From the Editor
Only days away are the two of the year’s first user group meetings serving owner/operators of gas turbines. The 501F and 501G Users Groups will be holding separate technical conferences at Saddlebrook Resort (Tampa) February 12-16, but will come together for discussions on issues of mutual interest, vendor fair, meals, and social events. Get details at http://users-group.org.
501F Chairman Russ Snyder told the editors that Monday’s (February 13) feature events are the vendor fair and 50 half-hour presentations (including Q&A) by the leading vendors. Tuesday is Siemens Day with thorough coverage by the OEM’s engineers of engine issues from air inlet though the generator, plus updates on product enhancements to improve reliability/availability and efficiency and reduce emissions and operating costs.
Wednesday begins with an open discussion on fleet safety concerns and solutions. More than half a dozen user presentations are sandwiched among roundtable discussions on the inlet and exhaust section, hot section, combustor section, and compressor.
Thursday morning features these breakout tracks: Siemens mods and upgrades; Siemens T3000 session followed by a user-only T3000 experiences discussion; TXP users-only session followed by a Siemens TXP session. Thursday afternoon is dedicated to steam turbines.
The Western Turbine Users Inc kicks off its 22nd Annual Conference and Exhibition Sunday March 18. It will bring together nearly 1000 owner/operators, vendors, and consultants in the Pasadena Conference Center for the opening of the vendor fair at 5:30 (visit www.wtui.com).
The conference, dedicated to aeroderivative gas turbines for land and marine service manufactured by GE Energy, begins Monday morning with a general session. Attendees will hear from the OEM and the five depots it has licensed to perform engine overhauls:
TransCanada Turbines, MTU Maintenance, Air New Zealand, Avio, and IHI.
Introductions complete, the owner/operators will participate in the first of five breakout sessions for the LM2500, LM5000, LM6000, and LMS100, which are conducted in parallel. These sessions are the focal point of the event. Nearly 10 hours of in-depth discussion and presentations by top aero experts are dedicated to each of the four engines. Bring your questions; you’ll get qualified answers.
CTOTF’s Spring Turbine Forum is the meeting of choice for gas-turbine owner/operators who need information on more than just one engine model, so it’s ideal for generation executives, asset managers, and plant directors. Access the agenda at www.ctotf.org. Digging into the program it’s easy to understand why CTOTF Chair Bob Kirn of TVA says the Spring Turbine Forum is in lock step with the group’s “The Total Plant Concept.” The meeting does not just address gas turbines. Note the sessions dedicated to industry issues, O&M and business practices, generators, controls, electrical systems, etc.
A highlight of the conference is the presentation of the CCJ’s 2012 Best Practices Awards. Finally, the Spring Turbine Forum offers a special opportunity to bring junior members of your power generation staff up speed on gas turbine technology. Note the two three-hour CT-Tech sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
