The Western Turbine Users exclusively supports owner/operators of GE aero engines (LM2500, LM5000, LM6000, LMS100) though its annual conferences (next up is the 2016 meeting, March 20-23) and online forum. CTOTF, which meets twice annually, also supports aero users—owner/operators of Pratt & Whitney and Siemens (now including Rolls Royce) aeroderivative engines gather at the organization’s spring meeting (this year, April 3-7); LM users meet in the fall (this year, September 11-15).

What’s important to users with FT4s, FT8s, FT4000s, RB211s, etc: CTOTF is the only formal gas-turbine user group supporting their aeros. At the upcoming spring conference and vendor fair, Siemens aero owner/operators meet all day Tuesday, April 5, and Pratt users all day Wednesday, April 6.

Greg Dolezal, maintenance manager for Iberdrola Renewables’ Klamath Cogeneration Plant and associated peaking units, is CTOTF’s senior chairman for all aero sessions. The roundtable (CTOTF lingo for “session”) chair for Siemens aero engines is John-Erik Nelson, principal mechanical engineer for Braintree Electric Dept.

Program for the day-long Siemens aero roundtable is dominated by OEM speakers covering the following:

• Dresser-Rand one year after the Siemens acquisition.

• Trent 60.

• Condition-based maintenance.

• Service-bulletin updates.

• Top fleet issues.

The P&W roundtable has OEM presentations in the morning on these topics:

• Update on the service organization, spare parts, overhaul depot, and field service.

• Latest developments on Gen II GAP and HMI system—including completion of testing, installations performed, and feedback.

• Parts supersedence and service bulletin updates.

• Troubleshooting.

The P&W afternoon session features a presentation by Morgan Hendry, president, SSS Clutch Co, on two innovative approaches for achieving operational flexibility and improving ROI in process and power-generation applications. The first case study reviews adaptation of an FT8-30 Twin Pac to enable efficient combined heat and power at a chemical plant with 20 years of experience to share. The second case study presents the equipment changes required to repurpose an existing FT4 Twin Pac for profitable spinning-reserve duty based on 12 years of experience.

If you can’t get to the CTOTF meeting but are going to Western Turbine, visit Hendry at Booth 810.

The P&W roundtable concludes with a presentation by Senior Chair Dolezal and an open discussion forum. Dolezal will review his plant’s experience with FT8 power-turbine depot-level repairs and what you can expect from the shop, FOD damage and RCA results, and lessons learned.