Sharing ideas, and solutions to problems encountered in operating and maintaining powerplants, is why users groups were formed by owner/operators. Talen Energy is a big supporter of these self-help all-volunteer organizations, its personnel actively participating in several—including the Combined Cycle and 501G Users Groups. An idea sure to generate discussion at upcoming meetings comes from […]
Vegetation challenge? Consider goats Read More »
Optimization of the utility production and delivery system at the University of Texas, Austin (UT-Austin) is the poster child for a work in progress. After all, you don’t optimize a 90-year-old powerplant, one with a mix of really old boilers and state-of-the-art gas turbine/HRSGs overnight or even in a few years. It’s also a glimpse
Real-time optimization pushes out into distribution networks Read More »
In today’s topsy-turvy world of electric-power generation and delivery anything can happen, and it does. Recall that only a couple of years ago, the OEM with the largest position in the generation sector purchased a major competitor and tried to take by storm the industry’s aftermarket business—worldwide. That might have led some to conclude that
Doosan takes a high-profile position in aftermarket services Read More »
A year has gone by since Abel Rochwarger, chief engineer at Gas Turbine Controls (GTC), shared with CCJ ONsite’s editorial team his report on an incident in which the Mark V control system on a GE F-class gas turbine inexplicably shut down all the unit’s lube-oil pumps causing extensive damage. Rochwarger said the customer’s team
‘Self-inflicted logic forcing’ associated with the Mark V remains a mystery Read More »
It’s no secret, many of the electric power industry’s most capable engineers and technicians have retired recently or will do so in the next couple of years. But not Dave Lucier, founder and general manager of PAL Turbine Services LLC, headquartered near GE’s Schenectady works. He recently celebrated 50 years of service to the industry
The future is nothing without the past Read More »
Miguel Perez Ghisays, general manager of the privately held Termocandelaria peaking facility near Cartagena, Colombia, and his talented staff, embrace a process of continual improvement in all facets of operation and maintenance. Readers may recall the plant’s success in converting its two W501FC engines from gas-only to dual fuel in only 11 months after contract
Demin water replaces glycol solution in closed cooling system, improves heat transfer Read More »
Reliable operation of dual-fuel gas turbines on oil demands that owner/operators protect against coking of distillate in fuel-system components. Active cooling is one solution available to users for assuring both reliable starts on liquid fuel and reliable fuel transfers from gas to oil. Recall that stagnant fuel in supply lines not protected against heat radiated
Increase intervals between gas-turbine fuel-valve overhauls with water cooling Read More »
HP superheater and reheater drain-system designs and operating practices that do not remove all condensate prior to initiation of steam flow during cold, warm, and hot startups are unable to protect tube-to-header connections, header bores, and nozzle-to-header connections from severe thermal fatigue damage. Such damage has resulted in many premature tube failures and can be
Advanced manufacturing center enables Conval to better serve HRSG users Read More »
Innovations, looks forward, and disclosure of new ideas were hallmarks of the second annual HRSG Forum with Bob Anderson, held earlier this year in Houston. TesTex Inc, Pittsburgh, Pa, was there with a collection of ideas including its proprietary remote field electromagnetic technique (RFET) equipment (Fig 1). For internal tube inspection, TesTex has developed and operates this
NDT innovations showcased at HRSG Forum Read More »
The fifth annual meeting of the European HRSG Forum (EHF2018), held May 15-18, in Bilbao, Spain, attracted 72 participants from 16 countries. Dr Barry Dooley of Structural Integrity Associates Inc, who chaired the meeting as he had done previously, considered the event “highly successful.” EHF is supported by the International Assn for the Properties of
European meeting validates topics under consideration for upcoming HRSG Forum Read More »
