Advanced Technology Gas Turbines and Planned Optimization of Combined Cycle
Power Plants

Course Overview

Attend this 5-day power session for a comprehensive introduction to the practical optimization, operation, and design considerations of combined cycle power plants.  The course delves deep into the "why" and "how" of gas and steam turbines and teaches how to minimize operating costs and maximize efficiency, reliability, and longevity.

Taught by one of the world’s leading experts in Gas Turbine Engines, Professor Meherwan P. Boyce, P.E. (US), Chartered Engineer (UK), this event will show you how to:

• Employ the advantages, applications, performance and economics of gas turbine engines and combined cycle plants
• Maintain gas turbines and combined cycle technologies to minimize their operating cost and maximize their efficiency, reliability, and longevity
• Maximize cycle efficiency and output power
• Monitor and reduce emissions
• Predict and compute design and off-design performance
• Secure high efficiency at part-load operations
• Increase knowledge of predictive and preventive maintenance, reliability, and testing
• Ensure maximum effectiveness of a HRSG system, feed water heaters and condensers
• Avoid the common reasons for turbine failure

Who Should Attend?

Engineers of all disciplines, managers, technicians, design, maintenance and operations personnel, and other technical individuals who need a comprehensive introduction to practical optimization, operation and design considerations of a major combined cycle power plant.

Course Highlights

The Advanced Technology Gas Turbines & Planned Optimization of Combined Cycle Power Plants course focuses on the design, general operation, and maintenance characteristics of gas and steam turbines in a combined cycle power plant with emphasis on the major plant components and the performance of the plant.

Overall design and operation concepts along with basic operation and maintenance problems for the various pieces of TurboMachinery (gas turbines, steam turbines, and boiler feed water pumps) are discussed.  Discussions and design parameters of the Heat Recovery and Steam Generating (HRSG) systems, the feed water heaters and the condensers are also included. 

Planned Optimization of the Combined Cycle Plant, for maximum efficiency and power is emphasized throughout the course.  Cycle efficiency and part load characteristics are discussed in-depth.
An emphasis is placed on providing practical information with minimal theory.  This part of the course is aimed at engineers and operational personnel who need a broad-based introduction to practical optimization, operation and design considerations of a major combined cycle power plant.  Discussion throughout the course especially of plant problems and optimization by the participants with the instructor and amongst themselves is encouraged so as to maximize the course experience.

The course also deals with the computation of the performance of the combined cycle power plant.  Course participants will be taken through the computations of the Combined Cycle Power Plant on software supplied and the proper correction factors applicable in all the sections of the plant.  Attendees should bring their lap top computers so that sample computations can be carried out in conjunction with the instructor.

• When you register to attend this course you are automatically registered in the “Turbomachinery Round Table” an online forum where you can share ideas with other course attendees and with Professor Boyce.
• With the knowledge gained in this course, you will be able to improve your job performance and decision making capabilities
• You will gain a thorough understanding of practical plant machinery, design, operation, and maintenance requirements
• You will be encouraged to ask questions and network with both Dr. Boyce and other attendees throughout the week
• Everyone who attends this course will receive two best-selling engineering books authored by Dr. Boyce:
• The Handbook for Cogeneration and Combined Cycle Power Plants, Second Edition, by Dr. Meherwan P. Boyce, P.E.
• The Gas Turbine Engineering Handbook, Third Edition, by Dr. Meherwan P. Boyce, P.E.
• That’s a $320 value!
• Plus, you'll receive a best-practices notebook highlighting the latest developments in the field.

 

Overview of Combined Cycle Power Plants

• Introduction to various types and sizes of combined cycle power plants used in the power and petrochemical industry.
• Overview of operation characteristics of the plants – operating at part load while maximizing efficiency is emphasized both for combined cycle applications and petrochemical compressor drives.

Cycle Analysis and Power Augmentation

• Analysis of various types of cycles including intercooled, reheat and regeneration cycles, combined cycles, cogeneration cycles.
• Discussion on the optimization of the cycle based on the performance of the various components

Power Augmentation

• Study of methods to increase cycle efficiency and output power, including inlet evaporative and refrigeration cooling, interstage cooling, water and steam injection.  
• Review of state of the art developments in gas turbine technology, especially the characteristics of operating gas turbines over a large operating range while maximizing the performance of the entire system.

High Efficiency Maintenance

• Discussion on the challenge of maintaining high efficiency at part load operations.
• Examination of techniques that allow the gas turbines at off design loads to operate at its maximum within the entire plant system. This will ensure high operating efficiency of all components.

Performance and Mechanical Equipment Standards

• Overview of the ASME and API standards applicable to the various pieces of machinery.

DAY 2

Advanced Gas Turbine Characteristics

• Examination of design changes in Advanced Gas Turbines, from changes in cycle characteristics, to changes in design characteristics of compressor and turbine blading, high inlet temperatures, increased pressure ratios, and new DLN combustors for low NOx characteristics

Axial Flow Compressors and Turbines

• Overview of key aero-thermodynamic considerations of axial and centrifugal compressors, including the effect of surge on gas turbine operation.  
• Overview of mechanical, performance and aerodynamic aspects of gas turbines, including new cooling schemes for gas turbines to operate at turbine inlet temperatures of 1350ºC -1450ºC.

Combustors and Fuels

• Presentation about combustor types, chamber design, fuel atomization, ignition and combustor arrangements.  
• Discussion on dry low NOx combustors and their problems with “Flash Back.” 
• Study of the fuel treatment of natural gas and other fuels before using them in the gas turbine to ensure that the turbine combustion will meet specifications covering emissions and ensuring maximum combustion liner life.

Materials Metallurgy and Coatings

• Coverage on the material aspects of gas turbine blading, turbine wheel alloys and future materials. 
• Presentation about common failure modes and cases.  
• Discussion on coatings as applied to both the Hot Section Components and the compressor.

DAY 3

Steam Turbine Technology

• Overview of steam turbine designs.
• Study of the high-pressure turbine design (usually an impulse turbine).
• Study of the IP and LP turbine designs (usually reaction turbines).

HRSG Technology

• Study of the HRSG in conjunction with the feed water heaters, dearators, and economizers, plus the preheaters, evaporators, and superheaters of each stage. 
• Study of the temperature distribution as a function of the heat input.
• Overview of various optimization techniques to assure maximum effectiveness of the HRSG.

Condensers

• Examination of the condensers and the computation of the degree of fouling. 
• Overview of techniques for computing the fouling in the tubes and the quality of the steam entering the unit. 
• Discussion about the effect of the fouling on the condenser pressure and the effect of that pressure on the entire power output of the plant.

Feed Water Pumps

• Overview of the feed water pumps design characteristics.
• Study of the flow in the centrifugal impellers.
• Examination of the pumps’ performance characteristics.

DAY 4

Instrumentation and Condition Monitoring

• Overview of techniques and instrumentation used for monitoring and diagnostics of gas turbines.  
• Discussion of techniques covering diagnostics based on performance and mechanical characteristics.  
• Analysis of systems for gas turbines.

Case Histories

• Presentation of case histories of various types of turbine failures and maintenance problems of gas turbines used in various operations – from power plants to offshore compressor installations.  
• Overview of the many types of failures that occur in gas turbines and the reasons that cause the problems.

DAY 5

SPECIAL SESSION
It is suggested that attendees bring their lap top computers to class this day, so sample computations can be carried out in conjunction with the instructor. Performance computations will be conducted as per various ASME PTC Codes. 

Combined Cycle Plant Performance

• Study of techniques for computing performance of the advanced gas turbines in design and off design operation and in combined cycle modes.  NOTE: Most new advanced gas turbines operate at very high turbine firing temperatures.  Thus variation in this firing temperature significantly affects the performance and life of the components in the hot section of the turbine.  The compressor pressure ratio is high which leads to a very narrow operation margin, thus making the turbine very susceptible to compressor fouling.  The turbine is also very sensitive to backpressure exerted on it by the heat recovery steam generator.  The pressure drop through the air filter and dirty compressors also results in major deterioration of the performance of the turbine, thus emphasis will be placed on this computation.
• Calculation of steam turbine computations. 
• Computing of the performance of the Steam Tables via workings of the Mollier Charts and the Steam Tables. 
• Discussion of correction factors of the steam turbine.

Professor Meherwan P. Boyce, PhD., P.E. (USA), C.Eng.  (UK), Fellow ASME (USA), IMechE (UK), & IDGTE (UK) is CEO of The Boyce Consultancy Group, LLC.  He has over 45 years of experience in the power sector in both industry and academia.  His industrial experience includes 30 years of power sector design and service as CEO of a power industry engineering firm which he founded.  His 15 years in academia included the position of Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University.  He is the author of over 150 technical articles and the sole author of several books such as the Gas Turbine Engineering Handbook (Elsevier), Cogeneration & Combined Cycle Power Plants (ASME Press), and Centrifugal Compressors, A Basic Guide (PennWell Books).  Professor Boyce is also a contributor to several Handbooks; his latest contribution is to the Perry’s Chemical Engineering Handbook Seventh and Eight Editions (McGraw Hill) in the areas of Transport and Storage of Fluids, and Gas Turbines. 

Dr. Boyce has taught over 150 short courses attended by over 3000 students representing over 300 Corporations, and has served as an expert witness in many power sector lawsuits and arbitrations.  He is a Consultant to the Aerospace, Petrochemical and Utility Industries globally, and is a much-requested speaker at Universities and Conferences throughout the world.

To learn more about Dr. Boyce’s in-depth experience in mechanical engineering and consulting, awards won, books authored, patents secured, and publications contributed to, visit the Dr. Boyce Biography section of the website.

Moody Gardens Hotel
1 Hope Blvd
Galveston, Texas 77554 USA
Tel. +1 409 741 8484
Toll Free US/CAN +1 888 388 8484
reservations@moodygardens.com
www.moodygardenshotel.com

Register Now for this Course

Seats are limited. Register early to ensure participation. 

Course Fees

This course is divided into two parts. The majority of the course reviews the design, general operation and maintenance characteristics of gas and steam turbines in a combined cycle power plant. The last day of the course is devoted to the computation of the performance characteristics of the combined cycle plant and the characteristics of the plant. 

Five Day Course: $3,995

Check-in

All attendees are required to check-in at the Registration Desk between 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on the first day of the course.

Schedule Overview

Classes begin promptly. Please arrive early as a courtesy to other participants. The breakdown of hours for each day is as follows:

Monday	10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday	9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday	9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday	9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday	9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

 

Cancellation

Due to limited space, it is suggested you register early to ensure participation. An attendee will not be considered registered unless his or her fees are paid in full.  A refund, less 15% administration charge, will be made if a cancellation is received in writing 10 business days prior to the start of the course.  Substitutions may be made at any time.  We are happy to hold a rain check credit towards a future course.

Register Now for this Course