Improve Boiler Reliability With Unit Specific Strategic Planning

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Hamblin-Smoske
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Comprehensive Approach ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Critical Components ◽  
Reliability And Availability

Boiler tube failures remain the leading cause of lost availability in power boilers across global markets. The need for strategic planning in regard to inspections, preventative maintenance and targeted replacements has never been greater. Identifying the root problem(s) is essential and must be properly managed for continued safety, reliability and availability. The process associated with integrating a boiler management program can be viewed as an insurmountable obstacle for many utility operators and owners. In many cases, the cookie cutter approach that is often used results in insufficient reliability recovery. However, using modern technology and tactics to strategically manage and properly identify specific operating and design conditions has proven exceedingly successful in reducing a unit’s forced outage rate [EFOR]. Specific challenges plants are faced with include the reduction of onsite engineers, aging workforces and equipment, and the need to remain competitive in a challenging global energy market. Plant managers are routinely faced with the complex task of determining the current condition of their equipment, forecasting outage budgets and schedules, and performing risk assessments. Additionally, insurance companies are increasingly requiring inspection and maintenance records that are not always up-to-date or readily available. The solutions to reducing the EFOR of a unit involves taking a comprehensive approach to boiler management utilizing unit specific operational training, advanced data management, and strategic inspection, maintenance and replacement prioritization. Implementing this comprehensive approach has awarded millions in savings for plant managers that have adopted this strategy. Implementing a unit specific, target driven, and strategic plan enables utility owners and operators to succeed in today’s competitive market by increasing the unit’s reliability and availability without sacrificing safety or environmental standards. Thielsch Engineering, Inc. developed a program titled: 4-SYTE System Strategy that is currently utilized in more than 60 power plants within the United States and Canada. Unit specific strategic planning is necessary for all facilities that rely on these critical components. Advanced technology must be adopted by all energy producers to ensure they remain competitive and profitable.

Advanced Technology Programs for Small Turboshaft Engines: Past, Present, Future

1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. T. Johnson ◽  
H. Lindsay
Keyword(s):  
United States Army ◽  
High Performance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Gas Generator ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Technology Programs ◽  
Aircraft Propulsion System ◽  
Year 2000

This paper addresses approximately 15 years of advanced technology programs sponsored by the United States Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate and its predecessor organizations and conducted by GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE). Included in these programs is the accomplishment of (1) the 1500 shp demonstrator (GE12), which led to the 1700, and (2) the 5000 shp Modern Technology Demonstrator Engine (MTDE/GE27). Also included are several advanced technology component programs that have been completed or are ongoing through the early 1990s. The goals for the next generation of tri-service small advanced gas generator demonstration programs are shown. A prediction is thus made of the advancements required to fulfill the aircraft propulsion system established by the DoD/NASA Integrated High-Performance Turbine Engine Technology (IHPTET) initiative through the year 2000.

Managing the Aging of Critical Components of Nuclear Power Plants

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Gary Elder ◽  
Ricardo Llovet ◽  
Theodore A. Meyer ◽  
Edward Terek
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Component Part ◽  
Optimal Timing ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Critical Components

Managing the aging of critical components within a nuclear power plant is a challenging task that ultimately determines the value and revenue generation of the plant. This paper will provide an overview of a process for determining the critical components of the power plant and describe a long term equipment reliability and aging management program for these components. This program determines the potential failure modes and rates for each critical component part and identifies the effective repair, replacement, inspection, diagnostic, and maintenance activities. It also describes a tool for determining the optimal timing of these activities to produce the most value for the power plant. This program is currently being implemented at several power plants. As nuclear plants strive to reduce costs, extend life and maximize revenue, the aging management program and the supporting tools summarized in this paper can enable development of a long term, cost efficient plan to manage the aging of the plant’s critical components and systems.

Maintaining High Energy Piping Integrity With Unit Specific Strategic Planning

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Hamblin-Smoske
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Comprehensive Approach ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Piping Systems

High-energy piping systems are essential to the safe and cost-effective operation of power plants. The propensity for piping failures increases with the age of the systems involved. Prolonged operation, particularly at elevated temperatures, may result in metallurgical degradation which in-turn increases the potential for cracking and crack propagation until a final failure stage is reached by the component. As a result, power plant operators have become increasingly cognizant of the importance of condition assessment evaluations for high-energy piping systems. Power plant operators are faced with specific challenges to maintain the integrity of their high energy piping systems including the reduction of onsite engineers, aging workforces, equipment, and the need to remain competitive in a challenging global energy market. Plant managers are routinely faced with the complex task of evaluating the current condition of their equipment, forecasting outage budgets and schedules, and performing risk assessments. Additionally, insurance companies are increasingly requiring inspection and maintenance records that are not always up-to-date or readily available. The solution to strategically maintaining the integrity of high-energy piping systems involves taking a comprehensive approach to piping management utilizing unit specific operational training, advanced data management, strategic inspection, maintenance and replacement prioritization. Implementing this comprehensive approach has resulted in avoiding both catastrophic and leak type failures for plant managers that have adopted this strategy. Implementing a unit specific, targeted plan enables utility owners and operators to succeed in today’s competitive market by increasing the unit’s reliability and availability without sacrificing safety or environmental standards. Thielsch Engineering, Inc. hosts over 30 years of advanced engineering experience and provides extensive services to more than 150 power plants each year. Our firm is also the creator and proprietary owners of the 4 SYTE System Strategies that is currently operating in more than 60 power plants throughout the U.S. and Canada. We are an employee-owned company with 425 partners who are dedicated to best practices and customer service is a priority. Thielsch has offices in Rhode Island, Ohio, Texas and Florida.

Gas Turbine Performance of Mature, F- and Advanced Technologies 2000

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel W. von Rappard ◽  
Salvatore Della Villa
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Power Production ◽  
The United States ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
United States Department ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mode Of Operation

The contribution of the gas turbine in simple and combined cycle systems to power production in the United States has been steadily rising over the past 25 years. In 1998 their contribution to power production was approximately 15% and it increased over the past 5 years by 1.5 to 2%, annually. In parallel, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) has financially supported Advanced Technology development with good formulated goals for overall performance of plants including reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM). In this paper the authors evaluate RAM performance data from power plants over the past five years. This evaluation can be used as baseline or benchmark for further improvements. It takes into account the mode of operation being base load, cycling or peaking application and analyses the power plant on a year-by-year evaluation. All RAM-data came from the same source and are collected and analyzed according to standardized procedures. Availability will be reviewed for machines of different sizes and technologies. Maintainability will be analyzed as function of the size of units, energy production, and the mode of operation. Gas turbine simple and combined cycle power plants have been operated in peaking, cycling, base and continuous load operation. The flexibility is shown in different “Service Hours per Successful Start” and a correlation with the RAM parameters. To analyze and explain these differences will be the main result of this evaluation. The contribution shall help to evaluate the best solution for individual sites because efficiency and availability cannot always be increased in parallel.

Time Limited Aging Analyses Requirements for License Renewal for U.S. Nuclear Power Plants

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mansoor H. Sanwarwalla
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Regulatory Commission ◽  
The United States ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Metal Fatigue ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
Electric Equipment ◽  
Design Calculations ◽  
License Renewal

One of the requirements for license renewal for US nuclear plants stated in the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) regulations in the License Renewal Rule (LRR) 10CFR Part 54 (Ref. 1) is the identification and updating of Time-Limited Aging Analyses (TLAA). During the design phase for a plant, certain assumptions about the length of time the plant would be operated were made and incorporated into design calculations for several of the plant’s systems, structures and components (SSCs). Examples of TLAAs are analyses of metal fatigue, environmental qualification (EQ) of electric equipment, etc. For a renewed license, these calculations have to be reviewed to verify that they remain valid for the period of extended operation. However, the LRR does allow TLAA-associated aging effects to be managed by an aging management program. This paper discusses the USNRC regulatory requirements for TLAAs and the industry’s response for addressing the TLAAs. It also discusses the issues regarding the generic set of TLAAs that have been identified by the NRC in NUREG-1801 (Ref. 2), and how these have been addressed by all the plants that have received their renewed license. The paper also identifies certain plant specific TLAAs.

scholarly journals Advanced Technology Programs for Small Turboshaft Engines: Past, Present, Future

1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward T. Johnson ◽  
Howard Lindsay
Keyword(s):  
United States Army ◽  
High Performance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Gas Generator ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Technology Programs ◽  
Aircraft Propulsion System ◽  
Year 2000

This paper addresses approximately 15 years of advanced technology programs sponsored by the United States Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate and its predecessor organizations and conducted by GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE). Included in these programs is the accomplishment of (1) the 1,500 shp demonstrator (GE12) which led to the T700, and (2) the 5,000 shp Modern Technology Demonstrator Engine (MTDE/GE27). Also included are several advanced technology component programs which have been completed or are ongoing through the early 1990’s. The goals for the next generation of tri-service small advanced gas generator demonstration programs are shown. A prediction is thus made of the advancements required to fulfill the aircraft propulsion system established by the DoD/NASA Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology (IHPTET) initiative through the year 2000.

scholarly journals Personal Watercraft Incident Court Decisions: The Plaintiff’s Odds?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5096
Author(s):  
Eui-Yul Choi ◽  
Woo Jeong Cho
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
The United States ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Court Decisions ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Demographic Information ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Personal Watercraft ◽  
Successful Adults ◽  
Significant Factors

A personal watercraft (PWC) is a vessel that uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump as a source of power and is operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling. Maneuvering a PWC is different from operating a motor vehicle or boat. An obstacle cannot be avoided by slowing down and turning the watercraft; throttle power is required to turn or maneuver the PWC. The watercraft stops only by drifting or turning sharply. The study examined sixty court decisions published in LexisNexis databases of the United States over the last decade. Cases included individuals injured while operating a PWC as a driver, passenger, or as a result of contact with a watercraft. A content analysis identified items to be used in the study. Crosstab and logistic regression analyses were used to identify demographic information and the characteristics of those who succeeded in a court of law. One-third of the cases were successful; adults, males, and the party who sustained a severe injury were more successful in a court of law with the exception of the statistically significant factors (high risk maneuvers and sharp turns). Among the additional results, we should be aware that insurance companies may not pay; additionally, it is unwise to loan a PWC to a female who has no experience.

scholarly journals Predictive Policing and Crime Control in The United States of America and Europe: Trends in a Decade of Research and the Future of Predictive Policing

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Ishmael Mugari ◽  
Emeka E. Obioha
Keyword(s):  
Crime Control ◽  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Predictive Policing ◽  
Software Applications ◽  
Predictive Algorithms ◽  
Developed Nations ◽  
Predictive Software

There has been a significant focus on predictive policing systems, as law enforcement agents embrace modern technology to forecast criminal activity. Most developed nations have implemented predictive policing, albeit with mixed reactions over its effectiveness. Whilst at its inception, predictive policing involved simple heuristics and algorithms, it has increased in sophistication in the ever-changing technological environment. This paper, which is based on a literature survey, examines predictive policing over the last decade (2010 to 2020). The paper examines how various nations have implemented predictive policing and also documents the impediments to predictive policing. The paper reveals that despite the adoption of predictive software applications such as PredPol, Risk Terrain Modelling, HunchLab, PreMap, PRECOBS, Crime Anticipation System, and Azevea, there are several impediments that have militated against the effectiveness of predictive policing, and these include low predictive accuracy, limited scope of crimes that can be predicted, high cost of predictive policing software, flawed data input, and the biased nature of some predictive software applications. Despite these challenges, the paper reveals that there is consensus by the majority of the researchers on the importance of predictive algorithms on the policing landscape.

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