Direct Energy - Optimizing the Flow and Analysis of Plant Operating Data - A Strategic Information Architecture for Effective Asset ManagementAnthony Ligato (Direct Energy, LP) and Sal Della Villa

The major investment in power producing assets made by Direct Energy in the U.S.
power market is measured in hundreds of millions of dollars on both a first cost and life cycle
cost basis. To achieve an acceptable return on investment and strengthen financial performance, Direct Energy’s operational goals and objectives requires a focus on maximizing power production across their operating fleet while managing and mitigating technical risks. To
achieve these critical to quality objectives, Direct Energy has executed a strategic information
architecture that transforms “real time” plant operating data, across their full operating fleet, into
rapid actionable information and knowledge. Management, at all levels of the business and
across various departments, use this strategic business information to ensure “best in class”
availability and reliability performance relative to corporate pro forma and market expectations,
measure operational readiness, reduce reactionary and costly downtime and maximize parts life
and repair capability for capital inventory.

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Tracking the Life of Critical Gas Turbine Parts (PowerGen International December 2007)Tom Christiansen

As the technology employed in gas turbines has steadily advanced, the “critical” gas turbine parts (i.e. combustion and hot gas path components) have seen a significant change in terms of their initial cost, repair cost, expected life limits and order lead times. In order to accommodate these changes, owner/operators have developed various business strategies that are designed to minimize the lifetime costs associated with owning and operating these gas turbines. Examples of these business strategies include the adoption of OEM service agreements to address parts availability & infant mortality risks, part sharing/pools to reduce lead times, maintenance programs (reliability based, condition based, etc.) that eliminate unnecessary removals and innovative repair processes to maximize parts life.

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By the Numbers (Combined Cycle Journal Q1/2007)Sal DellaVilla and Bob Steele

This whitepaper was part of the article titled “Report Card Attests to the Vitality of the Gas-Turbine-Based Sector of the Electric Power Industry in the US and Worldwide, Long-term Outlook is Bright.” The SPS portion of the article focuses on the Western Turbine Users’ Board of Directors early realization that performance related information on aeroderivative engines, across the industry, would benefit all members of their user group. Bob Steele then goes on to speak about the impact of the shift in duty cycles for gas turbines, a presentation that he made at WTUI in Phoenix in 2007.

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Expectations and Recent Experience for Gas Turbine Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) (ASME Turbo Expo May 2007)Bob Steele, Dale Paul and Torgeir Rui

Since the early 1990’s there have been significant changes in the gas turbine, and power generation market place. The F-Class’ Gas Turbines, with higher firing temperatures, single crystal materials, increased compressor pressure ratios and low emission combustion systems that were introduced in the early 1990’s have gained significant field experience. Many of the issues experienced by these new product introductions have been addressed. The actual reliability growth and current performance of these advanced technology machines will be examined. Additionally, the operating profiles anticipated for many of the units installed during this period has been impacted by both changes in the anticipated demand and increases in fuel costs, especially the cost of natural gas. This paper reviews how these changes have impacted the Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability performance of gas turbines.

Data from the ORAP System, maintained by Strategic Power Systems, Inc, will be utilized to examine the actual RAM performance over the past 10 to 15 years in relation to goals and expectations. Specifically, this paper will examine the reliability growth of the F-Class turbines since the 1990’s and examine the reliability impact of duty cycle on RAM performance.

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WTUI Helps Aero Users Achieve Sustainable 'best-in-class' Performance (Combined Cycle Journal WTUI Special Edition 2007)Sal DellaVilla

The 17th Annual Western Turbine User's conference is a well-organized and informative technical meeting where users, in particular operators of GE aeroderivative gas turbines, convene to discuss experiences, practices, issues and opportunities. It's a great way to look back to see how far we have come as an industry, as well as an opportunity to look forward in anticipation of where we are going.

An appropriate way to assess the trends and changes in operating duty is to consider the plant's service factor as reported by SPS' ORAP system. Service factor represents the number of service (operating) hours per year that the plant generated power at any load. It is reflective of the operating demand that the plant must fulfill to be profitable, excluding capacity payments for spinning reserve or synchronous condensing.

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