Evaluating Performance: Why CTI ATC-105 Testing Matters
The first step is to contact a CTI LTA like McHale. Once you provide basic information about your tower that includes: Air Inlet Dimensions Riser material, diameter and if Pitot taps are installed. Voltage and horsepower of the Fans The Primary...
Understanding the Dye Dilution Flow Measurement Technique
Accurately measuring flow rate can often a be a daunting task when the flows are in large pipes, undefined conduits, or if the existing piping configuration prohibits accurate measurement using conventional flow measurement devices (Orifice, pitot,...
Evaluating Your Heat Rejection Performance
Since 1995, McHale & Associates has been at the forefront of performance evaluation for power plant equipment, helping clients around the world maximize efficiency, reliability, and cost savings. Our expertise has only deepened over the years —...
Complete Collection
Capacity Confirmation in Solar PV: The Role of ASTM E2848
ASTM E2848 is a short-term capacity test standard used to verify that a PV system performs as expected under real-world conditions. Conducted over several clear-sky days, it collects high-frequency power and environmental data, filters out...
Helping EPCs De-Risk Commissioning
We Help You Sleep at Night. As a Project Manager, you’ve got enough on your plate—tight timelines, technical hand-offs, and high-stakes guarantees. At McHale & Associates, Inc., we make one part of your job easier: verifying PV system...
Maximizing Solar Performance
Success Story: Maximizing Solar Performance & Ensuring Contract Compliance Challenge A leading renewable energy developer required independent verification of a newly commissioned utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plant to confirm...
Overcoming the Challenges of Owning and Maintaining Legacy Instruments
by Jessica Drinnon Whether the instrument has been in service for many years or you just managed to purchase a gently used or refurbished instrument, considerable complications arise when you are notified that the manufacturer or calibration...
Elevating Industry Standards: The Crucial Role of RF Calibration
At McHale & Associates we understand that RF (Radio Frequency) technology is the backbone of numerous critical industries, from telecommunications to aerospace. As these sectors evolve, the demand for precision and reliability in RF equipment...
Characterization of Elliptical Pitot Tube for Water Flow Measurements
ABSTRACT In 2018, CTI switched from simplex pitot tubes to an elliptical style pitot tubes for water flow measurements. This change was made to reduce the impact of change in Reynolds number on the calibration coefficient of the pitot tube. In...
Solar Testing Accuracy
In a field where precision becomes the difference between meeting or failing commercial guarantees and industry guidance may be evolving, McHale’s commitment to advanced data filtering methodologies ensures that projects not only meet but exceed both commercial and industry expectations.
A Real-Time Output-Loss Method for Monitoring Heat Rate for Coal-Fired Power Plants
ABSTRACT This paper describes a real-time performance monitoring method based on PTC 4-2013 for determining instantaneous heat rate for coal-fired power plants. The calculation protocol uses a modified output-loss approach applied to a control...
Exploring a Variant of PTC 4-2013 for Real-Time Performance Monitoring of Fossil Fuel Power Plants
ABSTRACT This paper describes a real-time performance monitoring method based on PTC 4-2013 that was developed for determining and reporting annual heat rate for fossil fuel power plants. Unlike for the PTC 4 test, the coal composition is typically...
A Modified F-Factor Approach for Real-Time Performance Monitoring of Fossil Fuel Power Plants
ABSTRACT This paper describes a modified F-factor approach for real-time performance monitoring of heat rate and CO2 emissions for fossil fuel power plants. The calculation protocol introduced in the present investigation is a modification of the...
Your Source for Formaldehyde Detection
Is your facility a major HAP source and has gas turbines added after January 14, 2003? If so, the US EPA is only giving you 180 days to conduct initial stack performance testing to demonstrate compliance with a formaldehyde standard.On March 9,...
Total Solar Field Direct Normal Insolation Measurement Method Under Investigation for ASME PTC 52
Setting Standards for Solar: ASME’s PTC 52 and the Future of Concentrated Solar Power Testing With an overwhelming push for “green” renewable energy in the recent years, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Performance Test Codes...
Fixed Duct Burner Heat Input Approach for Combined Cycle Power Plant ASME PTC-46 Performance Testing
ABSTRACT Since its publication in 1996, ASME PTC 46 Performance Test Code on Overall Plant Performance has established itself as the premier test code for conducting overall plant performance within the power industry, especially for combined cycle...
Consideration of Co-Variance in Power Plant Test Uncertainty Calculations
ABSTRACT One of the most important aspects of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Performance Test Code (PTC) thermal performance testing is the proper determination of test uncertainty since the Uncertainty Analysis (UA) validates the...
The Importance of Temporary Instrumentation in ASME Performance Testing
ABSTRACT Due to the economics associated with power generation equipment, accurate data is of paramount importance for the demonstration of thermal performance for the primary power plant components. Since performance measurements and field...
How To Conduct a Plant Performance Test
Completing a power plant’s start-up and commissioning usually means pushing the prime contractor to wrap up the remaining punch list items and getting the new operators trained. Staffers are tired of the long hours they’ve put in and are looking...