Oak Valley

Hot Springs, AR

Broad extensive engineering experience for industrial combustion and control systems

Services: 26
Offices: 1
Projects: 1
Leaders: 1
Founded: 1993
Size Estimate: 1-10 employees

Overview

Oak Valley Engineering, LLC is a consulting engineering practice with extensive experience in industrial and utility combustion systems. It provides multifaceted engineering services across mechanical, electrical, controls, and instrumentation disciplines, supporting projects from concept through design, construction, operator training, start-up, and commissioning.

Founded: 1993
Size Estimate: 1-10 employees

Services

Commissioning and Training

Assisting facilities during the critical transition from construction to operations by providing start-up support and technical instruction. The practice focuses on mentoring operators and plant personnel to ensure long-term operational competency and safety.

Commissioning and Start-up Assistance Operator Mentoring and Plant Personnel Support Tailored Operator Training Training and Operations Documentation

System Analysis and Optimization

Evaluating existing plant assets to maximize efficiency, resolve operating issues, and maintain regulatory compliance. This encompasses comprehensive equipment inspections, performance tuning, and cross-disciplinary troubleshooting.

Combustion and Boiler Troubleshooting Electrical and Controls Troubleshooting Combustion Tuning for MACT Compliance Equipment and Furnace Inspections

Control Systems and Instrumentation Engineering

Designing, programming, and updating control architectures that drive industrial processes. The practice delivers customized software and hardware solutions to modernize legacy utility and combustion control setups.

PLC Programming HMI and SCADA Programming Boiler and Burner Control Upgrades Instrumentation Calibration

Project Engineering and Procurement

Acting as an extension of the owner's team to guide industrial upgrades from initial conception through final purchasing. Technical specifications are prepared to ensure system components meet precise operational requirements.

Owner's Engineer Services Industrial Boiler System Upgrades Equipment Specification Preparation System Procurement Assistance Engineering Studies

Engineering Documentation and Design Deliverables

Generating detailed drawings, schedules, and logical diagrams that define the physical and operational structure of a plant. These artifacts serve as the permanent engineering record and construction blueprint.

Process and Piping Diagrams Physical Arrangement Drawings Electrical Schematics and One-Lines Control Logic and Instrument Lists

Industries

Power Generation Biomass & Bioenergy Industrial Emissions Control

Firm type

Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Automation & Controls Combustion Engineering Owner's Engineer Power & Utility Engineering Emissions Control Thermal & Heat Transfer

Projects

Lumberton Biomass Power Plant Control System Upgrade

Lumberton, NC | Georgia Renewable Power | Biomass & Bioenergy

Oak Valley Engineering modified the combustion controls programming and tuned the combustion and control loops for a biomass power plant. The facility, which was converted from coal to biomass, struggled with automatic mode operation due to fuel variation in wood waste and poultry litter. The practice developed an improved biomass firing controls philosophy, implemented the programming changes, tuned the control loops, and trained control room operators, resulting in successful automatic operation and improved air control.

Commissioning and Training System Analysis and Optimization Control Systems and Instrumentation Engineering

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Software

Rockwell Software Studio 5000 RSLogix 5000 RSLogix 500 RSLogix 5 Honeywell HC900 Control Designer Rockwell Software FactoryTalk View RSView 32 Honeywell Experion HS

Credentials and affiliations

Certifications

Professional Engineer

Awards

Fred M. Carter Award - 1996

Leadership

Kevin Utley

Owner and Lead Engineer

Kevin has more than 30 years of domestic and international engineering experience in the field of industrial and utility combustion systems. His responsibilities have included engineering projects from conception through design, construction, operator training, start-up and commissioning. He has overseen the detailed design of industrial biomass fired boilers and gasifiers, as well as air heaters, biomass metering bins, fuel and ash conveyors, duct systems and piping systems. Kevin has also provided engineering services such as inspections of combustion systems, troubleshooting, combustion tuning and PID loop tuning. Also, he has specialized in the design, programming, check-out and start-up of control and instrumentation systems for cogeneration plants, industrial boiler systems and biomass gasification systems. He received his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University.

Testimonials

We brought in Kevin Utley of Oak Valley Engineering to modify the combustion controls programming and tune the combustion and control loops. He developed an improved controls philosophy for biomass firing and made the programming changes to implement that philosophy. After making the programming modifications, Kevin worked with our operators to train them on the control changes while tuning the control loops and the fuel-to-air settings. Kevin's work was very successful as the system could be operated in auto with significant improvement of air control.
Tim Cotner, Plant Manager, Georgia Renewable Power

Offices

Headquarters

103 Rhonda Ann Place

Hot Springs, AR 71909

(501) 844-7779

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