7F Users Group

In today’s topsy-turvy world of electric-power generation and delivery anything can happen, and it does. Recall that only a couple of years ago, the OEM with the largest position in the generation sector purchased a major competitor and tried to take by storm the industry’s aftermarket business—worldwide. That might have led some to conclude that […]

Operate drain valves on different HPSH harps simultaneously, not in sequence, prior to and during hot, pressurized startups.   Most operators know it’s important to drain the high-pressure superheater during startup before steam flow is initiated to prevent accumulated water at the bottom of the harps from migrating up some tubes—quenching them and the upper

The Air-Cooled Condenser Users Group (ACCUG), established by NV Energy in 2009, has recently publish technical guidance document ACC.02, Guidelines for Finned Tube Cleaning in Air-Cooled Condensers. This document includes fundamental principles, operational factors that can limit efficiency, types of tube fouling, debris removal methods and examples, cleaning frequency, as well as safety and environmental concerns. Following is a overview.

Last year, NAES Corp, well known to CCJ ONsite readers as a leading third-party plant O&M services provider, acquired Gridforce Energy Management LLC, extending NAES’ services into the transmission and distribution arena. Gridforce’s genesis was at Duke Energy North America (DENA) back in the late 1990s when the industry was driving towards unbridled competition.  For almost 20

Richard Walton of SSE (formerly Scottish & Southern Energy plc), spoke to participants in European Technology Development Ltd’s International Conference on Power Plant Operation and Flexibility, London, July 2018, on thermal transients and their impacts throughout the company’s fleet, suggesting more targeted inspections, monthly monitoring and reporting, trending and investigating, and the need for improved industry guidance. Details

Part 2 of CCJ ONsite’s coverage (access part 1 here) of the Air-Cooled Condenser Users Group’s 10th annual meeting (October 2018, Colorado Springs) by Consulting Editor Steve Stultz focuses on air in-leakage, which increases vacuum and contributes to a loss in thermal performance. Ingress of oxygen and carbon dioxide also can cause problems in the steam/water cycle and

Capitalizing on work presented by Xcel Energy at meetings of the HRSG Forum with Bob Anderson, ETD’s Dr Ahmed Shibli and William Moore produced an extensive report for the consultancy’s Group Sponsored Project on drones and robots for powerplant inspection. The highlights of this work were discussed at European Technology Development Ltd’s International Conference on Power Plant Operation and Flexibility, London,

by Jason Makansi, Pearl Street Inc. In these days of heightened uncertainty in the power industry, it’s easy to have amnesia about long-term prospects in the electricity business. The opportunities may be shifting, for a few perhaps like the ground underneath you during an earthquake, but the long-term opportunities remain excellent. The short version of the

The 7F Users Group is a big supporter of CCJ’s Best Practices Awards program. For the last two years, owner/operators affiliated with this organization outpaced participants representing other frames and aeros. In 2018, fourteen 7F plants (chart) shared 26 best practices with their colleagues industry-wide. Recognize that the lion’s share of this material also pertains to most

CCJ ONsite’s coverage of 2018 award-winning best practices from 7F owner/operators concludes here. The five entries from four plants (Bastrop, MEAG Wansley, Nuevo Pemex, and Rathdrum), all operated by NAES Corp, were recognized for their value by judges with deep knowledge of this frame. In sum, fourteen 7F plants shared 26 best practices with their