2015 501F and 501G Users Groups: Issue 2

Through-bolt failures, R4 blade locking failures among hot topics at 501G meeting

The value of users groups to gas-turbine owners-the 501G organization, in particular-cannot be overstated. Small by industry standards because there are only 24 engines at a dozen sites in the US and one in Mexico, it is the rare G meeting that doesn't have at least one representative from each location; attendance typically is in the mid-30s, or an average of 1.5 attendees for every machine in the fleet. No other user group comes close to that level of commitment from owner/operators. more

World-class competition from third-party suppliers keeps OEMs on their toes

"PSM 501F Technology Day," a comprehensive three-hour invited workshop at the 2015 conference of the 501F Users Group, gave owner/operators a preview of the in-depth information-sharing they can expect from the fleet's leading third-party products and services supplier at future meetings, which will not have OEM participation. more

Best Practices from the 501G fleet: Athens and Granite Ridge

Athens Generating and Granite Ridge Energy were the only two plants in the Siemens 501G fleet recognized for their best practices in the 2015 program sponsored by CCJ. Both facilities are operated by NAES Corp. The former has three 360-MW power blocks, each equipped with a 501G gas turbine, HRSG, and Siemens HE steam turbine. Plant Manager Dan DeVinney says the power blocks can be dispatched independently of each other. Granite Ridge is a 752-MW combined cycle with two power blocks managed by Bill Vogel.

Redesign of Athens' electric system improves operating flexibility, emergency response
Arc-flash mitigation measures at GRE greatly reduce hazard risk to staff, equipment
RO addition at GRE reduces sulfate discharges, boosts demin water production

What's new about Siemens SPPA-T3000 Release 7.2

The on-going transformation of powerplant control systems into a full-fledged knowledge, communications, and decision-support platform was clearly evident at the 2015 T3000 Users Group meeting. On display was Release 7.2, scheduled to wrap up pilot testing this month at a combined-cycle plant in Florida. Firas Khalil, from Siemens' US R&D Center, summarized the objectives of Release 7.2 using these bullet points:

Operator effectiveness.
Integrated alarm management.
Integrated applications.
New look and feel. more

Save the dates: 2016 meeting of the 501F Users Group, San Antonio, February 21-25

Russ Snyder, president and chairman of the 501F Users Group, called shortly after receiving last week's CCJ ONsite to update the editors on some of the high-profile events the organization's board of directors is planning for the 2016 conference at the La Cantera Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, next February 21 to 25. Highlights are below. Snyder said more details should be available by the end of September; stay tuned. more

Operating hours for M501Gs accumulating rapidly

Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems told CCJ ONsite August 13 that the first three gas turbines manufactured at its Savannah Machinery Works (SMW), M501GAC (air cooled) units, have surpassed 15,000 cumulative actual operating hours in their first eight months of commercial operation. The engines power the 1329-MW 3 � 1 Warren County Power Station, near Front Royal, Va, the state's largest generating facility. more

GUG registration open

Generator Users Group, recently formed, opens registration for its first annual conference, November 4-5, 2015, at www.genusers.org. NV Energy is hosting the USER ONLY meeting at its Beltway Complex; seating is limited to about 50.