dispersed pumping stations to give operators the ability to control the entire system from a central location, if needed. The project will enable the city to more effectively and efficiently monitor operations at the city’s pumping stations and collection facilities that are scattered throughout more than 500 square miles of the city’s service area.
The project is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2012 and will take approximately seven years to complete. Honeywell will provide support services for eight years after completion to ensure the system is appropriately maintained. About 80 new jobs will be created in Los Angeles as a result of the project.