Week Four of the 7F Users Group’s innovative 2020 Digital Conference begins tomorrow at 1 p.m. Eastern with SRP’s Gilbert Shupe presenting on an exhaust-frame strut failure. The Exhaust Session, chaired by Southern Company’s Justin McDonald, has an open discussion period scheduled after Shupe’s presentation.

Two special technical presentations selected by the 7F Steering Committee follow:

• • What we have learned about ageing rotors, Dot 04 and 05 turbines, and field-service outages, Jeremy Clifton, Aaron Frost, and Marty Magby, APG-Allied Power Group. 

  • Gas-turbine maintenance technologies and best practices, Mike Dolan, chief engineer—fasteners, Hytorc Corp.

Attendees will have access to these speakers after their presentations during an exclusive vendor fair for both suppliers, enabling a deeper dive into specific details of value to their plants.

The fifth and final segment of the Auxiliaries Session, chaired by Bryan Graham of Entergy, starts the Wednesday program at 1 p.m. The feature presentation is on hydrogen purge remote activation by Scott Rose of Perennial Power’s Hermiston Generating Station.

Immediately following Q&A and open discussion on hydrogen purge these special technical presentations will be made:

• • A paradigm shift in gas-turbine lubricant maintenance, Peter Dufresne Jr and Matthew G Hobbs, EPT-CleanOil. 

  • 7FA total controls reliability, John Downing, Turbine Controls & Excitation Group.

Attendees will be able to meet virtually with these speakers after their presentations during an exclusive vendor fair for both suppliers.

Sessions continue over the next two weeks (including this week), closing July 16. Registration remains open 24/7 for users only, at no cost. More than 600 owner/operators have registered thus far.

Conference content is compelling and easy to access (presentations posted as videos or pdfs a few days after); plus, no travel required, no additional cost to the plant. Q&A following the presentations is more robust and efficient than at most face-to-face meetings which have “dead” time as microphones are passed around the room and attendees gravitate to email. And don’t forget the perspective gained through use of the live polling system accessible by all attendees.