IMI White Paper Highlights Role of Efficiency Gains in Driving Sustainability in Power Facilities

Summary

A new white paper published by IMI calls on the power generation sector to take steps to improve valve efficiency as part of efforts to support the energy transition.

Net zero ambitions and increasingly stringent regulations mean that there is considerable pressure on plant managers to improve energy efficiency combined cycle power plants (CCPPs), with the International Energy Association (IEA) having described it as the "first fuel."

Moreover, the white paper also comes against the background of CCPPs shifting towards a pattern of frequently powering up and down to fill the supply gaps left by the intermittent nature of renewables. With most CCPPs not designed for rapid cycling, this mode of operation places greater stresses on equipment, including pipework and control valves and increases the risk of unplanned downtime.

The IMI white paper Powering the Future: How to Optimise Your Valves for the Energy Transition , examines the promise of planned predictive maintenance using cloud computing such as IMI’s Insyt tool to optimise plant operations and minimise costly and unexpected downtime.

Next, it considers the role of technologies that can help eliminate wet steam damage to extend a valve’s working life, such as IMI’s EroSolve Wet Steam, which uses specially engineered sealing surfaces and a cage to optimise the impingement angle of droplets, as well as a special erosion-resistant hard facing to extend trim life.

Finally, the white paper considers the use of innovative valve trim upgrades which substantially reduces the cost, downtime and emissions involved in full valve replacements.

Roby Buyung, president of Process Automation at IMI, said: “CCPPs have a crucial role to play in maintaining power supply throughout the energy transition, but they face significant engineering, regulatory and commercial challenges in doing so.

“Our teams work continuously with CCPP operators to help them overcome these challenges using our innovative products and services. It is this work that has informed our new white paper and I would encourage engineers and managers working within CCPPs to download it.”

About IMI plc

IMI plc, the specialist engineering company, designs, manufactures and services highly engineered products that control the precise movement of fluids. Its innovative technologies, built around valves and actuators, enable vital processes to operate safely, cleanly, efficiently and cost effectively. The Group works with industrial customers across a range of high growth sectors, including energy, transportation and infrastructure, all of which are benefiting from the impact of long-term global trends including climate change, urbanisation, resource scarcity and an ageing population. IMI employs over 12,000 people, has manufacturing facilities in more than 20 countries and operates a global service network. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE100.