Unit trips finally stop at Crete after relocating generator PTs—a 12-yr case history Since 2008, perhaps earlier, Crete Energy Venture, operated by CAMS, had been experiencing generator circuit-breaker trips and grid separation because of PT (potential transformer) fuse failures. Between 2008 and 2009, Unit 1 suffered eight PT fuse-failure events (nine total among the plant’s […]
2020 Best of the Best: Crete Read More »
Hydrogen purge remote activation helps keep employees safe Hermiston Generating Plant Owned by Perennial Power Holdings and Pacificorp. Operated by Hermiston Operations Co. 500-MW, gas-fired, 2 × 1 7FA-powered combined cycle located in Hermiston, Ore Plant manager: Brad Knight Challenge. Provide an automatic remote means to purge a hydrogen- cooled generator without dispatching employees to
2020 Best of the Best: Hermiston Generating Plant Read More »
Maintenance, outage file-sharing boosts productivity at four peaking plants Challenges: Downsizing of planning staff created a backlog of outage/maintenance planning and scheduling tasks. Personnel at the Kearny, Burlington, Linden, and Essex peaking sites had to communicate together in real time. Needed a way to consolidate all reference materials, procedures, IPBs, drawings, and schedules for use
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Turbine Tip No. 8 from the PAL Solutions Library applies to General Electric 5001N, 5002B, 6001B, 7001B-EA and F, and 9001EA and F gas turbines. It is the work of Dave Lucier and Charlie Pond (deceased) of PAL Turbine Services LLC. Proper operation of compressor variable inlet guide vanes (VIGV) is crucial for those gas
TURBINE TIPS: Test VIGVs periodically to assure reliable operation Read More »
Goal of an integrated powerplant knowledge platform nearly reached Twenty-five years ago, at least one powerplant controls company executive articulated a vision of integrating disparate and siloed software applications into a unified whole, anchored by the distributed control system (DCS). That executive was Robert Yeager, long-time president of Emerson’s Power and Water Solutions. At the
OVATION USERS GROUP 2020 CONFERENCE REPORT Read More »
It was only a few years ago that owner/operators of GE E- and F-class gas turbines learned technicians from Advanced Turbine Support LLC could extract or blend shims in the first three compressor stages in-situ—no case removal necessary. That was a big deal because shims found protruding into the compressor air stream during a borescope
In-situ extraction of a migrating 7EA S-12 shim saves owner more than $400k Read More »
If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us one thing, having the ability to access the expert information needed to perform O&M tasks at the highest level without leaving the plant (or home) is vital. With good internet connections generally available at most powerplants, the challenge might be finding the information required. You likely have several
Webinars, virtual conferences help users identify, implement plant-betterment solutions Read More »
“Steam Turbine Repair Planning and Execution,” Bryan Grant, Advanced Turbine Support LLC. Whether you inspect/repair your plant’s steam turbine or contract out those services, Bryan Grant’s presentation is a valuable reference for O&M personnel, one possibly worthwhile reviewing ahead of your ST inspection/maintenance outages. It’s available on the Power Users website 24/7. Grant offers tips
Steam Turbine Users Group 2019: Vendor presentation recaps Read More »
The value of user groups continues to grow in the electric power industry as the number of employees on the deck plates shrinks and personnel with deep experience retire. The plant manager for a 2 × 1 J-class combined cycle under construction told the editors he had received more than 500 resumes in the last
Turbine valves: How to prevent an actuator failure from tripping your plant Read More »
The speaker making the first technical presentation at the 2019 meeting discussed damage to the first three stages (blades and diaphragms) of his steamer caused by what he termed “magnetite throw”—a way of describing solid-particle erosion. An attendee mentioned that strainers were added to bypass valves at his plant to protect the turbine against such
Steam Turbine Users Group 2019: User presentation recaps Read More »
