Control Systems from GE Help City of Independence, MO
As the City of Independence, Missouri prepares for another long, hot summer - and the associated high demand for air conditioning and cooling - city managers have turned to GE to help control both reliability of supply of electricity and to help manage costs.
While the City already runs 6 GE turbines to generate electricity, it was deploying alternative systems to manage the controls vital to the efficient operation of the city’s electricity supply. These systems have resulted in frequent power interruptions and unscheduled maintenance, resulting in the city incurring additional expense to buy power elsewhere. Now the city is returning to GE controls to provide greater efficiency and reliability.
“Going back to GE controls provides increased uptime and unparalleled support, which was lacking in our non-GE control system,” said Randy Peters, Lead Project Manager for the City of Independence. “We look forward to the cost-effective, top quality support of GE in the future.”
The turbines were fitted with GE controls when initially delivered but when it was time to install upgrades 13 years ago, the City chose to replace them with a non-GE system, in an effort to achieve lower costs. However, frequent maintenance soon eliminated any initial savings.
“We are delighted to assist The City of Independence with providing power to their customers in a cost-effective manner by optimizing their operation with the Mark* VIe control system,” said Tracey Sledge, General Manager for GE’s Control Solutions business.
The Mark VIe control system is a flexible platform for multiple applications. It features high-speed, networked I/O for simplex, dual, and triple redundant systems. Industry-standard Ethernet communications are used for I/O, controllers, and supervisory interface to operator and maintenance stations, and third-party systems. A common ControlST* software suite is used with the Mark VIe controls and related systems for programming, configuration, trending, and analyzing diagnostics. The system provides a single source of quality, time-coherent data at the controller and plant levels for effectively managing equipment assets. For more information visit: www.ge-mcs.com/controlsolutions.
About Measurement & Control Solutions
Measurement & Control Solutions is a leading innovator in advanced, sensor-based measurement, non-destructive testing and inspection, control and condition monitoring, delivering accuracy, productivity and safety to a wide range of industries, including oil & gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare. It has over 40 facilities in 25 countries and is part of GE Energy Services, which provides cleaner, smarter, more efficient solutions for its customers. For further information, visit www.ge-mcs.com.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, health care solutions and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With nearly 85,000 global employees and 2010 revenues of $38 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy—GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas—work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.
About GE Energy
With nearly 85,000 global employees and 2009 revenues of $37 billion, GE Energy
www.ge.com/energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy—GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas—work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.
*Trademarks of the General Electric Company.
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