Hydro Utilities Gather in Pittsburgh

Chairman Andrew Datsko (First Energy, Lake Lynn Plant Manager) opened the meeting discussing the importance of maintaining safety best practices during corporate mergers.

Serving as the largest utility platform in the hydropower industry, the meeting program included vibrant round table discussions covering asset management strategies, alarms management, performance of greaseless bushings, plant control systems, quality control and assurance when procuring equipment, justifying rehabilitation as well as transformer failures and fires. Participants had a notable opportunity to network with leading experts and gain knowledge of current utility trends from around the globe.

Best practices in meeting dissolved oxygen requirements continues to be a hot topic for utilities in the Southeast. It was agreed that the CEATI Dissolved Oxygen Working Group would re-convene on December 8-9, 2011 in Atlanta at the Georgia Power building.

The General Meeting was preceeded by an informative, dynamic and information packed one-day workshop on Asset Management. Presentations were delivered by Bonneville Power Administration and CopperLeaf Technologies, Pacific Gas and Electric, Snowy Hydro, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and MWH, the Woodhouse Partnership, and the University of Toronto.

The recently launched Hydro Unit Stator Core and Rotor Replacement and Refurbishment Criteria project aims to develop a guide outlining the technical criteria that will support the assessment and continued serviceability of stator cores and rotor poles.

Another new project under development, Operation of Hydro Generators with Bypassed Stator Coils, will build on existing knowledge and tools to improve modeling capabilities, technical guidelines and procedures which examine the various issues to be taken into account when considering bypassing damaged coils.

Other initiatives approved at the meeting include developing criteria for the identification and selection of environmentally acceptable (EA) oils which can be consistently used across the hydropower industry.  In addition, the six volume Hydroelectric Turbine – Generator Units Guide for Erecting Tolerances and Shaft System Alignment (the “Alignment Guide”) will be updated.

General meetings also provide the opportunity for technical presentations on a host of hot topics. John Micetic, a chemist with the USACE, provided an instructive overview of criteria and verification testing for environmentally acceptable (EA) fluids.  New inputs must be chosen carefully, and the presentation offered a glimpse of what criteria and test methods should be used to evaluate biodegradability and aquatic toxicity.

Anders Skagerstrand of Vattenfall continued the discussion with a presentation on the replacement of petroleum-based turbine oils with environmentally acceptable oils and water-filled runners. Vattenfall has a new vision which prioritizes becoming a leader in environmentally sustainable energy production.

James Kiel, of the USACE, gave a presentation on the Ice Harbor Turbine Design and Runner Supply project.  He outlined how their Turbine Survival Program identified turbine improvements that would increase safe fish passage and turbine performance, using a collaborative and iterative design process.

Officially launched at the fall meeting, the Asset Management Working Group will discuss and identify best practices and tools, as well as knowledge gaps that can be addressed through workshops and studies.

The Penstock Working Group held its initiation meeting at the Pacific Gas & Electric offices in San Francisco, CA on June 23, 2011. A multi-year commitment (through 2013) to the program has now been approved. Its workplan will explore areas including potential future regulatory outlooks and requirements, the need for formal safety programs, assessment guidelines and projected associated budget commitments.  Its scope covers the following discussion topics:

• Corrosion Guidance
• Penstock Inspection Scoping
• Instrumentation Guidance
• Repairs and Maintenance Guidelines
• Maintenance Procedures and Frequencies
• Seismic and Structural Upgrades Guidelines
• Geotechnical Best Practices for Penstock Back-Slopes and Foundations
• Guidance for Determining Remaining Life Of Penstocks and Acceptable Operating Risk
• Development of a Model Penstock Safety Program
• Expansion Joints
• New or Alternative Materials
• Potential Failure Modes Guidelines for the Various Types of Water Conveyances

Topics to be addressed at the HPLIG General Meeting will include:

• RusHydro Accident Technical Discussion; “Two years later, what adjustments have you made?”
  • Turbine Integrating Inspection
  • Gate Testing (Frequency and Methodology)
  • Head Cover Bolt Inspection (Frequency, Technology, Findings)
  • Operational Changes
• Procurement of Engineered Equipment – Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Supplier Qualifications
• Safe Protection of Hydro Units Operating at “Run-Away” Speed
• Grounding and Bonding Best Practices
• Brushgear Maintenance
• Review of All On-Going HPLIG Studies
• Needs Assessment Workshop and Future Work Planning

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HPLIG is a collaborative technology focused program designed to assist hydroelectric utilities in their efforts to lower capital and operation costs, extend equipment life, improve efficiency, increase reliability and reduce outage times for equipment repair and maintenance, improve safety and environmental performance, improve risk based asset management decision making, performance evaluation and benchmarking techniques. The Hydraulic Plant Life Interest Group meets twice annually, and is open to international utilities, independent power producers, government and other organizations that own or manage hydroelectric generating facilities.