ProcessBarron Provides PA Fans for U.S.'s First Ultrasupercritical Power Plant
Innovative Design Helps Keep Award-Winning 600-MW Plant Running Efficiently
Pelham, Ala. -- ProcessBarron designed and supplied the two Primary Air (PA) fans for the boiler at American Electric Power’s Southwestern Electric Power Co.’s (SWEPCO) John W. Turk, Jr. Power Plant, the first ultrasupercritical plant in the U.S. and the winner of POWER magazine’s 2013 Plant of the Year award.
A 600-MW coal-fired plant that began construction in 2008, the 600-MW John W. Turk, Jr. Power Plant in Fulton, Ark. entered commercial service in October 2012 after overcoming numerous legal and regulatory obstacles. ProcessBarron worked with the Babcock Wilcox Company to design the air handling system fans for the plant’s central boiler, contributing the two 71”-diameter PA fans that supply the boiler with air for combustion.
Running at 1800 rpm, the twin fans are subjected to incredible stress and required an innovative design featuring 22” diameter shafts and special features that allow them to achieve the proper inlet velocities for the system. The two fans generate as much airflow as three smaller fans running at the typical 1200 rpm while reducing operating costs and eliminating the need for the extra ductwork associated with additional fans. ProcessBarron’s innovative and cost-saving design was achieved using finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics, which enabled the company’s engineers to select the appropriate materials and optimize performance before construction began.
About ProcessBarron
ProcessBarron is a leader in the design, manufacturing, installation, and repair of air, gas, and material handling equipment for a variety of heavy industrial applications. Established in 1981, ProcessBarron creates integrated solutions that include all components related to the movement of air, gas, or materials to and from boilers, kilns, and furnaces.
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