“Introduction to Large Thermal Power Generation Plants,” Williamson’s third, unique 3-day, introductory course that explains how energy is created through a combination of classroom instruction and the rare opportunity to tour five power plants, was held July 17-19 in Williamson’s Rowan Hall dining room. The continuing education course was designed for the general public as [...]
Here is an attempt to provide a short explanation of why: Have you ever thought about energy and how it makes our quality of life better? Think about driving to work, adjusting the thermostat for the most comfortable temperature, air travel on regularly scheduled airlines, transportation of manufactured products by land, air and sea. All [...]
This is the seventh in the series of newsletters on energy and electric power production from thermal power plants. Previous newsletters have focused on coal, natural gas, and oil fueled energy systems exploring the operations of large coal plants, Gas Turbine Combined Cycle plants, reciprocating engines, and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facilities. The purpose [...]
The summer continuing education course, “Introduction to Thermal Power Plants” is a comprehensive and intense 3-day course where we present classroom instruction combined with tours of five power generating facilities. These facilities include utility scale power generation plants up to 850 MW and as small as the Williamson Energy Island where our largest single generator [...]
This summer, Williamson College of the Trades will be hosting a Continuing Education course on Thermal Power Plants. Entitled Introduction to Thermal Power Plants, the in-depth course provides three days of condensed study split between classroom presentations and extensive tours of five power plants. Included in the tours are visits to four Utility Scale Power [...]
Gas Turbine Combined Cycle (GTCC) Power Plants now provide about 30% of America's electric power generation. The GTCC plants are the most efficient "Heat-Engines" ever developed. That is, they convert more heat energy into useful electric power than any other type of heat engine, with efficiencies of up to 64% under ideal test conditions being [...]
A balanced portfolio of fuels is required for cost competitive and reliable power generation. All fuels should be included in a power generation portfolio, including coal. While some may question that coal will remain an important fuel for power generation for decades to come, I see coal as essential to the future of power generation. [...]
By Dick Storm This is the second of eight newsletters on energy and thermal power generation. The first one covered energy in America, this one will discuss the most common heat engines that we depend on each day. During my career in power generation I have been enamored with “Heat Engines” and what they do [...]
Have you ever thought about where the energy comes from that makes our high quality of life possible? Did you know that about 85% of our energy comes from Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Power? Below is a graphic prepared by the U.S. Department of Energy illustrating the fuel sources for electric power generation in the [...]
Three major components of the Energy Island, a condensing turbine generator, condenser skid, and switch gear, were put in place in Turbine Hall recently with the help of power plant technology students and riggers from Robert Pessagno’s Equipment Transport. The condensing turbine will provide additional electrical power to the school and provide power plant [...]
