One of the unique aspects of the 7F Users Group’s 2020 Digital Conference is the opportunity to interact online with the OEM and nearly 50 third-party solutions providers. Ten companies in the latter group were selected by the steering committee to conduct live technical presentations of one or two hours during Weeks Two, Three, and Four of the five-week program ending July 16.

The remaining solutions providers participated in the conference with virtual booths in the Vendor Fair conducted Tuesday and Wednesday of Week One. They connected directly with users via video (or audio) conferencing platforms. They also provided recorded technical presentations for users to access on-demand throughout the year, which can be viewed below.

In case you missed the opportunity to visit with one or more of these companies at the Vendor Fair, the editors provide below brief summaries of the products/services they showcased along with links to that information. The names of experts to contact for details are included.

Suppliers not included in the list below will be profiled in CCJ ONsite before our coverage of the 7F meeting concludes on July 20.

Allied Power Group 

Introducing APG Nexgen™ combustion technologies

APG President Jim Masso reviews the company’s recent acquisitions—Nexgen (advanced fuel systems), Texas Metal Printing (3D printing of turbomachinery components), and Eta Technologies (largest non-OEM V-series engine component and repair supplier)—and then summarizes the company’s capabilities in NDT, metallurgy, chemical stripping, grit blasting, rotor repair, and onsite field service. APG’s coating technology and capabilities are discussed next along with comprehensive combustion repair. A shop tour is included.

Custom engineered solutions for F-class owner/operators follow—including problem diagnosis and RCA capabilities, calibration and flow testing, and parts reconditioning. A technology solution of interest to many users is the company’s brazed insert replacement for the 7FA fuel nozzle. Engineered solutions include output and firing-temperature increases, 7FA.04 repairs, life extension, etc.

GTC Control Solutions

Operational tips through case studies, TIL 1524 and 1275 implementations, LVDT calibration

Chief Engineer Abel Rochwarger, respected by many in the industry for his controls expertise (and his unique brand of comedy), helps users understand the factors that determine “single points of failure” and how to identify them, plus the not-so-evident aspects of the relevant Technical Information Letters that can be learned only after implementation.

The takeaways: Users with Mark VI controls will learn about previously unknown/undisclosed failure modes, how to determine if their control systems are potentially susceptible to them, and what the options are for avoiding future occurrences. Personnel from plants with Mark V controls will come up to speed on two new cards from GTC that can help extend the lives of their panels.

Bonus discussion: Average versus core-by-core LVDT calibration.

Nel Hydrogen

Hydrogen generation ensures reliable hydrogen supply for CCGT powerplants

Dave Wolff discusses the use of onsite hydrogen gas generation as a safer, more economical alternative than delivered hydrogen for generator cooling. Users will gain an understanding of how ultra-pure, pressurized, dry hydrogen gas is produced onsite from electricity and water using the company’s compact Proton Exchange Membrane electrolyser. Applicable system drawings are included.

Nitto Inc 

Introducing hydrogen detection tape

The physical properties of hydrogen gas make leaks extremely difficult to detect. Finding leaks quickly is important to ensure personnel safety and to protect critical plant assets. Dr Nahid Mohajeri, GM of advanced polymer technology at Nitto, explains the company’s industrial-grade adhesive tape, which is applied to hydrogen-system components most likely to leak—such as flanges. The tape changes color from amber to black when exposed to even the smallest amounts of hydrogen—concentrations of 1%, for example. Powerplant experience is shared along with lessons learned. 

Parker Hannifin Corp – Energy Division

Reduce maintenance concerns and costs associated with gas-turbine fuel control valves

Jim Hoke, Parker’s capital projects manager for power generation, provides users technical information on the company’s line of electrohydraulic servo valves required for decision-making. The valves are approved by GE for use on its gas and steam turbines for the following applications: control of gas and liquid fuels, steam-valve actuators, inlet guide vanes, and stop/ratio actuators. 

Key takeaways from the presentation include these:

• • Parker’s “soft-fail” electrohydraulic servo valves if plugged will not cause the downstream actuator to fully extend or retract—it will remain in place. However, the valve can be spring-biased to move the actuator to a preferred safe position.

  • The product is a drop-in replacement for many servo valves in use—including hydraulic mounting and electrical connections.

  • Large orifice diameters allow contaminants to pass through instead of obstructing flow.

  • Hydraulic spool, designed with a significant chip shear force, enables continued operation in hydraulic systems experiencing varnish buildup.

  • The robust design allows extended intervals between PMs, calibrations, and tests.

Dekomte de Temple 

Fabric expansion joint solutions for 7F CCGT plants

Jake Waterhouse, group technical director at Dekomte, is a frequent speaker at user-group meetings. Here he discusses the benefits of retrofitting the 7F flex seal, used where the diffuser transitions to the cold casing, with a high-quality fabric solution for longer life and greater durability in cycling plants. Other applications for fabric expansion joints include the HRSG inlet and outlet.

Inspection (visual and thermographic) is the first step in understanding the existing condition and technical requirements to develop a tailored long-term reliable solution, says Waterhouse. Another input to the decision-making process is a review of operational criteria to identify to the degree possible expected operating parameters going forward.

Waterhouse shows with drawings and photos the details of the company’s expansion-joint offerings and presents case studies to illustrate the challenges posed by different gas-turbine models and the successful solutions implemented.

Conax Technologies

Power Division capabilities overview

If you’re unfamiliar with Conax Technologies, which manufactures temperature sensors, compression seal fittings, and cable harness assemblies, watch the 2-min video for an overview of the company’s capabilities and products for generating plants. In addition to standard off-the-shelf products, custom-engineered solutions are available to address the industry’s most demanding challenges.

Here’s a shortlist of products and services available from Conax:

• • Exhaust-gas thermocouples.

  • Sensor cable assemblies.

  • Bearing temperature sensors and seal feedthroughs.

  • Temperature-sensor harness assemblies.

  • Vibration analysis, accelerated lifecycle qualification testing.

Donaldson Company, Gas Turbine Systems

Technology solutions providing more power to you

Donaldson’s Casandra Light and Mike Carlson walk you through the company’s Three Pillars of Filtration methodology focusing on efficiency, water tightness, and pulse recovery rate to provide your plant the optimal filtration solution. Case histories illustrate the value in adopting Three Pillars.

ESC/Spectrum

Optimizing your data acquisition system with StackVision: Best practices, sound advice

Andy Taer brings you up to date on the Austin (Tex) company and its data acquisition system software—including StackVision™ and SpectraView® Prism—for continuous emissions monitoring systems.

Products and services, in addition to the DAS software, include the following:

• • Software IT services—including hosting, upgrades, and system migration server management.

  • Software customer support, documentation, and training services.

  • 8864 Data Controller hardware.

  • CEMS maintenance and training.

  • Stack testing for RATA, permit compliance, and engineering studies.

  • Repair and calibration of CEMS equipment.

  • Mobile testing systems and parts for CEMS.

  • Compliance reporting services.

Hilco

Coalescer separator, oil mist eliminator help bring fluid contamination problems under control

Two short videos illustrate how the company’s equipment works and the results it offers in terms of water and contaminant removal. Hilco goes beyond filters to provide a full-service fluids-management process—from obtaining samples to analysis to consulting to field service.

The total oil maintenance service offered by the company contributes to a reduction in new oil purchases, lower disposal costs, less wear of lubricated parts, and less downtime.

Team Hilco posits that the reliability and efficiency of any filtration system depends chiefly on cartridge quality. The company offers a full line of cartridges for virtually every application—depending on size, filtration efficiency, and dirt-holding capacity. Most fluids serving in powerplants generally can be restored to a like-new condition. Hilco’s world-class laboratory offers a full suite of test capabilities to support industrial filtration and fluid analysis.