TRAX Energy Solutions, a leader in engineering, simulation, and training for the energy sector and a subsidiary of TRAX International Corporation, today announced the release of a new white paper titled “Dynamic Steam Studies: A Modern Approach to Safer, Smarter Power Generation.” The paper explores how utility companies, engineering firms, and plant operators can improve safety, reliability, and performance by using dynamic steam studies to validate and optimize power plant systems.
“Steam remains the backbone of energy production across coal, gas, nuclear, geothermal, and solar thermal plants,” said Kyle Greene, TRAX LLC president. “But with that power comes complexity and risk. Our new white paper demonstrates how advanced modeling techniques can identify system vulnerabilities early and help design safer and more efficient solutions.”
Drawing on more than 30 years of industry experience, TRAX Energy outlines how dynamic steam studies simulate real-world operating conditions to uncover risks, optimize controls, and support better decision-making — long before equipment is installed, or a plant comes online.
Unlike static analyses that provide only snapshots of system behavior, dynamic studies simulate a wide range of operating scenarios. From startups and shutdowns to load rejections and equipment failures, a dynamic steam study examines how plant systems perform under changing conditions. The insights gained can prevent excessive pressure events, confirm equipment compatibility, and validate controls design.
The white paper includes real-world examples of how TRAX Energy’s steam studies have supported system improvements for utilities and plant operators internationally, including optimizing turbine bypass systems; validating new equipment configurations; and optimizing the application of a thermal blanket to a steam turbine.
The white paper is available for download at the TRAX Energy website.
About TRAX Energy Solutions
TRAX Energy Solutions specializes in engineering, simulation and training for the power generation industry. The company is a leader in the power generation modeling and simulation industry and maintains a reputation for providing the highest quality products and services. TRAX engineers create custom simulation and engineering solutions that proactively address present and emerging energy management challenges. TRAX LLC, doing business as TRAX Energy Solutions, is a subsidiary of TRAX International, a leading provider of professional and technical services for U.S. federal government agencies. TRAX International specializes in test and evaluation, engineering and IT, and logistics and outsourced services. Headquartered in Las Vegas, NV, TRAX International has operations across the U.S. and Central and Latin America. https://www.traxintl.com/energy/home
Media Contact
Joelle Shreves: jshreves@traxintl.com
TRAX has delivered a carbon capture simulator for a 150 MW coal-fired unit that models the capture of the full flue gas stream. The system provides both CO2 and SO2 capture, delivering the captured CO2 to a pipeline for industrial use and underground storage.
—CO2 and SO2 capture
—Sulfuric acid plant
—CO2 and SO2 amines filtration and purification
—CO2 compression
—CO2 pipeline and cavern
As shown below, TRAX built a modular simulation replicating the plant layout using our software, ProTRAX. ProTRAX contains a full suite of modules specific to carbon capture functions and can model a wide variety of processes. TRAX also virtually replicated the user interface that appears in the plant.
Upon initial delivery, the TRAX simulator was used to debug control logic and processes prior to site installation and to provide operations training prior to plant startup. There was a clear need to begin training operators as early as possible since they had multiple unfamiliar systems to learn.
Thanks to the ProTRAX simulator, our customer gained considerable insight into control functionality and system interactions, resulting in modification to some control logic and correction of simple errors. TRAX was able to assist with controls tuning, and helped in development of initial plant Operating Procedures.
The latest upgrade brings the model into alignment with the as-built plant condition by updating and tuning the simulator models to match the current plant dynamics. In addition, TRAX has updated the simulator controls and HMI graphics to the as-built state. Keeping the simulator aligned with the current plant condition is critical to maintaining a positive training value, and is of paramount importance to the customer.
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