scottschwieger – Combined Cycle Journal

Automated hydrogen purge cuts outage time, boosts safety (Video)

Hydrogen remains the cooling medium of choice for large turbine generators because of its superior heat-transfer efficiency and low windage losses. Yet that same efficiency creates a narrow safety margin. During outages or emergencies, operators must replace hydrogen with carbon dioxide and, if necessary, with air before personnel can enter the generator enclosure. Each […]

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Record participation marks banner year for CCJ Best Practices Awards

Best Practices / By scottschwieger

The COMBINED CYCLE Journal and the steering committees of the industry’s leading users groups—including 7F, 501F, 501G, 7EA, HA, Western Turbine, CCUG, STUG, GUG, PPCUG, Frame 6B, Frame 5, 501D5-D5A, AOG, and V—collaborate to expand the sharing of best practices and lessons learned among owner/operators of large frame and aeroderivative gas turbines. In a banner

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October 21 Webinar: Automating Hydrogen Purge to Maximize Power Plant Safety

Generator Users Group / By scottschwieger

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) Webinar Agenda Hydrogen can pose significant challenges to owners, operators, and maintenance personnel from the standpoint of safety, risk mitigation, and demands for increased efficiency. As a result, the Generator Hydrogen Auxiliary System demands close attention, with proper maintenance,

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Eight Bells: Bob Schwieger, End of Watch

Best Practices / By scottschwieger

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of CCJ founder, known to most as “Bob” Robert G. “Bob” Schwieger, born April 30, 1943, in the Bronx, NY, passed away unexpectedly in Las Vegas, NV, on August 6, 2025, at the age of 82. For those of us fortunate enough to be dazzled by his rare

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Reliability and Cost-Saving Enhancements at Nebras Power

Best Practices / By scottschwieger

Nebras Power IPP1 Jordan Owned by Nebras Power, Mitsui, and AES Corp Operated by Nebras Power IPP1 Jordan 400 MW, gas fired with diesel-oil backup, 2 × 1 combined cycle powered by AE94.2 gas turbines, located in Al Manakher, Jordan Plant manager: Feras Hammad Removing moisture from steam-turbine lube oil Background. Lube-oil quality is a

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NAES leadership investment powers long-term success

Best Practices, CCUG / By scottschwieger

Developed by and conducted for employees of NAES Corp to ensure the company’s ongoing success Academy team leader: Alan Bull, VP, O&M services Challenge. In evaluating its success in becoming the largest provider of third-party energy services, NAES Corp recognized that its success is based largely on the leadership demonstrated by its employees at all

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EHF2025 highlights industry’s growing challenges with aging HRSGs and flexible operation

HRSGs / By scottschwieger

2026 Annual Conference Prato, Italy May 19–21 The eleventh annual European HRSG Forum (EHF2025), held May 13–15 in Prato, Italy, drew 95 participants from 20 countries, including 27 users. Co-chaired by Barry Dooley of Structural Integrity and Bob Anderson of Competitive Power Resources, EHF2025 continues its mission of advancing best practices

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Quail Run: Cooperation on water use benefits both power generator, industrial neighbor

7EA Users Group / By scottschwieger

Quail Run Energy Center Owned by Starwood Energy Group Global Operated by NAES Corp 550 MW, two 2 × 1 7EA-powered combined cycles equipped with A10 steam turbines, located in Odessa, Tex Plant manager: Andy Duncan Background. Upon learning that a dig permit had been issued for property close to Quail Run, plant management arranged

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Proven practices and new technologies for HRSG reliability

HRSGs / By scottschwieger

Report from the Australasian Boiler and HRSG Users Group Update: Join us in November… 2025 Annual Conference Brisbane, Australia November 25-27 www.abhug.com The Australasian Boiler and HRSG Users Group Conference and Workshops (ABHUG 24) was held December 3-5, 2024, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. ABHUG is supported by the International Association for the Properties of Water

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How the GT exhaust-thermocouple correction coefficient came to be

7EA Users Group, Controls, Frame 6 / By scottschwieger

LEGACY CONTROLS FORUM, NO. 5 IN A SERIES By Luke Williams, PE, consultant www.geLegacyGasTurbineSupport.com Editor’s note. This article is based on material presented by the author in his training courses on gas- and steam-turbine controls to explain the reason for the algorithm described and how it works. Email clukewilliams@mindspring.com and ask to be notified of

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