Recognized for its Best Practice in Performance Improvement Water-wash program gives year-round benefit A new powerplant with no leaking valves and latest-technology equipment generally doesn’t have to be concerned with losing a few points in its heat rate. Add 15 years of operation and that measurement of plant efficiency takes on a whole new meaning. […]
2018 BEST OF THE BEST PRACTICES: Ontelaunee Energy Facility Read More »
Recognized for its Best Practice pertaining to Electrical Systems Upgrades to non-segregated bus duct help prevent faults Two electrical faults occurred on a 13.8-kV bus within five years at Minnesota Municipal Power Agency’s Minnesota River Station, operated by NAES Corp. In both incidents, the solid copper bus and ductwork sustained extensive damage, resulting in lengthy
2018 BEST OF THE BEST PRACTICES: Minnesota River Station Read More »
Recognized for its Best Practice in Outage Management Self-performing combustion inspections strengthens plant’s bottom line The days of having long-term service agreements (LTSAs) that coexist with power purchase agreements (PPAs) are vanishing. Many of these contracts in older facilities have expired or are approaching expiration. Private-equity firms with stakes in these plants are looking at
2018 BEST OF THE BEST PRACTICES: Hermiston Generating Plant Read More »
Recognized for Best Practices in Environmental Management and Safety Design hazardous-spill response plan for worst-case scenario Nearly all plants have a plan for addressing hazardous spills. Many, like 801-MW Green Country Energy (GCE), owned by J-Power USA and operated by NAES Corp, have a comprehensive spill-prevention control and countermeasures plan that identifies areas where spills
2018 BEST OF THE BEST PRACTICES: Green Country Energy Read More »
Recognized for Best Practices in O&M, Safety, Workforce Development, Outage Management Foam inserts prevent air flow through offline gas turbines When gas turbines (GT) are shut down for extended periods in Georgia, the high humidity and natural draft through the HRSGs creates problematic condensation on tube fins. Rusting occurs, especially when water is still present
2018 BEST OF THE BEST PRACTICES: Effingham County Power Read More »
The 501F fleet was recognized by peers with five Best Practices awards in the 2018 judging. The annual program, sponsored by CCJ, has as its primary objective recognition of the valuable contributions made by owner/operator personnel to improve the safety and performance of generating facilities powered by gas turbines. In this section, 501F plants share
501F users share best practices with colleagues Read More »
Operate drain valves on different HPSH harps simultaneously, not in sequence, prior to and during hot, pressurized startups. Most operators know it’s important to drain the high-pressure superheater during startup before steam flow is initiated to prevent accumulated water at the bottom of the harps from migrating up some tubes—quenching them and the upper
HRSG January O&M tip: Drain valves Read More »
The Air-Cooled Condenser Users Group (ACCUG), established by NV Energy in 2009, has recently publish technical guidance document ACC.02, Guidelines for Finned Tube Cleaning in Air-Cooled Condensers. This document includes fundamental principles, operational factors that can limit efficiency, types of tube fouling, debris removal methods and examples, cleaning frequency, as well as safety and environmental concerns. Following is a overview.
ACC Users Group publishes tube cleaning guidelines Read More »
Last year, NAES Corp, well known to CCJ ONsite readers as a leading third-party plant O&M services provider, acquired Gridforce Energy Management LLC, extending NAES’ services into the transmission and distribution arena. Gridforce’s genesis was at Duke Energy North America (DENA) back in the late 1990s when the industry was driving towards unbridled competition. For almost 20
NAES fills reliability gap at the plant/grid interface Read More »
Richard Walton of SSE (formerly Scottish & Southern Energy plc), spoke to participants in European Technology Development Ltd’s International Conference on Power Plant Operation and Flexibility, London, July 2018, on thermal transients and their impacts throughout the company’s fleet, suggesting more targeted inspections, monthly monitoring and reporting, trending and investigating, and the need for improved industry guidance. Details
