The user-only compressor session in 2018 didn’t include any new topics, at least while the editors were in the room. At most 6B meetings, discussions include filter experience (HEPA in particular in recent years), online and offline washing, corrosives and particulates in the air impacting compressor cleanliness (and how to remove them), inlet bleed heat, […]
With much of the time at Frame 6 meetings devoted to user presentations and deep discussion, there remains limited time for vendor presentations. Each year, the steering committee chooses two third-party vendor presentations in tune with what owner/operators are experiencing in the field. The topics selected for the 2018 meeting dealt with combustion hardware and
Vendor presentations on combustion hardware, fire safety applicable to all engines Read More »
Discussion on the turbine section always is robust at Frame 6 Users Group meetings, likely because there are many “senior” machines in the fleet—those with well over 100k operating hours. Current thinking of the OEM and a few others is that an end-of-life inspection should be done at about 100,000 hours and that the rotor
User discussion: Some 6B turbines nearing replacement age Read More »
The third International Conference on Film Forming Substances (FFS2019), chaired by Barry Dooley of Structural Integrity Associates Inc, provided a highly interactive forum for the presentation of new information and technology related to FFS, research results, case studies of powerplant and industrial applications, and open discussion among users, equipment and chemical suppliers, researchers, and industry
Silverhawk Generating Station underwent a period in which the safety valve for the plant’s auxiliary steam system failed repeatedly, NV Energy engineers Rishi Velkar and Frank Romans told the editors. Consequences of the failures included frequent valve replacement and loss of production through forced outages. Examination of the failed safety valves revealed seating-surface erosion associated
How to achieve reliable pressure regulation Read More »
A valuable turbine operating tip provided by Dave Lucier, founder and GM of PAL Turbine Services LLC, applies to GE Frame 5 gas turbines—most specifically the MS5001D, K, L, and LA packaged powerplants manufactured between 1961 and 1970 and serving in peaking and emergency-power applications. Some users operating these engines have found that reliability issues associated
Tricks of the trade: Limit output to maintain reliability of legacy Frame 5 engines Read More »
Turbine Tip No. 3, contributed by PAL Turbine Services’ Owner/GM Dave Lucier, applies to General Electric Frame 5 models K-LA and M-P, early 6Bs, 7Bs, and 7Cs. Gas-turbine auxiliary systems require periodic maintenance to assure that your engines achieve the availability and reliability metrics necessary to satisfy plant and grid operational objectives. Often taken for
Be sure your GT maintenance plan includes auxiliary (fluid) systems Read More »
Editor’s note: Given the existence of several standards for the classification of gas-turbine inlet filters, which can cause confusion in the minds of at least some owner/operators, Donaldson has developed a user-friendly filter rating system that measures efficiency and two other properties crucial to power output and cost control. The company’s goal is to build
‘Three Pillars’ methodology helps users select the optimal filter for plant conditions Read More »
With the power-generation sector shifting its fuel mix to an increased dependence on natural gas, the decreased downstream volume and unreliable gas pressure can wreak havoc on legacy power production facilities. It can be challenging for an ageing plant to remain a relevant, competitive, and reliable resource. “If your gas supply system operates at a
Pitfalls to avoid when adding a fuel-gas compression system to an operating plant Read More »
It’s important to have a comprehensive checklist of what to inspect on your HRSG, and how, before conducting a condition assessment of your equipment for plant management and/or due diligence purposes. Your checklist may have scores of items to review but it’s impossible to identify everything to look at—usually because your depth of knowledge and
HRSG inspection tips Read More »
