Craig Powers was senior control engineer for a significant number of Soft Desk Conversions.

For Capula (formerly Instem Computer Systems):

• West Burton PS (coal fired 4x500MW), APACS PLCs with APMS SCADA
• Ironbridge PS (coal fired 2x500MW), APACS PLCs with APMS SCADA
• Fiddlers Ferry PS (coal fired 4x500MW), retained Cutlass auto controls, Allen Bradley PLC, with APMS SCADA
• Didcot 'A' PS (coal fired 4x500MW), APACS PLCs with APMS SCADA
• Tilbury PS (coal fired 4x300MW), Mitsubishi Q PLCs with APMS SCADA
• Drakelow U12 Super-Critical Once-Through Boiler (1x330MW) Master Firing and Mill Control

For EOn:

Ratcliffe PS, (coal fired 4x500MW), conversion of Cutlass auto controls, integrated to an Ovation soft desk, including new ID fan controls for SCR.

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  • Cockenzie PS (coal fired, 4x300MW), Boosted Overfire Air (BOFA). Project engineer for Scottish Power, plant installed by Doosan

  • Longannet PS (coal fired, 4x600MW), Boosted Overfire Air  (BOFA). Project engineer for Scottish Power, plant installed by Doosan

  • Fiddlers Ferry PS (coal fired, 500MW units). Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR), Supporting Cutlass modifications to support Rotating Overfire Air (ROFA) and NOx reduction by Urea injection. Controls by Capula, plant installed by Mobotec.

  • Ratcliffe PS Variable Speed ID Fans, full modulating control of furnace pressure and fan vane/speed to support SCR

  • Commissioning support to Ratcliffe SCR team. Control optimisation.

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Damhead Creek. After helping overcome major problems with the steam control within the turbine bypass systems at Damhead Creek CCGT, Scottish Power contracted Craig Powers to carry out a number of important control system upgrades on their Siemens Moore APACS system.

  • A complete rewrite of the start up and shutdown sequencing to provide all permutations of full module and half module operation (2 Mitsubishi GTs with HRSG, one Steam Turbine). This involved the production of a test simulator/plant model to facilitate simulated plant run ups.

  • Turbine Bypass Steam Pressure and Temperature Control

  • Drum Level Control (3 drum system, HP/IP/LP for each of the two HRSGs)

  • Revised Air Cooled Condenser Control

  • Fuel Gas Supply Pressure Control

  • Software review and APACS modifications to ensure compliance with grid frequency response contracts

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With a proven record as lead engineer for the soft desk conversion of the Ironbridge coal fired power plant (1990s), Craig Powers was selected by Capula as the control engineer for the plant's conversion to 100% wood biomass. The APACS PLC system was reconfigured for control of the new biomass hammer mills and associated draught plant. Other supporting changes were required to the master firing and draught controls. The work was carried out to a very tight timescale and budget. The work was carried out for Capula sub-contacted to Doosan.

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