New Life for Old Equipment

Old Turbine Dilemma: Fix It, Or Replace It?

This is a question faced by all turbine operators at some point. Aging machine becomes less and less efficient, or an old machine was not very efficient to begin with, or some changes have been made over the years to other parts of a power generating plant, such as boiler, water cooling system, power lines, etc., that made the whole plant work off the peak of it’s capacity and efficiency. All of this results in losing money.

But replacement of the old turbine with the brand new one costs a lot of money, too. The cheapest way of fixing the machine is to replace the old worn out parts with new identical ones; however, it’s not the most efficient way. There is a middle way, as illustrated on the diagram: for a moderate price you can retrofit the old turbine with new re-designed parts and easily improve the efficiency of the machine by 10%, or even more.

Advanced modern computational techniques allow coupled fluid-thermo-mechanical 3D modeling of the flow path and other parts of turbine, which leads to development of aerodynamically efficient nozzle vane and blade profiles, design of twisted and curved vanes and blades with variable chords along the height, enhancement of flow path meridian lines, improvement in design of diaphragms and cascade seals, reduction in radial and axial clearances in labyrinth seals, etc.

There could be yet another reason to upgrade your power plant: turbine power carrying capacity does not correspond to the real output of the steam generating equipment. It means that either power generating capacity of the turbine exceeds the steam generating capacity of the boiler, or vice versa. In the first case, turbine permanently operates under partial load, which is not optimal regime. In the second case, the boiler works at lowered efficiency. In this case operator also has an option of using all available steam capacity and produce more electrical power.

Modern engineering analysis tools can be used to optimize the mode of operation of the power plant. Generally, it is possible to modernize the turbine steam distribution system, and/or connect the turbine to several boilers that generate steam with different parameters. For example: the steam with maximum pressure is supplied to the turbine head, while the flow of lower pressure steam is directed to intermediate stages.

Here is the another example of total power generating plant optimization. There could be situations when there are customers in vicinity of power plant that are looking for hot steam. For example, steam might be needed for some technological processes, or neighboring green-houses, apartment and office complexes need steam for heating. This need can be fulfilled by directing the steam from the intermediate stages of turbine to these customers, and not to cooling systems. Of course, it will slightly lower production of electric power, however much more thermal power will be available for usage. The total power production will be increased, and thermal pollution of the environment will be cut down.

So the bottom line is that optimization and modernization of your power generating plant and its components is not necessarily expensive undertaking any more, it will pay for itself within a year or two. Please, contact SoftInWay, Inc. (www.softinway.com) for more details.

Mirror of SoftInWay's Innovations

Solving the Coupled Problems of Aerodynamics and Heat Transfer

The solution of complex coupled problems of aerodynamics and heat transfer by performing more accurate and integrated modeling is the most comprehensive and effective way to increase power generation equipment efficiency, which has been the fundamental machinery problem. Such approach meets most stringent customer requirements for any kind of power generation equipment design and operation. SoftInWay offers a really innovative way to solve the problem on the basis of coupled analysis in the areas with intricate nature of the flow, and by applying reliable experimental data for well-studied elements.

For more detailed description click here

Staff Additions

Widening a field of operations on new projects, SoftInWay, Inc. designated Mr. Vladimir Ryabinin, P.E., to the position of Turbine Stages Design Team Engineering Manager. Mr. Ryabinin was recruited to lead the works pertained to last stages design and engineering due to the fact that this part of SoftInWay’s work weighs more and more in a total volume of our company’s portfolio. Having an extensive 23+ years background in turbomachinery, Mr. Ryabinin is mostly known as a highly skilled expert in design of flow path and last stages of steam turbines. His responsibilities include problems of turbine stages design, general and detail management of a project’s part pertained to last stages elements and units. As a Leading Engineer and Project Manager, Vladimir has executed an impressive range of projects referred to original design and modernization of steam turbine Low Pressure Cylinders including such projects as Development and Optimization of LPC Sections of Large Steam Turbines with 300, 600, 1000 (at 1500 rpm), and 1000 MW (at 1000 rpm) rated capacity, Design of Long Blades (423 to 1650 mm) for Last and Next-to-Last Stages of LPC with Non-Standard Geometry featured variable thermal and geometrical parameters along the blade height, etc.

Vladimir holds Masters Degree from Kharkov State Polytechnic University and prior to SoftInWay held senior engineering and management responsibilities in turbomachinery corporations.

“I am sure that Vladimir’s experience and deep expertise in turbine design is a substantial value-add to our Design Team and his work will strengthen our positions as a leading provider of innovative turbomachinery solutions,” – said Dr. Leonid Moroz, SoftInWay’s President and CEO. ” His commitment to work supported by rich professional experience will be applied to foster the company’s leadership to build new reliable unsurpassed solutions that will bring profitable growth for SoftInWay”.

Openings in SoftInWay

Welcome to join SoftInWay Incorporate!

As we expand our base of opportunities, so does the need for adding talent resources to support our growth expands. We are always searching for staff additions that have the professional skill set, corporate discipline, and the solution development creativity to match our client’s technology challenges.

Since our company was established as a Scientific and Engineering based Outsourcing Service Provider to the global IT and Mechanical Engineering world, the dominant objective of our activity is to provide “Client Specific Solutions.” Technical excellence is our committed customer goal. The sharing of this goal is the fundamental core characteristic for anyone seeking a position in SoftInWay.

You will join a strategically focused and highly motivated team involved in Scientific, Mechanical Engineering, Design Consulting and Software Development incuding architecture, design, development, migration, porting, enhancement and QA. You also will have an opportunity to work on multiple projects in a flexible, friendly environment.

   We currently invite you to explore the vacancies presented below:

   Project Manager, Engineering Consulting
   This individual will be responsible for all-round technical preparation and evaluation of project proposals in FEA-based CFD, Heat Transfer, Stress- Strain areas. Recommending improvements, the project’s technical issues coordination including problems’ review, sophisticated model description, precise boundary conditions evaluation, and gathering and analysis of other data required for providing further non-stop development process.

Also responsible for building and maintaining development schedules and fulfilling project deliverables on time, from inception to client sign-off. Beyond this, the candidate needs to have very sharp analytical skills, which s/he will use through the project life cycle, including detailed pre-development proposal analysis, projects feasibility estimation, and user requirements analysis.

Requirements:

Masters Degree or Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering with significant related experience. Computed Science Degree is desirable.
5+ years of complex Mechanical Engineering project management, engineering application development, design, and implementation experience.
Experience in FEA-contained packages’ implementation like ANSYS and/or similar toolkits is required.
Principle knowledge in CFD, Heat Transfer, Stress-Strain, Machine Design is extremely appreciated.
Must be strongly focused and extremely organized.
Proven experience in writing specifications, quality assurance, project complexity, labor effort estimation, and risk analysis skills.
Exceptional oral and written communications skills are essential.
PMI certification is a plus.

Sales Engineer/Project Manager

The essential job function of this person is business development and sales of engineering/software development consulting services including:

- forecast development to achieve national sales goals,

- developing and implementing a strategic sales plan to achieve national sales goals;

- identify, close and maintain key accounts;

- provide information to marketing to improve products and profitability;

- monitor and assess major competitors' activities and products.

The person will perform sales work inside and outside in support of SoftInWay's engineering services for diverse industries including Aerospace, Power Generation, Automotive, Energy, Petrochemical, Utilities, Gas, etc. He/She will prepare proposals or service contracts for SoftInWay's engineering services with deep understanding of customer requirements and company's team Design and Engineering abilities in FEA-based CFD, Heat Transfer, and Structural applications development. Coordinate and schedule marketing activity. Serve as Project Manager for various projects, both temporary and ongoing.

Requirements:

• Minimum 4 year Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related areas with significant related experience.
• 5 - 8 years experience of surpassing sales quotas in selling consulting services to C-level executives in engineering and scientific.
• Principle knowledge in CFD, Heat Transfer, Stress-Strain, Machine Design, CAD/CAE, and Visualization is appreciated. Knowledge of MS Office and MS Project is a plus.

• Excellent prospecting and presentation skills .
• Must be strongly focused and extremely organized.

• Exceptional oral and written communications skills are essential.

We will be happy to see you in our team, supported by a whole suite of customary benefits.