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Update #1

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Combined Cycle Users' re-launch meeting rates an 'A' for content

 

The Combined Cycle Users Group (CCUG), which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, recently terminated affiliations with ASME and the Electric Power Conference and re-launched as an independent, user-directed organization to better serve the industry. The revitalized group's first conference was held in San Antonio the first week of November in meeting space made available by the 7EA Users Group. more

The balancing act: Efficiency improvement versus cost reduction

 

Kajal Mukherjee, engineering technical director for WorleyParsons, was the ideal opening speaker. His broad knowledge of plant design and encyclopedic memory brought attendees up to date on OEM offerings and possible plant enhancements and how they rated in terms of value proposition. more

Fast-start/fast-ramp combined cycles to debut in California

 

California's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) demands that 33% of the state's kilowatt-hours come from renewable resources by 2020-the most stringent such requirement in the nation. Integration of high percentages of renewable energy with electricity from conventional resources requires flexible generating assets fired by fossil fuels. Fast-start/fast-ramp simple- and combine-cycle gas-turbine capability is expected to be part of the mix. Read the following article for the latest thinking on renewables integration. more

EPRI media briefing: Wind power costs, integration, R&D challenges

 

Although the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is an R&D organization, the critical message discharged at its media briefing two weeks ago, "Wind Power Costs, Integration, and R&D Challenges," was that wind energy is facing strong economic headwinds-including competing against natural gas, grid integration costs, unintended environmental impacts, buildout of transmission to move the energy to load centers, and excess generation capacity in the system because of demand destruction from the lackluster economy. more

The staffing conundrum

 

Ask a roomful of powerplant O&M managers what their biggest challenge is today and staffing is virtually sure to be at the top of the list for more than three-quarters of those present. There are many reasons for staffing concerns, particularly at generating facilities powered by gas turbines: ageing workforce, staff reductions driven by headquarters directives, salary caps, no pool of experienced prospects, etc. more

Sulzer Turbo Services 7FA/H2 Generator Considerations

 

Sponsored statement

Typical installation for the 7FA CTG provides for a gravel pad below the inlet filter house. This is standard for these installations but is often the cause of major headaches for maintenance managers when it comes time to perform the first major inspection of the generator internals. Part of this plants design is that the turbine inlet housing is directly over the generator service access out to approximately 40' and an elevation over 10', inaccessible to mobile cranes. more

Big news in the boiler business

 

The pace of change in the boiler business often is thought of as glacial. Consider for a moment that The Babcock & Wilcox Company was founded in 1867. . .and it's still in business. Reflecting, perhaps the last big news in this manufacturing sector before September 1 was the start-up of Abilene-based Rentech Boiler Systems Inc by Jack Rentz 15 years ago. more

ACC presentations available

 

Air-cooled condensers (ACCs) are getting increasing attention from designers and owners of thermal generating stations as it becomes more difficult to permit plants with evaporative cooling systems. The ACC Users Group, the electric power industry's only organization of owners and operators dedicated to resolving issues with these heat exhangers, recently conducted its third annual meeting in San Francisco. PG&E hosted the event. more

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Combined Cycle Journal is the independent voice of the gas-turbine-based generation sector.

 

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