Category Archives: Newsletters
International Biomass Conference & Expo
Join us on April 10-12, 2017 for the 2017 International Biomass Conference & Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, MN.
“International Biomass Conference & Expo unites current and future producers of biomass-derived power, fuels and chemicals with waste generators, energy crop growers, municipal leaders, utility executives, technology providers, equipment manufacturers, project developers, investors and policy makers.”
For complete information, visit the conference website at biomassconference.com
We look forward to seeing you there!
Colombo Energy Growing Opportunities
A great article talking about the Colombo Energy Wood Pellet Plant in this month’s Wood Bioenergy Magazine, including a mention of Mid-South’s efforts. This was a good project and Mid-South Engineering is happy to have been chosen to be part of the team.
Check out the Wood Bioenergy Magazine here.
Mid-South Announces New Office Location In the New England Area
Mid-South Engineering Co., an Arkansas-based, full service consulting engineering firm announces the opening of its fourth office located in Orono, Maine. The new office, led by Walter Goodine, Director of Operations, allows Mid-South to better respond to its client’s engineering needs in New England and Maritime Provinces. Orono, home of the University of Maine, is just north of Bangor.
“The addition of this location supports our firm’s commitment to build on the success we have seen in the New England area,” states Mid-South President, Jeff Stephens. “The new office location is convenient to the building products, paper and bio-energy markets we serve and provides ready access to the professional talent to grow our staff.”
About Mid-South Engineering –Founded in 1969, Mid-South is a full service, consulting engineering firm that provides a broad range of professional engineering services. Our multi-disciplined staff has served state and local governments as well as industrial and commercial clients with a particular expertise within the building products industry.
National Park College Career Fair
Join us on April 6th at Frederick Dierks Center Atrium on the National Park College Campus in Hot Springs, AR. We look forward to meeting you there!
2017 Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Expo
Join Mid-South Engineering on June 14-16, 2017 at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta for the 2017 Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Expo.
Sponsored since 1950 by the Southern Forest Products Association, the Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition has provided the a venue for equipment manufacturers to display their products and services to the wood processing industry.
Check us out at Booth #1836. We will see you then!
2017 Paper Days
Join us on April 5th & 6th at Wells Commons on the UMaine Campus in Orono, Maine.
For complete information, visit the conference website at Paper Days 2017
We look forward to seeing you there!
2017 Northeast Biomass Heating Conference Expo
Join us on April 25-27, for the 2017 Northeast Biomass Heating Expo. The region’s largest biomass heating conference will be held at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington, VT.
What started as “Heating the Northeast” in 2009 has now grown into the Northeast Biomass Heating Expo, with over 2,000 individual attendees and 400 businesses, agencies, and organizations represented. Stay tuned for our booth location.
For complete information, visit the conference website at nebiomassheat.com
We look forward to seeing you there!
Holiday Wishes!!
Mid-South Engineering would like to take a moment to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year!
Check out the Mid-South Engineering Holiday Barn Raiser.
Energy Studies
Approaches Used for Energy Studies
by Eldon Doody, P.E.
Our team utilizes a comprehensive approach to energy evaluations to ensure the most suitable and cost-effective outcomes for our clients. Our energy studies typically involve the following steps:
Site Survey and Information Gathering:
The first step in each energy study is a visit to the client’s facility by key staff members. One purpose of the site visit is to gather and review documentation such as drawings and historical operating data. The site visit allows our engineers to get a firsthand look at the facilities and equipment, to assess existing conditions and to determine opportunities for improvement. It also allows us to review potential locations for future equipment.
Perhaps most importantly, the site visit provides an opportunity for our staff to meet with facility operating and maintenance personnel to obtain their valuable input and ideas as to the facility’s issues, limitations and potential.
Energy Modeling:
A key component of each energy study is the development of an energy model that represents all the energy inputs and outputs for both the existing facility and for proposed changes. We strive to have several years, preferably five years, of data to input into the models. This includes fuel consumption, electrical consumption, thermal and electrical energy in-house generation, etc. The spreadsheet format allows our clients and us to experiment with various “what-if” scenarios. Models are developed using Microsoft Excel, have the advantage of being widely used by technical personnel, and are easily modified by us or for use by others. The model includes all the major elements of a steam plant, including: Boilers, Steam Headers, Condensate Headers, Power Turbine-Generators, Pressure Reducing Valves, Feedwater Pump Turbines, Boiler Fan Turbines, Deaerators, Feed Water Heaters, De-superheaters, Air Heaters, Blow Down Flash Tanks, Blow Down Condensate Heat Recovery, and Cooling Towers.
Piping Systems
Your Piping Systems May Deserve a Second Look
by Rob Bullen, P.E.
Just about every building or facility has that one thing that seems to be “out of sight – out of mind…” and most people are just happy to let that be. The item that I am referring to here is piping, and to be honest, it is more than a little bit errant to call it that one thing. The truth be told, most facilities have many piping systems: Potable water, process water, fire protection water, sanitary sewage, storm water, compressed air, natural gas…and the list goes on.
Most of the time, these systems never get a second look. That is until there is a problem. While piping systems do not generally have an awe-inspiring appearance, and rarely even seem noteworthy, many of these systems have the ability to singlehandedly bring a plants production to a halt.
