Stellite liberation from large valves installed in main and hot reheat (HRH) steam systems serving F-class combined cycles, considered a major industry problem 10 years ago, has been eliminated by substituting chrome carbide as the hard-facing material for critical valve parts. The editors first learned of stellite delamination at the 2009 7F Users Group Conference […]
Independent users groups serving owner/operators at cogeneration and simple- and combined-cycle plants powered by gas turbines are an invaluable resource for station personnel. Almost all have online forums available 24/7/365 to help answer technical questions quickly and get you moving in the right direction with possible solutions. Most colleagues offering their unbiased assistance have deep
Acoustic leak detection benefits boiler owners, but not all systems are HRSG-qualified Read More »
Consulting Editor Steve Stultz’s reports on the last HRSG Forum with Bob Anderson and Australasian HRSG Users Group annual meeting discussed ageing issues associated with steam systems installed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As these systems in combined-cycle and cogeneration plants reach half-way in their design life, overheating of all components has become
Diffuser-duct upgrade mitigates 7FA exhaust-system reliability concerns Read More »
Turning a profit in the business of electric generation can be challenging given the competitive nature of the industry today. Be prepared to take advantage of revenue opportunities, which can surface quickly, by upgrading equipment capable of improving your balance sheet tomorrow. A case in point concerns fogging systems. Those responsible for gas turbines know
Overhaul, upgrade legacy fog systems to maximize performance Read More »
It’s no secret that many gas turbines are starting and stopping far more frequently than originally designed for. At the same time, independent system operators (ISOs) are imposing stiff fines for failure to meet startup and performance obligations. Most plants have adapted to these more aggressive operating tempos and performance challenges, but one component that
How to mitigate risks associated with gas-turbine LCI starting systems Read More »
Generation assets in competitive markets must perform at a high level year in and year out to meet their contractual obligations. Failure to embrace a philosophy of “continual improvement” in plant operations means it’s only a matter of time before the competition will eat your lunch. The focal point of continual-improvement efforts typically is the
Keep your plant competitive: Obsolete legacy systems Read More »
Paul Tucker called CCJ’s editorial offices a few weeks back with a generator experience to share with users. Say Whaaat? Tucker is well known to engineers and technicians at power and process plants for his ability to identify the root causes of turbine problems. There isn’t much he hasn’t experienced in his 50 or so
Sometimes it takes a good turbine mechanic to solve a generator problem Read More »
You don’t hear much at industry meetings these days about physical security of power generation and delivery infrastructure and personnel. Cybersecurity topics get most of the attention. But that doesn’t mean work on physical security solutions has stopped. Certainly not. One recent development concerns transformer protection. Six years ago (Apr 16, 2013), you may recall,
Transformer armor helps ensure high availability Read More »
There are numerous instrumentation systems used in attempts to assess the condition of powerplant electrical equipment. The library of papers about them is vast. But papers discussing detection of failing electrical connections inside generators or bus systems are limited in number, Consultants Clyde V Maughan and James E Timperley told the editors. The focus of
Simple EMI test detects failing electrical connections, promotes high plant availability Read More »
New rules on waste-water discharges dictate conversion of Exira Station to ZLD Stricter limits on waste-water discharges imposed as part of the NPDES permit renewal process made it impossible for Exira Station to consistently comply with the new rules as the facility was originally designed and operated. Challenges faced by the owner, Western Minnesota Municipal
2019 Aeroderivative GT Best Practices: Water Management Read More »
