7F Users Group

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 […]

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

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

MEAG Wansley Unit 9, a 520-MW, 2 × 1 combined cycle in Franklin, Ga, is owned by the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and operated by NAES Corp. Plant manager is Timothy Williams. LOTO upgrade facilitates maintenance of chemical feed pumps Challenge. The plant has two chemical-feed panels: boiler and cooling tower. Each has multiple

Calhoun Power, a 748-MW, dual fuel, four-unit simple-cycle plant in Eastaboga, Ala, is owned by East Alabama Generating LLC and operated by Consolidated Asset Management Services (CAMS). Plant manager is Mike Carter. Lockwire prevents water-injection and fuel-oil purge-valve actuators from coming loose Challenge. An RCA conducted after Calhoun Power experienced an unsuccessful fuel-oil swap found

Barney Davis Energy Center, a 670-MW, 2 × 1 combined cycle in Corpus Christi, Tex, is owned by Talen Energy and operated by Consolidated Asset Management Services (CAMS). Plant manager is Gary Clark. Multiple benefits accrue from gas-chromatograph install Challenge: Getting accurate gas-quality data to provide real-time gas-flow readings in Btu. Prior to installing the

Green Country Energy is an 801-MW facility in Jenks, Okla, equipped with three 1 × 1 combined-cycle units. It is owned by J-Power USA and operated by NAES Corp. Plant manager is Danny Parish. Complex underground water leak repairs Challenge. Safety is one of Green Country Energy’s (GCE) core values. Occasionally, a job like the

Armstrong Energy, a 625-MW, dual-fuel, simple-cycle peaking facility in Shelocta, Pa, is equipped with four 7FA.03 gas turbines. It is owned by LS Power and operated by IHI Power Services Corp. Brent Yatman is the plant manager. Unit axial vibration monitoring Challenge. Plant personnel desired a method for monitoring axial vibration levels during all phases

St. Charles Energy Center, a 745-MW, 2 × 1 combined cycle in Waldorf, Md, is owned by Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) and operated by Consolidated Asset Management Services (CAMS). Plant manager is Nick Bohl.  Pocket guides invaluable to new employees Challenge. Powerplants can be intimidating to new employees, and bringing a new hire’s knowledge up

With the 29th annual conference of the 7F Users Group at the Fairmont Dallas (Tex) Hotel, May 18-22, only a few months away, this might be a good time to register for the world’s largest meeting of frame gas-turbine owner/operators, assuming you haven’t already done so. About 250 users and 150 exhibitors are expected to