Planning for profits

by Brian Parsons
Posted 10-28-2011

"He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life. But where no plans are laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign": Victor Hugo (1802 -1885). More >

Belt Failures Tear Up Profits

by Dr Dariusz Mazurkiewicz
Posted 9-29-2011

One of the more common problems associated with conveyor belt trans- port in mining applications con- cerns the necessity of reducing energy consumption and enhancing the durabil- ity of the belts themselves.

Of particular importance are the strength and durability of conveyor belt joints, since, due to some unavoidable fac- tors such as manufacturing errors, they continue to be major problems that belt conveyor users have to deal with. More >

Nine lubrication systems that keep chains up and running

by  Mike Deckert
Posted 8-9-2011

There are several leading factors that contribute to accelerated chain wear, including incorrect chain selection and installation, inadequate chain tension, environmental exposure and, of course, improper lubrication. In fact, according to chain manufacturers, 70 percent of all failures are a direct result of some form of improper lubrication. More >

Dominion Solves Mt. Storm’s Fuel-Handling Problems with Improved Coal Silo Design

By Jayant Khambekar, Roger Barnum, and Keith Geisel
Posted 6-27-2011

Many coal-fired power stations built before 1980 were constructed using bins, bunkers, and silos designed for relatively easy-handling lump coal. Trends toward using lower-cost fuel and added preparation steps have resulted in harder-to-handle coal and a greater potential for silo flow problems. Coal in portions of these storage systems can remain unrecoverable, leading to a loss of capacity and a stoppage of flow or, in the extreme, to spontaneous combustion and bunker fires. more >

by James Youmans, Executive Consultant; William Frazier, Executive Consultant; Richard Grieve, Senior Consultant; and Thomas Vivenzio, Executive Consultant
Posted 5-18-2011

Between 1998 and 2002 the U.S. experienced an unprecedented power plant construction boom that consisted mostly of gas-fired, combustion turbine – based power plants. This surge in power plant construction had several driving forces, including electric power deregulation, the emergence of non-utility power producers, a sustained period of plentiful and inexpensive natural gas, and the availability of efficient and cost-competitive combustion turbine technology. more >

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line
by Christer Idhammar
Posted 5-4-2011

Any improvement initiative within reliability and maintenance is a journey towards a state of continuous improvement. You will never reach a final destination. You might state that your goal is 95% planned and scheduled maintenance and 96% reliability.more >

One of the primary challenges of reliably burning coal is managing the corrosion experienced by the furnace heat transfer surfaces. Fireside corrosion remains a leading cause of failure in superheater and reheater tubes. Tubes affected by fireside corrosion also may lose 15 mils per year (mpy), or more in extreme cases. In Part I of this two-part report, three case studies examined the different failure modes experienced by tubes located throughout the furnace. We conclude with two additional case studies.more >

With today's limited internal resources, it's tough to transform machine maintenance from reactionary to preventive, and ultimately proactive, despite the obvious upsides in higher overall equipment efficiency (OEE), better process control and lower total cost. Outsourcing this requirement to a third-party specialist, however, is a cost-effective alternative, according to companies that have crunched the numbers. more >

CSA Standards has recently released its new CSA Z1006 Management of Work in Confined Spaces standard, which specifies requirements and guidelines for work in confined spaces as well as co-ordinating rescues — an issue that affects maintenance professionals working around tight spaces, including tunnels, shipping compartments, pump stations, boilers and chemical tanks.more>

Comparing the Value of Single- and Double-Layer Insulation on Boiler Walls
By Gary J. Bases
Posted 2-8-2011

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) reported in its January 2010 Tracking New Coal-Fired Power Plants report (PDF) that a total of 22 coal-fired units are under construction in the U.S., down from 28 a year ago. Another eight projects have gathered their permits but have yet to put a shovel in the ground. More >

BSA partners with ABMA to stop counterfeit bearings

from PEM
Posted 2-2-2011

The Bearing Specialists Association's board of directors has approved a motion embracing an anti-counterfeiting distributor partnership proposal from the American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA). Counterfeiting represents a US$600-billion-a-year problem, costing U.S. businesses US$200 to US$250 billion annually.

By Gary J. Bases
Posted 2-2-2011

The power industry’s operating and maintenance practices were held up to intense regulator and public scrutiny when on November 6, 2007, a Massachusetts power plant’s steam-generating boiler exploded and three men died.