CCUG

This is the final part of a five-part series on the design, operation, and maintenance of reverse osmosis systems for powerplants compiled by Wes Byrne, U.S. Water’s consultant on membrane technologies. Parts I, II, III, and IV are identified below. Part I: Value proposition, how it works Part II: Importance of a pilot study in …

RO Part V: When to clean, how to clean Read More »

It happens to all of us. One day we wake up and realize, we’re not young anymore. You can, in the same breath, decide you need to do some things differently. Or, you can ignore it, and pay a larger price later. The same thing is true with heat-recovery steam generators (HRSGs). Combined-cycle plants experienced …

HRSG best practices: Plan now for old age Read More »

Ever stop to think about what’s going on with your HRSG’s steam drums, out of sight for the most part and all wrapped up in insulation? Even if you were to hike up to the drum level what could you see? Next question: How many people at your plant really think about the boiler? Their …

Steam drums demand regular inspection, continual attention Read More »

It’s easy to forget about the “big box” selective catalytic reduction (SCR) unit sandwiched in your HRSG modules, even though it stands between you and compliance with your air permit, and your ability to operate. At the 2017 conference of the Combined Cycle Users Group (CCUG), held in Phoenix the last week of August, Andy …

Consider the impact of new operating regimes on your SCR Read More »

Special to CCJ ONSite by Brian Hulse, BDHulse Consulting Services LLC “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Walt Kelly wrote those words for Pogo to speak in his comic strip, marking the first annual observance of Earth Day back in April 1970. He was making the observation that pollution of the planet …

Lube-oil cleanliness critical to long bearing life Read More »

Special to CCJ ONSite by Brian Hulse, BDHulse Consulting Services LLC Seems like a simple enough question. It gets asked thousands of times a day in restaurants around the world. But in generating plants powered by gas turbines, it takes on a whole different meaning. These engines are very sensitive to salt, and there are …

Would you like a little sea salt on that? Read More »

Special to CCJ ONSite by Brian Hulse, BDHulse Consulting Services LLC If we know one thing about hoses, it’s that they’re expensive. So we always try to extract maximum value from them before they’re replaced. The hoses used on most gas turbines are manufactured with no published shelf-life or working-life limitation. Each hose on the …

Inspect, maintain hoses to prevent failures, protect personnel Read More »

Building the better mouse trap Special to CCJ ONsite by Brian Hulse, BDHulse Consulting Services LLC It’s an age-old quest—building the better mouse trap. The US Patent Office has issued over 4400 patents for mouse traps although, paradoxically, only about 20 of them have ever seen any commercial success. This would lead one to think …

Clean inlet air at the proper temperature promotes top performance Read More »