Complete Performance Solutions
SPECIALIZED SERVICES
The McHale organization is able to quickly react in supporting a wide variety of projects and delivering value to our clients. McHale’s services extend to a global market with half of our projects being executed outside of the US. Our team is experienced in deploying rapidly around the world to support your project needs and provide value solutions. Our most requested services include:
Power Plant or Component Contractual Acceptance Testing
Technical Advisor
Owner's Performance Engineer
Instrument Calibration Services
CTI Licensed as an Independent Testing Agency for Cooling Towers
Test Instrument Rental
Plant or Component Analysis and Base Lining
Efficiency, Availability and Capacity Factor Improvement
Plant and System Modeling and Prediction
Applying Performance Test Methods to Alternative Fuels
Plant Improvement and Upgrade Decision Analysis
Performance Monitoring Systems
AREAS
OF
FOCUS
McHale & Associate’s areas of focus are built upon many years of experience with the objective of providing the right solution for the real problem. Our team works closely with you, as a trusted advisor, to harness the total capacity and strength of your operation. We invite you to search through our various areas of expertise below or contact us directly to find out how we can help you achieve your goals and expand your portfolio of solutions.
Performance
TESTING
IMPROVEMENT
SOFTWARE
ADVISING
- CONTRACTUAL ACCEPTANCE
- ROUTINE
- COOLING TOWERS
- CONSULTING
- OPTIMIZATION
- MONITORING
- SOFTWARE
- ENGINEERING
- EXPERT WITNESS
McHale’s Performance Services team is a specialized engineering and consulting group recognized in the energy industry as the leader in providing independent third-party due diligence services in the areas of project execution strategies, risk mitigation, performance optimization, and project / technology validations through analysis and testing.
McHale’s Performance Services is experienced in testing the performance of virtually all major balance of plant components, such as:
• Combustion Turbine or Gas Turbine
• Generators
• Steam Turbine Generators
• Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG)
• Fossil Fired Boilers
• (Coal, Natural Gas, Biomass, etc.)
• Recovery Boilers
• Waste-to-Energy Boilers
• Air Quality Control (AQC) Systems
• Selective Catalytic Reduction
• (SCR) Systems
• Selective Noncatalytic Reduction (SNCR)
• Systems
• Low NOx Burners
• Moisture Separators
McHale provides the tools plant personnel need to accurately assess plant performance and make the improvements to maintain a competitive edge in today’s competitive market, including staff training and turnkey services for the following performance improvement functions:
• Component Performance
• Plant Performance
• Thermo-economic Modeling
• Thermodynamic Modeling
• Plant Efficiency Audit
• Root Cause Analysis Studies
McHale is a corporate member of the Cooling Technology Institute (CTI) and is licensed by CTI as an independent testing agency to perform acceptance and routine testing on cooling towers and related equipment. CTI licensor is held separately for thermal testing and drift emission testing.
• Thermal ATC-105
• Thermal Certification STD-201
• Drift ATC-140
• Sound ATC-128
• Wet-Dry Plume Abatement
• Evaporative Condensers
• Air Cooled Condensers
• Water Flow Measurement
McHale’s principals and staff have provided power plant and energy facility performance services for over 50 years. Our knowledge background covers a variety of plant configurations and includes design and operational experience. As a result, we know firsthand the challenges faced in management, start-up, operations, design, and instrumentation & control, and this enables us to recognize and resolve your problems with the confidence experience brings. Our experience includes:
• Performance Assessment & Audits
• Test Witness
• Dispatch Schedule Optimization
• Arbitration and Legal Support
As the global market technology leader for power plant performance testing and assessment, McHale understands the value of partnering with our clients to get the most out of their existing assets. We work closely with our client’s personnel to find a viable optimization solution best-suited for their plant by developing a collaborative custom-tailored plan to improve performance, reduce emissions, improve reliability, and positively influence dispatch ability.
Knowledge | Skills | Results
McHale understands that performance monitoring is more than just numbers on a computer screen. It has to effectively link multiple plant systems together to convert data into usable information that is easy to understand. The presentation must be clear and constructive for the operations staff. Often, a performance-monitoring system will have multiple users with different needs. The system must be flexible enough to provide the appropriate information to each user. If it’s not simple to understand and work with, it’s just not worth the trouble.
• Available in 32-Bit and 64-Bit Versions
• User-Friendly, Familiar and Fast, utilizing Microsoft Excel
• Alternate to Excel, any Programming Language Using DLL Files
Accurate, Robust, and Fast Formulations for Physical Properties
• Contract Negotiation Assistance
• Performance Feasibility Studies
• Power Purchase Agreement Negotiations
• Project Negotiations
• Design Options and Alternatives Studies
• Review of Major Equipment Design and Application
The McHale organization maintains unparalleled performance engineering resources. Our principals and staff have extensive experience in design, startup, test, operations, and instrumentation & control of power generation facilities. We have provided engineering consulting, testing and analysis services to well over 200,000 MW’s of power plant capacity around the world, and this experience includes natural gas, fossil (coal, heavy oil, and distillate), renewable fuel, hydroelectric, geothermal, and solar plants.
McHale principals have served as expert witnesses on over a dozen domestic and international arbitrations and court cases associated with disputes within the power industry. Our team is well versed in developing expert witness reports, depositions and testimony.
Measurement
RENTAL
CALIBRATION
ON-SITE
FABRICATION
CONSULTATION
FUEL ANALYSIS
McHale’s Measurement Services provides measurement solutions based on your specific needs. No matter the industry, we will provide best in class measurement services to help you achieve your goals. Our services range from simple instrument rental/calibration to full on-site measurement services and consultations.
McHale Measurement provides high accuracy instrumentation for your most demanding requirements. We provide stand-alone devices or fully integrated measurement systems in both analog and digital communication. Our instrumentation is calibrated in our ISO 17025 accredited lab in compliance with the McHale Quality Assurance Plan.
• Temperature (RTDs, Thermistors, and Thermocouples)
• Differential Pressure (0.075% Class and 0.04% Class)
• Frequency
• Relative Humidity (2%) and Wet Bulb Temperature
• Electrical Output (0.08%) and Power Factor (1%)
• Circulating Water Flow-Rate by Pitot or Ultrasonic Measurements
• Air / Gas Flow by Anemometer, Pitot or Ultrasonic Measurements
• Dimensional Measurements
• Flue Gas Measurements – O2, CO2, CO, NOx
• Steam Calorimeters
Our state of the art ISO 17025 accredited calibration laboratory is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and can efficiently service anywhere in the country, either in our lab or on your project site.
McHale understands the importance of reducing or eliminating downtime due to calibration, repair, and troubleshooting. Our Mobile Calibration Lab makes it easy to provide on-site service with minimal interruption to daily operations. When your instruments are not functioning correctly, our knowledgeable technicians are available to help.
Calibration Services:
Thermodynamic
Electrical
Dimensional
and more…
Flow Measurement
• Steam Calorimeter for Steam Quality Dryness Fraction
• Natural Gas Sampling and On-Site Gas Chromatography
• Flue gas sampling and Analysis
• Pressure, Temperature, Ambient conditions, Power Output, and Auxiliary Power
Custom measurement solution to meet your requirements
McHale Measurement Services has the ability to modify or build a measurement solution for your specific needs. Not all off the shelf measurement devices work for your application; that’s where our fabrication department comes in to enable you to get the accurate data you need for your project.
McHale’s Measurement Services has extensive experience in measurement requirements and solutions. Our seasoned team of Consultants, Engineers and Technicians can walk you through general and site specific issues that you may be facing.
We understand how important accurate measurements are for your day to day operations as well as helping keep up with periodic maintenance schedules and requirements of your entire facility or individual components. Let us help you ensure that you have the best measurement solution for your application.
McHale’s Measurement Services has in-house, mobile (domestic and international) and on-site Natural Gas Chromatography capabilities. We offer natural gas analysis and report to ASTM D1945 standards.
McHale Measurement performs calibration checks at the beginning AND end of each analysis day, ensuring that there was no drift outside of the accepted tolerances.
Power Market
FOSSIL FUELS
RENEWABLES
NUCLEAR
- AQCS
- COAL
- OIL & NATURAL GAS
- SIMPLE CYCLE
- BIOFUELS
- GEOTHERMAL
- HYDROELECTRIC
- SOLAR
- WIND
- NUCLEAR
McHale & Associates, Inc. is recognized throughout the power generation industry as specialized engineering experts that provide superior testing and plant thermal performance improvement services. McHale is an industry leader in providing cost-effective performance evaluation services.
McHale has worked with a variety of EPC contractors, utilities, and manufacturers throughout the power generation industry. The McHale team is known for professional, quick response, accurate high quality testing, and has extensive expertise in plant and component performance.
McHale’s Performance Services provides performance testing for the contract procurement of Air Quality Control (AQC) Systems (AQCS) and components. Specifically, our performance testing is designed to verify contractual guarantees at the level of confidence expected by the parties of the contractual acceptance test and to ensure the successful closure of the project. Through strategic and proven subcontracting relationships with emissions testing companies, McHale provides a comprehensive testing program based on clear expertise with EPA, ASME, ANSI, ISO, ASTM, and EPRI code techniques. These services include:
• Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) Emissions Reduction
• Particulate Matter Filterable (PM) Emissions
• Emission Removal Efficiency
• Catalyst Degradation Studies
Plant and Facility Contractual Acceptance or Routine Testing and Improvement
McHale provides performance testing for the contract procurement of coal-based plants and components. Specifically, our performance testing is designed to verify contractual guarantees at the level of confidence expected by the parties of the contractual acceptance test and to ensure the successful closure of the project.
• Heat Rate
• Capacity
• Efficiency
• Thermal Cycle analysis
• Availability
• Ramp Rate
• Noise Tests
• Water/Steam Consumption
• Distributed Power
• LNG Facilities
• Gas Compression Stations
• LPG Production
• Oil Field Power Generation
• Pipeline
• Component Testing
• Auxiliary Equipment
We have experience with testing plants fired on multiple fuels such as:
• Ethanol
• Biogas
• Bagasse
• Bioethanol
• Petcoke
• Methane (Landfill Gas)
• Sewage
• IEC:60041 (1991)Field acceptance tests to determine the hydraulic performance of hydraulic turbines, storage pumps and pump-turbines
As the world continues to transition its focus onto renewable sources of energy, McHale & Associates is utilizing its knowledge and experience from multiple energy sectors to support emerging technologies and renewable energy projects. McHale has been providing solution driven engineering, consulting, modeling and plant performance testing services for the solar energy market for over 10 years.
Our qualified test personnel deploy around the globe to conduct accurate testing in accordance with the approved test procedures and provide impartial testing results analysis and reports.
We encourage you to take a look at our valued services and how they can be leveraged to your success.
Power Performance Assessments / Technical Advisor / Test Code Specialists
Qualified & Impartial Test Personnel / Code Compliant and Calibrated Test Equipment
Whether it is contractual acceptance of an individual turbine, verification of the overall performance of a wind farm, or investigation into lower than expected Wind Turbine output and availability, McHale’s Renewables Services team is well versed in advising our clients in the proper testing techniques that will provide answers with confidence.
McHale’s Advisors understand the importance of each element required to ensure performance guarantees are achieved with confidence so to ensure the success of a project.
We encourage you to take a look at our valued services and how they can be leveraged to your success.
• Turbine Replacement/Retrofit Warranty Testing
• Routine Outage Improvement Pre to Post Testing
• Degradation Recovery Investigations and Assessments
• Heat Exchange Testing for Closed Feedwater Heaters
• Cooling Tower Thermal, Sound, and Drift Testing
• M&TE Equipment Rental, Calibration, and Sales … and more.
Performance
McHale’s Performance Services team is a specialized engineering and consulting group recognized in the energy industry as the leader in providing independent third-party due diligence services in the areas of project execution strategies, risk mitigation, performance optimization, and project / technology validations through analysis and testing.
TESTING
McHale’s Performance Services is experienced in testing the performance of virtually all major balance of plant components, such as:
• Combustion Turbine or Gas Turbine
• Generators
• Steam Turbine Generators
• Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG)
• Fossil Fired Boilers
• (Coal, Natural Gas, Biomass, etc.)
• Recovery Boilers
• Waste-to-Energy Boilers
• Air Quality Control (AQC) Systems
• Selective Catalytic Reduction
• (SCR) Systems
• Selective Noncatalytic Reduction (SNCR)
• Systems
• Low NOx Burners
• Moisture Separators
McHale provides the tools plant personnel need to accurately assess plant performance and make the improvements to maintain a competitive edge in today’s competitive market, including staff training and turnkey services for the following performance improvement functions:
• Component Performance
• Plant Performance
• Thermo-economic Modeling
• Thermodynamic Modeling
• Plant Efficiency Audit
• Root Cause Analysis Studies
McHale is a corporate member of the Cooling Technology Institute (CTI) and is licensed by CTI as an independent testing agency to perform acceptance and routine testing on cooling towers and related equipment. CTI licensor is held separately for thermal testing and drift emission testing.
• Thermal ATC-105
• Thermal Certification STD-201
• Drift ATC-140
• Sound ATC-128
• Wet-Dry Plume Abatement
• Evaporative Condensers
• Air Cooled Condensers
• Water Flow Measurement
IMPROVEMENT
McHale’s principals and staff have provided power plant and energy facility performance services for over 50 years. Our knowledge background covers a variety of plant configurations and includes design and operational experience. As a result, we know firsthand the challenges faced in management, start-up, operations, design, and instrumentation & control, and this enables us to recognize and resolve your problems with the confidence experience brings. Our experience includes:
• Performance Assessment & Audits
• Test Witness
• Dispatch Schedule Optimization
• Arbitration and Legal Support
As the global market technology leader for power plant performance testing and assessment, McHale understands the value of partnering with our clients to get the most out of their existing assets. We work closely with our client’s personnel to find a viable optimization solution best-suited for their plant by developing a collaborative custom-tailored plan to improve performance, reduce emissions, improve reliability, and positively influence dispatch ability.
Knowledge | Skills | Results
McHale understands that performance monitoring is more than just numbers on a computer screen. It has to effectively link multiple plant systems together to convert data into usable information that is easy to understand. The presentation must be clear and constructive for the operations staff. Often, a performance-monitoring system will have multiple users with different needs. The system must be flexible enough to provide the appropriate information to each user. If it’s not simple to understand and work with, it’s just not worth the trouble.
SOFTWARE
McHale offers a proprietary Excel Add-In package to add functionality to Excel-specific performance testing and thermodynamic calculations. McHale’s Performance Suites provides results that are accurate and defensible. Features include:
• Available in 32-Bit and 64-Bit Versions
• User-Friendly, Familiar and Fast, utilizing Microsoft Excel
• Alternate to Excel, any Programming Language Using DLL Files
Accurate, Robust, and Fast Formulations for Physical Properties
ADVISING
The McHale organization maintains unparalleled performance engineering resources. Our principals and staff have extensive experience in design, startup, test, operations, and instrumentation & control of power generation facilities. We have provided engineering consulting, testing and analysis services to well over 200,000 MW’s of power plant capacity around the world, and this experience includes natural gas, fossil (coal, heavy oil, and distillate), renewable fuel, hydroelectric, geothermal, and solar plants.
McHale principals have served as expert witnesses on over a dozen domestic and international arbitrations and court cases associated with disputes within the power industry. Our team is well versed in developing expert witness reports, depositions and testimony.
The McHale organization maintains unparalleled performance engineering resources. Our principals and staff have extensive experience in design, startup, test, operations, and instrumentation & control of power generation facilities. We have provided engineering consulting, testing and analysis services to well over 200,000 MW’s of power plant capacity around the world, and this experience includes natural gas, fossil (coal, heavy oil, and distillate), renewable fuel, hydroelectric, geothermal, and solar plants.
McHale principals have served as expert witnesses on over a dozen domestic and international arbitrations and court cases associated with disputes within the power industry. Our team is well versed in developing expert witness reports, depositions and testimony.
Measurement
McHale’s Measurement Services provides measurement solutions based on your specific needs. No matter the industry, we will provide best in class measurement services to help you achieve your goals. Our services range from simple instrument rental/calibration to full on-site measurement services and consultations.
RENTAL
McHale Measurement provides high accuracy instrumentation for your most demanding requirements. We provide stand-alone devices or fully integrated measurement systems in both analog and digital communication. Our instrumentation is calibrated in our ISO 17025 accredited lab in compliance with the McHale Quality Assurance Plan.
• Temperature (RTDs, Thermistors, and Thermocouples)
• Differential Pressure (0.075% Class and 0.04% Class)
• Frequency
• Relative Humidity (2%) and Wet Bulb Temperature
• Electrical Output (0.08%) and Power Factor (1%)
• Circulating Water Flow-Rate by Pitot or Ultrasonic Measurements
• Air / Gas Flow by Anemometer, Pitot or Ultrasonic Measurements
• Dimensional Measurements
• Flue Gas Measurements – O2, CO2, CO, NOx
• Steam Calorimeters
McHale’s Measurement Services provides measurement solutions based on your specific needs. No matter the industry, we will provide best in class measurement services to help you achieve your goals. Our services range from simple instrument rental/calibration to full on-site measurement services and consultations.
McHale Measurement Services knows the need for quick turn-around and highly accurate measurement solutions. Whether your job requires quick troubleshooting and diagnostics or technically and carefully planned out test measurements, we can provide the response and expertise.
Flow Measurement
• Steam Calorimeter for Steam Quality Dryness Fraction
• Natural Gas Sampling and On-Site Gas Chromatography
• Flue gas sampling and Analysis
• Pressure, Temperature, Ambient conditions, Power Output, and Auxiliary Power
Custom measurement solution to meet your requirements
McHale Measurement Services has the ability to modify or build a measurement solution for your specific needs. Not all off the shelf measurement devices work for your application; that’s where our fabrication department comes in to enable you to get the accurate data you need for your project.
McHale’s Measurement Services has extensive experience in measurement requirements and solutions. Our seasoned team of Consultants, Engineers and Technicians can walk you through general and site specific issues that you may be facing.
We understand how important accurate measurements are for your day to day operations as well as helping keep up with periodic maintenance schedules and requirements of your entire facility or individual components. Let us help you ensure that you have the best measurement solution for your application.
McHale’s Measurement Services has in-house, mobile (domestic and international) and on-site Natural Gas Chromatography capabilities. We offer natural gas analysis and report to ASTM D1945 standards.
McHale Measurement performs calibration checks at the beginning AND end of each analysis day, ensuring that there was no drift outside of the accepted tolerances.
Power Market
McHale & Associates, Inc. is recognized throughout the power generation industry as specialized engineering experts that provide superior testing and plant thermal performance improvement services. McHale is an industry leader in providing cost-effective performance evaluation services.
McHale has worked with a variety of EPC contractors, utilities, and manufacturers throughout the power generation industry. The McHale team is known for professional, quick response, accurate high quality testing, and has extensive expertise in plant and component performance.
FOSSIL FUELS
McHale’s Performance Services provides performance testing for the contract procurement of Air Quality Control (AQC) Systems (AQCS) and components. Specifically, our performance testing is designed to verify contractual guarantees at the level of confidence expected by the parties of the contractual acceptance test and to ensure the successful closure of the project. Through strategic and proven subcontracting relationships with emissions testing companies, McHale provides a comprehensive testing program based on clear expertise with EPA, ASME, ANSI, ISO, ASTM, and EPRI code techniques. These services include:
• Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) Emissions Reduction
• Particulate Matter Filterable (PM) Emissions
• Emission Removal Efficiency
• Catalyst Degradation Studies
Utility-Scale Plant / Distributed Generation Facility Performance Testing / Evaluation Services
Plant and Facility Contractual Acceptance or Routine Testing and Improvement
McHale provides performance testing for the contract procurement of coal-based plants and components. Specifically, our performance testing is designed to verify contractual guarantees at the level of confidence expected by the parties of the contractual acceptance test and to ensure the successful closure of the project.
• Heat Rate
• Capacity
• Efficiency
• Thermal Cycle analysis
• Availability
• Ramp Rate
• Noise Tests
• Water/Steam Consumption
McHale provides performance testing for the contract procurement of natural gas-based plants and components; such as, LNG and LPG production processes and facilities. Specifically, our performance testing is designed to verify contractual guarantees at the level of confidence expected by the parties of the contractual acceptance test and to ensure the successful closure of the project. McHale provides benchmark status performance testing to our clients to ensure that plant performance has not degraded to unacceptable levels and to identify where program improvements can be made to improve efficiency, output, and economic performance. In addition, McHale can provide the required performance testing to verify the performance of individual units and multiple facilities to establish confident benchmarks for planning optimized coordinated plant operation and outage maintenance projects. These include:
• Distributed Power
• LNG Facilities
• Gas Compression Stations
• LPG Production
• Oil Field Power Generation
• Pipeline
McHale’s Performance Services provides performance testing for the contract procurement of natural gas-based plants and components. Specifically, our performance testing is designed to verify contractual guarantees at the level of confidence expected by the parties of the contractual acceptance test and to ensure the successful closure of the project. Our services provide benchmark status performance testing to our clients to ensure that plant performance has not degraded to unacceptable levels and to identify where program improvements can be made to improve efficiency, output, and economic performance. McHale can provide the required performance testing in order to verify the performance of individual units and multiple facilities to establish confident benchmarks for planning optimized coordinated plant operation and outage maintenance projects. These include:
• Component Testing
• Auxiliary Equipment
RENEWABLES
When navigating the challenges associated with ensuring the performance of your biofuel fired power producing assets and for quantifying the optimum achievable efficiency of their biofuel production processes and facilities, you can trust McHale to provide you with performance testing designed to verify contractual guarantees at the level of confidence to ensure successful closure of the project.
We have experience with testing plants fired on multiple fuels such as:
• Ethanol
• Biogas
• Bagasse
• Bioethanol
• Petcoke
• Methane (Landfill Gas)
• Sewage
As our clients are trusted stewards to this valuable natural resource, McHale Performance is a trusted advisor to our clients when it comes to providing high confidence testing and advisory solutions for determining and optimizing the plants performance. When it comes to the bottom line, knowing and optimizing the plants performance over the projected economic life of the project is a fundamental contributor to the project performance. See how McHale Performance can become your partner in geothermal plant performance. A sample of projects supported.
Whether you are going to rehabilitate existing units, desire to optimize performance, benchmark current status or procuring new hydro turbine; McHale’s proven track record of economical and effective testing methods, metrology equipment, and technical advisement has been central to maintaining and improving plant performance to our clients. McHale is experienced in the application of codes and the particulars of how to go beyond codes when the situation dictates so to provide the parties to a test an appropriate code level confidence in the results.
• IEC:60041 (1991)Field acceptance tests to determine the hydraulic performance of hydraulic turbines, storage pumps and pump-turbines
As the world continues to transition its focus onto renewable sources of energy, McHale & Associates is utilizing its knowledge and experience from multiple energy sectors to support emerging technologies and renewable energy projects. McHale has been providing solution driven engineering, consulting, modeling and plant performance testing services for the solar energy market for over 10 years.
Our qualified test personnel deploy around the globe to conduct accurate testing in accordance with the approved test procedures and provide impartial testing results analysis and reports.
We encourage you to take a look at our valued services and how they can be leveraged to your success.
Power Performance Assessments / Technical Advisor / Test Code Specialists
Qualified & Impartial Test Personnel / Code Compliant and Calibrated Test Equipment
Whether it is contractual acceptance of an individual turbine, verification of the overall performance of a wind farm, or investigation into lower than expected Wind Turbine output and availability, McHale’s Renewables Services team is well versed in advising our clients in the proper testing techniques that will provide answers with confidence.
McHale’s Advisors understand the importance of each element required to ensure performance guarantees are achieved with confidence so to ensure the success of a project.
We encourage you to take a look at our valued services and how they can be leveraged to your success.
NUCLEAR
McHale specializes in turbine cycle heat rate and power output performance testing of Nuclear Power Plants and has successfully conducted power uprate performance testing. We stand ready to support your testing needs in the areas of:
• Turbine Replacement/Retrofit Warranty Testing
• Routine Outage Improvement Pre to Post Testing
• Degradation Recovery Investigations and Assessments
• Heat Exchange Testing for Closed Feedwater Heaters
• Cooling Tower Thermal, Sound, and Drift Testing
• M&TE Equipment Rental, Calibration, and Sales … and more.