Power Gen & Energy Services
ACCEPTING ABSTRACTS ON: CCGT, Gas Turbine Upgrades & Technologies, Data Management Software, Resource Planning, Cogeneration, Cyber Security, Risk Management, T&D, Underground Utilities & Substations, Switchgear, Transformers, Software, PPA, Simulators, Efficiency
D1.1 Increased Role of Medium Gas Turbines in Combined Cycle
(11 am – 11:20 am EST)
D1.1 Increased Role of Medium Gas Turbines in Combined Cycle
It’s no secret that the large gas turbine market has been declining in recent years. The increase of renewable generation has been one of the key contributors to this decline, and in the process is actually changing the way many grids operate. Therefore, flexibility in new plants is key to operating effectively. With recent advances in the medium gas turbine power range, combined cycle efficiency levels have increased dramatically. This has allowed smaller combined cycles to now be looked at as baseload plants, with an added level of redundancy and flexibility to their LGT counter parts. With the flexibility of multiple units and the advancements in higher efficiency, medium gas turbine combined cycle plants are an excellent fit to this continuously evolving grid.
D1.2 Thermal Power Plant Transformation: The Key to a Clean Energy Future
(11:20 am – 11:40 am EST)
D1.2 Thermal Power Plant Transformation: The Key to a Clean Energy Future
The electric energy industry is fundamentally transforming at several fronts with competing interests. Influx of renewables is disrupting the traditional role of conventional power generation. They are under growing pressure to demonstrate flexibility, reliability, and social responsibility. However, the existing power plants are more competitive with renewables than new builds, because with historically low gas price their variable O&M costs have significantly reduced, and capital investment to refurbish them is much lower than for new plant construction. The continued operation of E & F class machines, LM6000, 501D5 and likes is critical for successful transition to a clean energy future.
D1.3 Digital Integrated Technologies for a Simulator Training & Qual Program
(11:40 am – 12 pm EST)
D1.3 Digital Integrated Technologies for a Simulator Training & Qual Program
To comply with the new law changes in California and enable a more reliable energy future, AES is finishing the commissioning of two newly built, modern gas fired combined cycle power plants, each facility rated at 640 MW located at the Alamitos and Huntington Beach sites in California. The process, technology and automation used in new CCGT plants is quite different than the conventional gas fired steam generators. In support of new plant startup, the AES Southland Construction Management Team (CMT) has developed a comprehensive training and qualification program with help from GP Strategies, that includes the following: 3D model-based training, instructor-led training (ILT), site-specific 3D videos, an online learning management system (LMS) for qualification tracking, and a high-fidelity simulator to prepare plant operators for startup and to maintain successful, ongoing plant operations. This presentation will discuss the implementation strategy and best practices of the simulator training and qualification program, which is enabling AES’s operators to be effectively prepared for day one.
Co-Author: Ron Rodrique, AES
D1.4 Power Plant Control System Upgrades for Improved Resilience
(12 pm – 12:20 pm EST)
D1.4 Power Plant Control System Upgrades for Improved Resilience
The world continues to become more digitally connected, and our nation’s power plants are no different. Power plants across the country are upgrading their control systems, improving cybersecurity, and installing performance analysis software. These upgrades are imperative to maintain a competitive position in the ever-changing landscape of power generation. This presentation will provide a case study of control system upgrades & relay replacements at a combined cycle unit in the Midwest. The plant also installed a real-time performance and condition monitoring system to improve asset performance, decrease unplanned downtime, improve system reliability, and manage operations data effectively.
Co-Author: Michael Varner, Merrick and Company
QUESTIONS
1. What other means of reducing Arc Flash energies are there aside from Maintenance Mode Switches?
2. What is the cost/benefit of the relay network?
3. Why replace the relay units before failure?
D1.5 Control of Invasive Mussels in Power Generation Facilities
(12:20 pm – 12:40 pm EST)
D1.5 Control of Invasive Mussels in Power Generation Facilities
Since their introduction in the 1980s, invasive zebra and quagga mussels have caused extensive environmental and economic damage. Zequanox® molluscicide is an effective and environmentally friendly solution to this growing problem. The naturally derived product is consumed by the fouling mussels, causing mortality over a nearly month-long period. The product controls mussels in all life stages and treatment programs are optimized to suit the desired level of control at each facility. This presentation gives background on invasive zebra and quagga mussels, discusses Zequanox as a solution, and highlights some relevant case histories.
D2.1 Monitoring Fuel Gas Composition in Real Time Using an Optical Analyzer
(1:30 pm – 1:50 pm EST)
D2.1 Monitoring Fuel Gas Composition in Real Time Using an Optical Analyzer
The MKS Precisive® analyzer is an optical instrument designed for on-line quality monitoring of hydrocarbon gas fuels. It provides fast and accurate measurement of Calorific Value, Wobbe Index, Specific Gravity, and Methane Number along with compositional information, including CO2 in a single, compact, low cost instrument. The analyzer is based on MKS’ unique Tunable Filter Spectroscopy (TFS™) platform which directly measures the component concentrations in the gas as opposed to inferring the gas composition by measuring the bulk gas physical properties. When compared with gas chromatographic (GC) methods, the analyzer does not require carrier gas and provides fast measurements (every 1 to 5 seconds) in contrast to several minutes for GC. The recent addition of Methane Number as an integrated output of the analyzer for natural gas analysis facilitates the direct integration of the analyzer for process control. Applications include natural gas fuel quality analysis for gas turbines and internal combustion engines process control and tuning. Additional areas of use include CV measurement of by-product gases in steel manufacturing, as well as many others.
Co-Author: Sylvie Bosch-Charpenay, MKS Instruments
D2.2 Resource Planning 2.0: The Energy Transition Paradigm
(1:50 pm – 2:10 pm EST)
D2.2 Resource Planning 2.0: The Energy Transition Paradigm
Presentation on the issues keeping North American Utility executive team awake at night such as Pressure to cut rates while improving reliable service : >Do more with Less >Demand to be GREEN without rate increases >Availability of Qualified Workforce now, Today & 15 years from today >Regulatory Compliance >Contingency Planning & Reserves >Resilience on a network with growing demand for Water, Gas & Electricity >Long term capitalization planning on an aging infrastructure . And how ISO 55000 can help them get a better sleep at night by addressing these pain points
D2.3 Risk Categorization Underground Utility Cables
(2:10 pm – 2:30 pm EST)
D2.3 Machine Learning and Deep Learning Provide Risk Categorization to Underground Utility Distribution Cables
Underground distribution cable system failures can be predicted. Avoiding cable system failures begins with understanding how cables fail. Analyzing and interpreting results from partial discharge (PD) measurements taken in the field can be a complex task for humans. Machine learning algorithms and deep learning algorithms are used to automatically identify and categorize markers of defects contained in the PD measurements. These algorithms are used to categorize different defect types by risk of going to failures soon. Examples of identified defects will be presented. A roadmap to achieve broader utility distribution efficiencies, powered by machine learning and AI, will be presented.
Co-Author: Shishir Shekhar, MathWorks, Inc.
D2.4 Monitoring Distributed Energy Assets with Drones
(2:30 pm – 2:50 pm EST)
D2.4 Monitoring Distributed Energy Assets with Drones
In his presentation, Jay will discuss how utilities can better monitor and maintain distributed and remote energy assets with the help of drones and drone software.
From maintaining solar panels or microgrids to traditional transmission lines, all types of utilities companies still struggle with the time and safety considerations of keeping remote equipment overseen and adequately serviced. With the help of drones, companies can improve their inspection processes and collect better data on the state of their equipment; therefore staying on top of continually evolving exterior conditions and identifying potential issues before they arise. With an accompanying data platform, these inspections can also be logged, analyzed, and shared across remote teams, reducing the need to dispatch workers to remote locations and introducing new levels of insight across the entire organization.
Co-Author: Nick Pilkington, DroneDeploy
QUESTIONS
1. Where do drones fit into the typical inspection and maintenance lifecycle?
2. What types of features does DroneDeploy offer for utilities specifically?
3. How can drones help reduce inspection risks and improve worker safety?
D2.5 powercloud For Utilities: Cost Down – Flexibility Up!
(2:50 pm – 3:10 pm EST)
D2.5 powercloud For Utilities: Cost Down - Flexibility Up!
powercloud is the proven basis for the processing and billing of electricity, gas, heat, water, and sewage – as well as for products and services. It currently serves 8 million end customers, with 17 million end customers in the process of migration. This presentation will give insights about how powercloud supports market leaders of tomorrow.
Co-Author: Marc Pion, powercloud GmbH
QUESTIONS
1. What advantages does the powercloud platform offer utilities compared to monolithic systems?
2. How can I reduce the cost-to-serve with powercloud
3. How can I avoid churn with powercloud?
EXHIBIT
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm EST
D3.1 Finding the Hidden Value in Your Plant Data
(4 pm – 4:20 pm EST)
D3.1 Finding the Hidden Value in Your Plant Data
This presentation explores the seemingly unrelated data sources power plants possess and how to combine them to unlock strategic insights in their operations. Much the way the IOT expands the capabilities of a system, we will explore how to unlock value through data sources power plants already possess. The power industry is changing rapidly with more on the horizon. The strategy for success in this uncertain environment for many power companies is found through their understanding of their data. Your data can build help a strategy for success.
Co-Author: Tony Carrino, Solomon Associates
D3.2 Find out if are you a Cyber Security Target?
(4:20 pm – 4:40 pm EST)
D3.2 Find out if you are a Cyber Security Target?
This discussion will give an overview of various threat actors that aim to disrupt, degrade, and destroy Industrial Control System (ICS) and their supporting business networks, even, in some cases, directly targeting employees. Focus will be upon recent event analyses of events targeting the Energy Sector in North America.
By understanding the origin (Nation-State, criminal, other) of the group and the intent (espionage, destruction, profit), defenders are better prepared to execute the five cybersecurity framework functions of the National Institute of Standards and Technology:
Identify
Protect
Detect
Respond
Recover.
It is also important to know that employees, as part of the business system, are also directly at risk. You may be as well.
QUESTIONS
1. What are some strategies to mitigate Ransomware?
2. Why is attribution not really important to end-users?
3. Tell us more about how hackers target humans.
D3.3 DOE Funding for GENSETS and INTEGRATE
(4:40 pm – 5 pm PDT)
D3.3 DOE Funded Advanced Power Generation Systems for Stationary and Transportation Markets
ARPA-E (Advanced Research Project Agency – Energy), a part of the US Department of Energy, has funded innovative power generation technologies for stationary power markets, targeting residential and commercial applications. This presentation will provide an overview of key achievements in our GENSETs (Generators for Small Electrical and Thermal Systems) and INTEGRATE (Innovative Natural-gas Technologies for Efficiency Gain in Reliable and Affordable Thermochemical Electricity-generation) programs. Opportunities and challenges for adapting these systems for transportation markets (e.g. aviation, marine) will be discussed. Additionally, there will be a brief overview of plans for funding future work to enable the commercial adoption of the developed technologies.
QUESTIONS
1. How can companies/innovators secure funding from ARPA-E for advanced technology projects?
2. What are the areas of focus for ARPA-E funding?
3. How does ARPA-E define project/program success?
D3.4 Quantifying Risk in Temperature Forecasting
(5 pm – 5:20 pm EST)
D3.4 Quantifying Risk in Temperature Forecasting
Accurate temperature forecasts are critical for decision making in the energy industry. Energy demand variability is highly correlated with temperature fluctuations. Large errors in temperature forecasts result in poor decision making and large financial losses. If a market participant were able to quantify the risk in a given temperature forecast, they would be able to optimize their decision making. This presentation will present methodologies for quantifying risk in temperature forecast, with a focus on situations of non-Gaussian distribution of risk. Case studies will be presented for each methodology and recommendations presented for optimal approaches for identifying risk in temperature forecasting.
D3.5 High Ampacity TS Conductor Technology
(5:20 pm – 5:40 pm EST)
D3.5 Reducing GHG Emissions with High Ampacity Conductor
TS Conductor’s patented design technology delivers the perfect balance between increased strength, reliability and conductivity. The combination of encapsulated carbon core, annealed aluminum, and advanced insulation compounds offers 2X the strength, temperature operation up to 400F, and virtually no thermal expansion/sag compared traditional ACSR. The efficiency of TS Conductor optimizes the power grid, decreasing the need for additional power generation and maximizing renewable energy interconnections. the efficiencies alone create significant savings for utilities per installed mile and GHG emission avoidance from compensatory generation. Additionally, the high ampacity, low sag of this product allows hardening and reconductoring using existing infrastructure, versus requiring retrofits/rebuilds. The high temperature low sag aspects allows increased span distances, requiring 30%-50% fewer structures for new line builds or replacement construction. This provides added environmental savings by reducing construction and land disturbances. TS Conductor is superior in longevity, and is immune from galvanic corrosion or other environmental degradation, which also reduces construction and reconductoring.
QUESTIONS
1. How does TS Conductor reduce CO2 emissions?
2. How do you differ from other conductors?
3. What is the expected lifetime of the conductor?
EXHIBIT
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm