Yokogawa Boiler Controls Used on USNS Mercy

On the United States Navy Hospital Ship Mercy, Yokogawa's Indicating Controllers are used to control two Foster Wheeler boilers supplying steam to 2 GE turbines to generate 18.3 MW of power.

Miller Energy, Inc.
https://millerenergy.com

Accurate Level Measurement Contributes to Heat Rate Reduction

Industrial steam turbine

Steam production is a costly operation in any facility, but is of paramount importance in power generation plants. The bottom line of a combustion based power generation facility is sensitive to the cost of input fuel. Measures that can be taken to reduce fuel input for a unit of power output (called heat rate) can translate directly into profitability. An additional benefit of reducing heat rate is a commensurate reduction in emissions.

A major contributor to heat rate reduction is the recovery of heat from the process and transference of that heat into the boiler feedwater. A sizable feedwater preheater of the shell and tube type is used to recover the heat. Shell and tube heat exchanger efficiency can be maximized with accurate control of liquid level.

Magnetrol, globally recognized leader in level measurement technology, makes the case for using guided wave radar level measurement technology as the most advantageous means for this application. The video below describes the process and how the guided wave radar level transmitter can provide the best performance.

Magnetrol has an information kit devoted to heat rate reduction. Share your steam system and level measurement challenges with a product specialist, and ask how you can get the Heat Rate Reduction Kit. Combining your facility and process knowledge with the product application expertise of a specialist will result in effective solutions.

Vortex Flowmeter Delivers High Performance in Harsh Process Conditions

digitalYEWFLO Vortex Flowmeter
Courtesy Yokogawa

In the process measurement and control field, vortex flowmeters are noted for their ruggedness, versatility, comparatively high accuracy, and absence of moving parts. They are compatible with numerous applications requiring measurement of flow in gases, liquids, and steam. The Yokogawa digitalYEWFLO vortex flowmeter is an accurate and stable device, even in harsh process conditions, and has a highly reliable and robust design that can deliver improvements in plant efficiency and reduced operating costs. It is available in several versions, one of which is multivariable, providing a calculated mass flow rate output.

Operating Principle

When a shedder bar is placed in a flow, Karman vortices are generated on the downstream side of the bar. The Karman vortices are detected by two piezoelectric elements installed in the upper part of the shedder bar. The vortex frequency is proportional to the flow velocity in a specific range of Reynolds numbers. Therefore, flow velocity or flow rate can be determined by measuring vortex frequency.

Noise Reduction

Noise caused by strong piping vibration may affect the accuracy of vortex frequency detection. The two piezoelectric elements in the digital YEWFLO are installed in a configuration that is polarized, so they are not affected by vibration in the flow or vertical directions. The noise of vortex (lift)- direction vibration is reduced by adjusting the outputs of the piezoelectric elements. Combining these features with the Spectral Signal Processing (SSP) function provides optimum and stable measurement.

Share your process measurement challenges with a product application specialist. The sharing of ideas and information will produce the best outcome.

Yokogawa digital YEWFLOW Vortex Flowmeters from Miller Energy, Inc.