Emerson Digital Automation Selected for Majority of Coal-fired Units Currently Under Construction in U.S.
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Utilities embracing bus I/O technologies proven to offer quicker plant start-up and commissioning, long-term O&M savings
PITTSBURGH, PA (December 11, 2007)- Emerson Process Management announced today that over the last 18 months the company has been selected to install its PlantWeb® digital plant architecture with the Ovation® expert control system at 12 new U.S. coal-fired units. In fact, Emerson has been selected more often than any other control system vendor to automate new plants, reinforcing the company as the supplier of choice for the power generation industry.
Emerson control systems are already installed in plants representing roughly 300,000 MW of generating capacity, which is equivalent to 40 percent of average peak demand in the United States. The 12 new units, which are all expected to go into commercial operation within the next five years, represent nearly 7,000 MW of new generating capacity that will help U.S. utilities satisfy an increasing demand for electricity. The majority of these new units are taking advantage of industry standard communications protocols, such as Foundation(TM) fieldbus, DeviceNet(TM) and Profibus-DP. Extensive use of digital bus-based technologies offers significant benefits throughout the lifecycle of a plant. During the plant start-up/commissioning phase, these technologies help lower wiring costs and streamline device installation, communications verification and troubleshooting. Over the long term, the wealth of information made available by digital bus technologies and intelligent field devices can be used to optimize plant operations and maintenance activities, as well as avoid costly unplanned outages.
"In the United States and around the world, Emerson has experienced first hand how power generators are increasingly adopting a digital bus-based approach for new construction," said Bob Yeager, president of the Power & Water Solutions division of Emerson. "We are gratified that so many utilities trust Emerson to execute digital bus-based automation solutions for their new generating units."
Emerson's PlantWeb digital architecture is the blueprint for implementing a comprehensive, digital bus-based solution that incorporates high-speed communications networks, intelligent field devices, wireless communications, asset management software, and bus I/O technologies. Emerson's Ovation control system, a key technology of PlantWeb, is designed specifically to meet the challenges of the power generation industry. The Ovation system boasts a number of industry-leading advanced technologies, including incorporation of embedded advanced control algorithms; a mission-critical, Fast Ethernet network for high-speed communication of plant information; the industry's most powerful controller with the fastest duty cycle available; and a full line of analog, digital and special-purpose turbine and boiler I/O modules; among others.
"Technically speaking, this is an exciting time for the power generation industry," said Yeager. "Emerson has been at the forefront, championing integrated, digital automation technologies for this industry. It is rewarding to see this new generation of power plants deploying technologies that will have a positive impact on their operations not just initially, but over their entire service life."
About Emerson Process Management
Emerson Process Management (www.emersonprocess.com), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the power, water and wastewater treatment, chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, food and beverage, life sciences, and other industries.
Emerson's Power & Water Solutions division (emersonprocess-powerwater.com) is a global supplier of advanced distributed process control and information systems. The Pittsburgh-based company is a recognized leader in developing plant-wide process control solutions for the power generation, water treatment and wastewater treatment industries. Power & Water Solutions plays a key role in the Emerson mission of combining superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services.
Emerson brands include PlantWeb®, Ovation®; SmartProcess®; Fisher®; Micro Motion®; Rosemount®; Mobrey®, Daniel®, Bristol®, DeltaV(TM); and AMS(TM) Suite.
About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2007 were $22.6 billion. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.
