There are nearly as many electric generators at fossil-fired and nuclear powerplants as there are gas and steam turbines combined. So, you might think that with thousands of utility/large industrial-grade generators rated more than 25 MW operating in the US alone, the annual meeting of the Generator Users Group (GUG) would draw hundreds of attendees. […]
GENERATORS: Lessons learned, best practices shared at GUG 2017 Read More »
Commissioning seven gas-turbine (GT) control systems in seven weeks would probably be taxing under the best of conditions. In NV Energy’s case, there were some extenuating circumstances. First, the seven systems are located at two generating facilities acquired by the utility in 2014. Second, it is challenging to test a retrofit, due to air permit
Checklist for success: NV Energy commissions seven turbine DCSs in seven weeks Read More »
CCJ ONsite’s coverage of technical highlights from the Generator Users Group’s Third Annual Conference, held in Phoenix, Aug 27-30, 2017, continues below with Part 2 of the lessons learned and best practices shared among attendees. The three-part series concludes in the next issue of this electronic publication. Presentations and discussions are arranged in these five
GENERATORS: Lessons learned, best practices shared at GUG 2017 (Part 2) Read More »
European Technology Development Ltd conducts multi-client projects to address concerns and challenges within the international electric-power industry. Known as ETD Consulting, the 20-year-old UK company’s projects are aimed mainly at developing new tools, technologies, and methodologies for powerplant inspection, integrity, and life assessment/extension; and improvements to materials, welding, and design. Collaboration with the international power
Group-sponsored HRSG development projects share results, reduce costs Read More »
What’s happening inside the fast-growing, hugely profitable, digital behemoths—one characterization is the “Big Five,” namely, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft—may be more important than what the electricity industry sees from the outside. We know they are driving the industry towards renewable energy through direct investments in solar and wind facilities and green electricity purchases.
COMMENTARY: What the digital revolution means for electricity Read More »
Once upon a time, a vertically integrated utility was responsible for electricity supply—soup to nuts, that is, from the powerplant to the customer’s meter. Today, responsibility for over half of US power production rests with non-utility entities. Like most big industry shifts, this transition has led to greater efficiencies in some areas, challenges in others.
Multiple organizations create new challenges for plant operators Read More »
Mike Hoogsteden, Advanced Turbine Support’s director of field services, called to say his company has informed customers that it believes visible-dye liquid penetrant (PT) is the most dependable in-situ inspection process for identifying radial tip cracks in 7FA Stage 0 and Stage 1 rotor blades. The OEM recommends in Technical Information Letter 1509-R3, “F-Class Front-End
CCJ ONsite’s coverage of technical highlights from the Generator Users Group’s Third Annual Conference, held in Phoenix, Aug 27-30, 2017, concludes below with the third and final installment of lessons learned and best practices shared among attendees. Presentations and discussions are arranged in these five sections: Stator frames and magnetic cores. Stator windings and bus systems.
Generators: Lessons learned, best practices shared at GUG 2017 (Part 3) Read More »
Spending two full days at the DistribuTECH® 2018 Conference & Exposition in San Antonio, Tex, in January, was an opportunity for the editors of GRiDToday and CCJ ONsite to assess progress as the electricity industry “transforms” from centralized to distributed assets with customer service at the core of the enterprise. Or so all the executives
COMMENTARY: Utilities embrace digital technology within the same old business models Read More »
Air-cooled condensers (ACCs), like their water-cooled (WCC) cousins, get little respect from plant personnel. These heat exchangers typically are viewed as being of secondary importance compared to the steam turbine/generators they serve. They certainly are not eye candy. The most popular version of the former looks like a huge elevated stage with spindly legs, the
Getting top performance from your air-cooled condenser Read More »
