Best Practices

Recognized for its Best Practice in Performance Improvement Water-wash program gives year-round benefit A new powerplant with no leaking valves and latest-technology equipment generally doesn’t have to be concerned with losing a few points in its heat rate. Add 15 years of operation and that measurement of plant efficiency takes on a whole new meaning. […]

Recognized for its Best Practice pertaining to Electrical Systems Upgrades to non-segregated bus duct help prevent faults Two electrical faults occurred on a 13.8-kV bus within five years at Minnesota Municipal Power Agency’s Minnesota River Station, operated by NAES Corp. In both incidents, the solid copper bus and ductwork sustained extensive damage, resulting in lengthy

Recognized for its Best Practice in Outage Management Self-performing combustion inspections strengthens plant’s bottom line The days of having long-term service agreements (LTSAs) that coexist with power purchase agreements (PPAs) are vanishing. Many of these contracts in older facilities have expired or are approaching expiration. Private-equity firms with stakes in these plants are looking at

Recognized for Best Practices in Environmental Management and Safety Design hazardous-spill response plan for worst-case scenario Nearly all plants have a plan for addressing hazardous spills. Many, like 801-MW Green Country Energy (GCE), owned by J-Power USA and operated by NAES Corp, have a comprehensive spill-prevention control and countermeasures plan that identifies areas where spills

Recognized for Best Practices in O&M, Safety, Workforce Development, Outage Management Foam inserts prevent air flow through offline gas turbines When gas turbines (GT) are shut down for extended periods in Georgia, the high humidity and natural draft through the HRSGs creates problematic condensation on tube fins. Rusting occurs, especially when water is still present

Plant Rowan, owned by Southern Company and operated by Southern Power, is a 985-MW generating complex in Salisbury, NC, that has a 2 × 1 combined cycle and three simple-cycle units. Plant manager is Chris Lane. Plant personnel identify, eliminate causes of compressor bleed valve failures Plant Rowan’s 7F compressor bleed valve (CBV) design—consisting of a vented-to-atmosphere, air-to-close/spring-to-open

Developing the next generation of multi-skill employees Elwood Energy started commercial operation in 1999. In 2012, prior to the plant’s first ownership change and exit from a PPA environment, the leadership team realized it would have to develop its next generation of employees. Few job candidates with suitable experience demonstrated sufficient promise to thrive in

High-energy-piping program simplifies inspection, recordkeeping Like any new facility, all of the programs and procedures needed to operate and maintain Woodbridge Energy Center had to be created from scratch. One, the High Energy Piping Program (HEPP), immediately stood out to the plant team as an area that could benefit greatly through customization and simplification. The

Effingham County Power, owned by The Carlyle Group and operated by Cogentrix Energy Power Management, is a 525-MW plant in Rincon, Ga, equipped with a 2 × 1 combined cycle. General manager is Bob Kulbacki. Reduce imbalance and variance charges with consistent plant operation Effingham County Power was awarded one of the eight Best of the Best

The 7F Users Group and CCJ are working together to expand the sharing of best practices and lessons learned among owner/operators of large frame engines. One of the organization’s objectives is to help its members better operate and maintain their plants, and a proactive best practices program supports this goal. The editors presented a summary