A gas-turbine controls upgrade likely is in your future. The question is, when?

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Team CCJ

Controls upgrades are a hot discussion topic among gas-turbine (GT) users these days for many reasons. Included among them might be a need to: Comply with NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corp) reliability standards. Improve engine availability, thereby allowing the opportunity to sell power whenever it is profitable to do so. Accommodate engine upgrades aimed at boosting output, starting faster, backing up intermittent renewables, etc. Eliminate components no longer supported by the OEM and/or others. Be able to effectively troubleshoot your control system and maintain it in-house. Control systems age quickly and can become a liability in the competitive generation business in as few as seven years, according to one plant manager. Not long ago, when most powerplants were regulatedand before wind and solar generation were a factor in the generation mixnot much thought was given to a controls system upgrade until the system was at least 10 years old. Consider that the first generation of DCS systems evolved during the 1980s; 2Gthe so-called open systemappeared in the 1990s; 3G systems, designed to deliver the right information to the right person at the right time to enable decision-making, took off about the time of the millennium. Each of these advancements in technology provided good reasons for an upgrade. Today its often the business environment and its demands that are driving upgrades as quickly as technology advances. But the technology in this case is not necessarily the control system platform but rather the add-ons that allow access to, and analysis of, diagnostic and performance-related information required for asset lifecycle management and for maximizing return on investment. These new tools include predictive analytics; performance monitoring software; online monitoring of transformer oil; detectors to warn of partial-discharge events; battery diagnostics with the ability to run tests

and report data automatically; monitoring and analysis of generator condition; power-system transient recorders and analyzers; software to monitor and collect data on metering events for analysis, etc. CTOTF has the answers. Perhaps the best way to come up to speed on progress made by your user colleagues in keeping their control systems current, and on advancements made by technology providers, is to attend CTOTFs Fall 2013 Conference and Trade Show in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, September 8 12. Among the many gas turbine user groups, the Combustion Turbine Operations Technical Forum, likely offers the most extensive coverage of control systems. Review the lineup for the day-long roundtable (AM, PM) on Thursday, September 12, which combines I&C, high-voltage electrical, and generators. In addition, Mondays (September 9) Industry Issues Roundtable features a panel of experts to facilitate an open discussion between the panelists and attendees on Operational Analytics and Utility Prognostics: Beyond Performance Monitoring. This may be the first time a user group has gone beyond conventional control systems and explored in a comprehensive manner the new tools available for enabling generation assets to achieve world-class status in operations. Four of the industrys top experts on the new tools will participate: Bob Yeager, control systems expert and the hands-on president of Emerson Process Managements Power & Water Solutions business unit. Jason Makansi, president of Pearl Street Inc, active in the field of diagnostics and advanced instrumentation for nearly two decades. Chad Stoecker, manager of GEs Industrial Performance and Reliability Center, who has nearly 10 years of experience developing, implementing, and monitoring predictive analytics programs for dozens of major companies. Ray Deberge, plant superintendent in Ameren Missouris Gas Turbine & Renewable Generation group, which has integrated automation, monitoring, remote capability, and digital intelligence within the PLC architecture that manages operation of the utilitys state-of-the-art Maryland Heights Renewable Energy Center. Who ya gonna call? Finally, recognizing the importance of controls initiatives among CTOTF members, Wickey Elmo, president Goose Creek Systems Inc, who manages the user group on a day-to-day basis has a bakers dozen of the leading controls solutions providers ready to visit with owner/operators in the exhibit hall (list below). You wont find all these companies together at any other industry event.

ABB Inc Booth 57 Francisco Tacoa francisco.m.tacoa@us.abb.com

Leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. Turbine Automation control systems are based on ABBs field proven control platforms that deliver safe and reliable control. The ABB Group of companies operates in over 100 countries and has a long track record of innovation to help our customers improve overall performance by strengthening cost management and reducing risk. Power Generation Solutions/System Integration Services, Woodward RTR Business Partner for gas/steam applications. Offering Engineered Control Solutions including the <ITC> Operator Interface as a direct replacement for the GE Speedtronic Mark V and HMI. Ovation control system offers fully coordinated boiler and turbine control, integrated generator exciter control, automated startup and shutdown sequencing, fault tolerance for failsafe operation, extensive cyber security features, and embedded advanced control applications that can dramatically improve plant reliability and efficiency. Worlds largest stock of GE Speedtronic circuit boards and components for the OEMs gas and steam turbines. GTC stocks thousands of genuine GE-manufactured cards for the MKI, MKII, MKIII, MKIV, MKV, MKVI, and LCI controls, as well as EX2000, Alterrex and Generrex excitation. Together with GE Intelligent Platforms, we provide industrial software, control systems, distributed I/O and embedded computing platforms to optimize your assets and equipment. Our goal is to help grow your profitability through high performance solutions for todays connected world. Products include advanced HRSGs, Steam, Gas and Hydro Turbines and Generators, Substation Equipment and Air Quality Control Systems for new plants and retrofit applications. As a Single-Point Supplier, we offer total solution services including operation and plant assessments, engineering studies, performance optimization, emissions improvement, equipment replacement and upgrades, and spare parts. HPI is a privately owned, turbomachinery solutions provider with depth and breadth of turbine experience. HPI has emerged as a world leader in providing custom, OEM-alternative solutions.

CSE Engineering Inc Booth 20 Kris Corzine kec@cse-eng-inc.com Emerson Booth 81 Amy Schlemmer Amy.Schlemmer@emerson.com Gas Turbine Controls Corp Booth 61 Roger McLean rmclean@gasturbinecontrols.com Gexpro DC Solutions Booth 69 Jack Bartoszek jack.bartoszek@gexpro.com Hitachi Booth 50 Toni Martin toni.martin@hal.hitachi.com HPI Booth 18 Rita DiStefano rdistefano@hpi-llc.com ProEnergy Services Booth 46 Amanda Cairer

Integrated service provider that delivers a variety of costeffective, safe and reliable services, parts and equipment to the global energy and ethanol industry.

acairer@proenergyservices.com Siemens Energy Inc Booth 4 Dawn McCarter dawn.mccarter@siemens.com Turbine Controls & Excitation Group Booth 26 John Downing john.downing@tcexg.com Turbine Technology Services Booth 73 Frank Hoegler fhoegler@turbinetech.com United Controls Group Inc Booth 71 Thaddeus Berry tberry@ucginc.com Wood Group GTS Booth 22 Clark Weaver clark.weaver@woodgroup.com
Products, solutions and services for the entire energy conversion chain from power generation and transmission to distribution. Our Energy Sector is the worlds leading supplier of a wide range of products, solutions and services for power generation, transmission and distribution as well as for the production, conversion and transport of the primary fuels oil and gas. TC&E is an engineering consultation firm focused on turbine and generator controls services. Services include emergency troubleshooting, maintenance support, and equipment upgrades on GE MKxx Controls, Exciters, and LCls. TTS offers its innovative control solutions, modernization and upgrade services to the mature gas turbine market, in addition to offering a complete array of services to the industry, from state of the art control components, combustion and dynamic tuning to performance testing on the latest F technology equipment.

UCG has designed and delivered numerous PLC based controls upgrades for engine and turbine driven generator sets.

Leading independent provider of services and solutions for the power and oil and gas markets. These services include power plant engineering, procurement and construction, facility O&M, repair and overhaul of gas and steam turbines, pumps, compressors, and other high-speed rotating equipment