Owensboro Municipal Utilities Improves Efficiency and Reduces Emissions with Digital
_30.jpg "GE Digital (GE) (General Electric) Logo")
Company Size
1,000+
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- GE’s suite of Operations Optimization software
- Boiler optimization package
Tech Stack
- Real-time data processing
- Predictive analytics
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Environmental Impact Reduction
- Productivity Improvements
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
- Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
Applicable Industries
- Utilities
Applicable Functions
- Maintenance
Use Cases
- Energy Management System
- Predictive Maintenance
Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
Owensboro Municipal Utilities (OMU) is the largest municipal electric system in Kentucky. It operates the Elmer Smith Power Station, which consists of two coal-fired boilers. The power station services over 26,000 customer-owners, providing them with reliable electricity. OMU is committed to continually setting new standards in coal power and is always looking for ways to improve asset performance and operations efficiency. The company has formed a strategic partnership with GE to showcase the Digital Power Plant, demonstrating a shared vision for an analytic strategy that results in unprecedented enterprise business outcomes.
The Challenge
Owensboro Municipal Utilities (OMU), the largest municipal electric system in Kentucky, was facing a significant challenge concerning plant emissions. The Elmer Smith Power Station, with its two coal-fired boilers, was struggling to service its over 26,000 customer-owners with reliable electricity due to these emission issues. Additionally, OMU needed the flexibility to adapt effectively and economically to the rapidly changing energy landscape. The challenge was to find a solution that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve heat rate, and offer more efficient maintenance options to reduce outages related to issues like tube ruptures.
The Solution
OMU adopted GE’s suite of Operations Optimization software, installing the boiler optimization package between 2003 and 2005. This software integrates two components for combustion and soot-blowing optimization. It works in real-time to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve heat rate. The software manipulates controls related to fuel and air mixing, as well as the soot blower sequences to designate which blowers to blow at which time. This solution has allowed OMU to reduce emissions, improve heat rate, and significantly reduce outages related to issues like tube ruptures. The software also helps maintain consistent combustion parameters, which in turn helps other systems such as Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) equipment perform better at a lesser cost.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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