2018 Spring Conference

CEATI’s 2018 hydropower conference will bring together experts from all areas of hydropower, from dam safety, to plant reliability and maintenance, to hydropower operations and planning, in order to discuss the key challenges currently facing the hydropower industry; versatility, operability and sustainability. Hydropower has been used to provide flexibility and balancing to the power grid for many years, but the non-energy benefits of hydropower are often overlooked. This conference will look at the economic viability of hydropower, and the challenges facing many owners today including operating under extreme conditions, maintaining aging equipment, and the dam safety implications when dealing with changing operations in today’s market.

Themes:

• Changing Operations and the Role of Hydropower in Balancing the Grid
• Hydropower Moving Forward
• Fit-for-Service of Critical Equipment
• Extreme Conditions
• Knowledge Retention and Transfer of Institutional Knowledge

We encourage vendors, contractors, industry experts and utility participants from the DSIG, HPLIG and HOPIG to submit abstracts for consideration on any of the above topics. Note that preference will be given to utility presentations and vendors are encouraged to partner with utilities when submitting case studies for consideration. In order to ensure that each of the topics above will be adequately covered during the event, we request that all abstracts submitted identify which of the 5 key themes and subthemes it will directly relate to. Further details regarding the 2018 Hydropower Conference themes can be found in the event brochure, available to download at the link above. Abstracts must be submitted online by Monday, September 11, 2017.

Should you have any general questions regarding the event, please contact us at [email protected].

The themes to be covered at this event will include:

1. Changing operations and the role of hydropower in balancing the grid

a) Market driven operations and impacts
b) Changing ramping requirements
c) Rough zone operations
d) Costs of providing ancillary services
e) Maintenance and outage impacts on availability
f) Dam safety implications
g) River operations implications

2. Hydropower moving forward

a) Economic viability and opportunities
b) Quantifying the non-energy benefits
c) Dealing with environmental, regulatory and security issues

3. Fit-for-service of critical equipment

a) Gates, hoists, valves, penstocks, water boundaries
b) Inspection, condition assessment, monitoring
c) Data analysis
d) Fostering innovation
e) Reducing costs and improving efficiencies

4. Extreme Conditions

a) High inflows, droughts, seismic events
b) Short/medium/long term planning strategies
c) Coordination and communications with internal and external stakeholders

5. Knowledge retention and transfer of institutional knowledge

a) Succession planning strategies
b) Training programs and tools
c) Recruiting techniques and apprenticeship programs

The 5^th Annual Protection and Control Conference will focus on several areas of concern for power utilities including; power system performance, protection systems design and maintenance, digital relays applications and settings, management and analytics of large information databases, enhanced integration of DGs and microgrids, new protection, control and communication technologies, and generator protection and control related topics.

Themes:

• Optimizing Protection System Design, Maintenance and Replacement Strategies
• Potential Use of Digital Relay Capabilities for “Smart Grid” Applications
• Improved Technologies and Techniques for DG and Microgrid Integration
• New Protection, Control and Communication Systems Technologies
• Protection and Control matters for Power Generators

Experts are invited to submit presentation abstracts on one of the topics listed below by 4:00pm EDT on September 11^th, 2017. A notification of acceptance will be provided no later than November 10^th, 2017. Abstracts shall be evaluated based on their applicability to the subject matter and technical merits. Where applicable, event analysis and applied remedial solutions are welcomed in presentations. Vendors are encouraged to emphasize work accomplished for their clients, conducted in joint presentations.

The 5^th Annual Protection and Control Conference will focus on the following main themes:

• Optimizing Protection System Design, Maintenance and Replacement Strategies
• Potential Use of Digital Relay Capabilities for “Smart Grid” Applications
• Improved Technologies and Techniques for DG and Microgrid Integration
• New Protection, Control and Communication Systems Technologies
• Protection and Control matters for Power Generators

1. Optimizing Protection System Design, Maintenance and Replacement Strategies

This topic covers best practices in protection system design reflecting the brisk evolution in digital protection relay capabilities, the availability of rapid communication links and opportunities for networking and station automation. Examples of the subtopics that will be of interest include:

• Applications of the IEC 61850 protocol in design of new, or expansion of existing substations
• Experiences with applications of GE Process Bus and BRICS in substation design
• Optimization of protection system maintenance and relay replacement strategies
• Cyber-security, and the management and analytics of vast volumes of data
• Using SCADA for station automation – e.g. remotely controlled hydroelectric plants

2. Potential Use of Digital Relay Capabilities for “Smart Grid” Applications

This topic examines the use of digital relay enhanced voltage and current waveform monitoring capabilities. Examples of the subtopics that will be of interest include:

• Detecting irregular performance of power system elements, including:
  • Breaker restrikes
  • Harmonics-caused resonant conditions
  • Transformer saturation for identifying incipient system faults and their locations
• Digital relay logic programing capabilities, for initiating appropriate actions to minimize power outages and/or facilitate the automation of network operations
• Use of smart meter data in conjunction with information from digital relays for improvements in locating permanent, transient and high-impedance faults in distribution systems

3. Improved Technologies and Techniques for DG and Microgrid Integration

This topic focuses on the protection and control technologies that would enable increased penetration levels of renewable energy generation with minimal adverse impacts on distribution and/or transmission system operations. Examples of the subtopics that will be of interest include:

• Application of smart inverters to facilitate improved voltage and frequency regulation and power swings mitigation
• Enabling the autonomous operation of microgrids during transient system events and their seamless re-synchronization with the main grid

Besides technical issues, this topic also encourages presentations on economic impacts of high levels of DG penetration on the distribution or bulk power system operation and possible mitigating solutions.

4. New Protection, Control and Communication Systems Technologies

This topic is concerned with the area of new or emerging technologies that could be used for enhancing protection systems capabilities and enabling improvements in power system resiliency. These system technologies could be focussed on:

• Locating faults
• Locating losses of major system elements
• Improving system security
• Enhancing the levels of automation and electric supply power quality
• Aiding in the reduction of overall power system operating costs

Applications and experiences with practical use of Synchrophasor measurements will also be considered.

5. Protection and Control matters for Power Generators

The topics in this area cover the latest developments in the utility and industry practices in design of protection and control systems for large electric power generators and their auxiliary systems. It also includes lessons learned from identified performance issues and solutions. Examples of the subtopics that will be of interest include:

• Protection philosophies and technologies available for arc flash energy minimization
• Generator fault analysis and case studies
• Protection and control standards/ guidelines / best practices.
• Modeling of generator controls for coordinating generator and/or transmission system relays-g. model validation – governor/excitation systems
• Aging technology, reliability, adequacy of existing protection and control schemes.
• Generator ground fault detection schemes
• Remote plant monitoring and operations

 

Traditional electric utility station maintenance programs have historically tracked and initiated maintenance tasks based on predetermined calendar intervals, followed up with corrective actions as required. Furthermore, all of the results are manually recorded. The way we now perform maintenance is changing rapidly, as additional tasks and complexities are required due to new technologies and innovative procedures.  There are subsequently numerous initiatives that are changing traditional maintenance practices, the methods for collecting and analyzing large quantities of data, and how evidence of wear or degradation are gathered. This enables more effective evaluation of station asset condition to determine what maintenance is required, or even whether it is necessary.

Computer Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) was developed to use historical data for modifying maintenance triggers and intervals, but many additional functions may also be built into a CMMS. Maintenance tasks need to be revisited, revised, and/or include additional items in maintenance programs to make the most effective use of these systems and to modify CMMS to meet new requirements.

Collecting, submitting, storing and reviewing all this data presents new challenges not previously considered in traditional maintenance programs. Regulatory requirements and data security concerns must also be taken into account when updating maintenance programs.

Themes

• Changes in Maintenance Practices and/or Philosophies
• Technology Changes / Innovations in Maintenance Practices
• Health Indicators / Predictors / Risk Identifiers for Maintenance Practices
• Innovations to Improve Reliability / Availability and/or Expected Lifecycle / Resiliency of Station Equipment
• Innovations in Performance Measurement and Performance Indicators in Station Maintenance
• Feeding, Tracking, Review and Analyzing Data for AM Programs

We are pleased to announce a Call for Abstract for CEATI’s Station Equipment Asset Management 2018 Spring Conference on the topic of “The Changing Face of Station Maintenance”. Experts are invited to submit presentation abstracts for this event by August 1^st, 2017.

Please note that presentation abstracts from consultants, service providers, contractors and manufacturers/vendors must be submitted in partnership with a utility in order to be considered.

Objectives:

• Provide information on innovative techniques, technologies, materials and tools employed in the planning and execution of utility’s station equipment maintenance.
• Identify opportunities to improve station reliability and resiliency, while keeping maintenance cost-effective.
• Examine changing goals, requirements and methods used for maintenance programs to provide information to other parts of the utility organization or others.
• Learn from others who have already adopted or investigated the use of new methods in executing and planning maintenance activities.

Submissions must relate to one or more of the following themes (detailed below)

• Changes in Maintenance Practices and/or Philosophies
• Technology Changes / Innovations in Maintenance Practices
• Health Indicators / Predictors / Risk Identifiers for Maintenance Practices
• Innovations to Improve Reliability / Availability and/or Expected Lifecycle / Resiliency of Station Equipment
• Innovations in Performance Measurement and Performance Indicators in Station Maintenance
• Feeding, Tracking, Review and Analyzing Data for AM Programs

Who Should Participate?

• Substation Managers and Maintenance Supervisors
• Transmission Station Engineers and Engineering Supervisors
• Asset Managers
• Consultants, Service Providers and Contractors, in partnership with a utility
• Equipment Manufacturers and Vendors partnering with a utility

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THEME 1: Changes in Maintenance Practices and/or Philosophies

In order to make best use of funding and resources available for maintenance activities, most utilities are adopting changes in maintenance practices to make their programs more efficient and better at capturing items required to prevent unexpected failures. At the same time, regulatory requirements may dictate that utilities collect evidence for specific maintenance tasks or flag those that have missed target interval dates. Data needs to be collected and reports need to be generated to provide audit evidence or dashboards to flag pending problems or violations. In many instances, manufacturer warranty considerations demand that certain inspection tasks must be performed at specified intervals, which may require inconvenient equipment outages and/or dedicated resources needed elsewhere. Ideal maintenance programs should minimize the resources and outage time required, while maximizing the benefit of any maintenance activities.

Topics:

• Moving away from time-based maintenance
• On-line monitors vs. manual sampling or testing
• Examples of successful implementation of condition-based maintenance
• Effective use of condition monitoring to predict maintenance requirements.
• Implications of condition-based monitoring for manufacturer warranties
• Use of new innovations or technology to reduce maintenance outage time

 

THEME 2: Technology Changes / Innovations in Maintenance Practices

Procedures are evolving, such as gas-in-oil testing and particle-in-oil analysis, vibro-acoustic signatures and partial discharge monitoring, and so on. Utilities must therefore utilize new technologies to better monitor the condition and to detect potential problems in station equipment.

Topics:

• Advances and new techniques for station maintenance
  • SF6 gas analysis for condition monitoring
  • Oil analysis for condition monitoring
  • Use of X-rays or other innovations for analyzing equipment condition and/or defer maintenance tasks
  • Others?

• Automated results reporting from test equipment
• New applications to detect equipment condition and wear
• Effective use of drone technology for maintenance activities
  • IR scanning, PD measurements, etc.
  • Business cases provided

THEME 3: Health Indicators / Predictors / Risk Identifiers for Maintenance Practices

In traditional maintenance programs, data was not tracked as values that could be used to generate a health indicator or end-of-life predictor. Much of the previous information was limited to a ‘pass or fail’ with a corrective method created for each failure; they were also classified as failure mode along with component and subcomponent failure.

Now, various readings and parameter values are in demand for new asset management programs. Different component failures modes are required for various equipment, and additional parameters may require utilities to extract readings from specific proprietary test software or to export these items to other programs. Depending on criticality and the consequence of the failure of individual devices, some maintenance may be postponed or even cancelled such that the risk of failure is accepted over the cost of maintenance.

Topics:

• Effect of interventions on Health Indices
• Maintenance – induced failures
• Evaluation of risk avoidance in maintenance programs
• Use of health indices to evaluate risk of equipment failure
• Use of real-time operating data to measure equipment duty cycles, incident energy, etc.
• Use of health indices to adjust effective age of assets
• Examples of conclusions reached from HI scores

THEME 4: Innovations to Improve Reliability / Availability and/or Expected Lifecycle / Resiliency of Station Equipment

Regular maintenance has traditionally been viewed as a method to keep an asset performing reliably for an expected lifetime duration. New technology, tools and techniques may now be able to improve on previously-expected reliability levels, increase the availability of equipment, and may even extend the expected life cycles or improve on the recovery from failure.

Topics:

• Leveraging technology to efficiently dispatch personnel and gather information: Vehicle GPS; mobile data devices, digital inspections; cloud storage of inspection data
• Maintenance techniques for hardening or improving reliability of station assets

• Effect of interventions on asset condition, lifecycles and health indices
• Leveraging technology to reduce outage time and minimize maintenance required

• Use of micro grids and/or energy storage systems to enhance maintenance programs and equipment availability
• Use of 3D modelling for more efficient maintenance planning
• Methods or technical innovations to improve equipment recovery time

THEME 5: Innovations in Performance Measurement and Performance Indicators in Station Maintenance

Performance measurement is crucial for most utilities to demonstrate how well they are using the funding and resources provided by their ratepayers, regulators, shareholders and other stakeholders. This workshop is a good forum for utilities to consider how best to measure their performance and to find better ways to obtain an indication as to whether they are on the right track and to appreciate the benefits of their work.

Topics:

• Regulatory requirements and performance measures.
• What indicators are most important to stakeholders today?
• New or enhanced performance measures made possible by technology improvements
• Use of KPI’s to evaluate and compare between manufacturers, different designs, technology types, or maintenance techniques.
• What good things are not being measured?

THEME 6: Feeding, Tracking, Review and Analyzing Data for AM Programs

Expanded use of CMMS and other systems for equipment maintenance and asset management has resulted in huge amounts of data being collected and stored for these purposes. Operating limitations were also established by specific equipment specifications, which are based on nameplate data mined from CMMS. This makes it extremely important to gather accurate nameplate data and equipment specifications during commissioning and maintenance activities. Condition assessment data collected either during maintenance outages or through on-line assessment equipment is also very important for making timely decisions as conditions change.

It is a significant challenge to balance this amount of data collected with the associated cost and effort required to gather, store, and then access it when required by decision makers.

Topics:

• Data collection and storage considerations for easy input and readily-available access by those who need it.
• Examples of specifications and characteristics of an effective CMMS
• Changes in equipment ratings, parameters or overload capabilities – data change management and evidence requirements.
• Equipment and considerations for providing real-time condition data for accurate and timely decision making
• Leveraging use of mobile devices to assess damage, provide and share visual evidence to expedite approvals, repairs, communicate instructions, or reduce truck rolls.
• Updating, storage and retrieval of calculated values, such as arc flash values for work packages, safety audits, etc.
• Adapting existing systems to new products

Submit Abstract

Register by December 19, 2017 and save $50!

This conference is an industry open event, with registration open to:

• Electric Utilities
• Consultants, and
• Equipment Vendors
• Research Facilities and Laboratories
• Universities

CEATI Program Participants

This event is organized in coordination with the following Utility Participants.

The Westin La Paloma

3800 East Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718

Reserve by Phone: +1.520.742.6000

Preferred Rate: $199 USD (plus applicable taxes).

To receive the preferred rate, please mention the special convention rate for the CEATI International Meeting. Preferred rate only available until February 1st, 2018.

Housing Warning!

Unauthorized Housing Companies Contacting Exhibitors & Attendees. It has come to our attention that unauthorized housing companies have been contacting CEATI International exhibitors and attendees via email and phone and in general, misrepresenting themselves as an official housing vendor for CEATI International. Room registrations should be made directly with the hotel as described above.

We highly caution you from engaging unauthorized companies because if/when issues arise, CEATI International management does not have the ability to provide assistance in solving them.

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Presentation abstract submission form is below. Please read the guidelines before submitting.

Presentations should adhere to the Guidelines set forth by CEATI International.

Presentation Guidelines Include:

• Presentations must be submitted in Power Point format (PPT).
• Presentations will be distributed to attendees in secure electronic (PDF).
• Page #s must be displayed in the lower right hand corner of each Power Point slide.
• Each Presenter will be allocated 25-30 minutes of presentation time, including 5-10 minutes for Q&A.
• Presenters may be asked to participate, as Panelists, in an Open Discussion concerning the session topic as well as their specific presentation.
• Please note that all participants, including presenters, are required to register to attend.

Presentations will take place on March 6 & 7, 2018.

The deadline for the submission of Power Point Presentations will vary by session track. Please submit your presentation the appropriate contact person listed below.

Subsequent to submission, presenters may continue to revise Presentations but must submit their revised files on flash drive at a minimum of one (1) hour in advance of their scheduled presentation time.

Hydro Presentations must be submitted electronically to the attention of Lizzie Smith at [email protected]

Protection & Control Presentations must be submitted electronically to the attention of Paul Ryan at [email protected]

Stations Presentations must be submitted electronically to the attention of Leonor Nonnenmacher at [email protected]

When you participate in a CEATI event, be it as an attendee, exhibitor, presenter, speaker, moderator or in any other capacity whatsoever, you will be participating in an event where photography, as well as video and audio recording is likely to occur.

By participating in the CEATI event, you consent to photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, web casts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on web sites, or for any other purpose(s) that CEATI deems fit to use. You release CEATI, its officers, directors, employees and consultants, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, distribution, or publication of photographs, computer images, video and/or audio recordings.

By entering the event premises, you waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any exhibition, streaming, webcasting, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such exhibiting, broadcasting, webcasting, or other publication irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by or on behalf of CEATI or the person or entity designated to do so by CEATI.

In addition, the event will be monitored for unauthorized recording. By attending the CEATI event or entering the event premises, you agree not to record or digitize any parts of the presentation, without CEATI’s express written consent.

You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before participating in the CEATI event.

CEATI is recognized by the Engineering Institute of Canada as an accredited provider of Continuing Education Credits (CEUs). When registering for one of our events be sure to indicate whether you wish to acquire CEUs by attending Conference presentations.

Located in the heart of southern Arizona, in the diverse ecosystem of the Sonoran Desert and surrounded by five picturesque mountain ranges, Tucson’s natural landscape draws visitors outdoors where there is plenty of room to roam. Native American, Spanish and Mexican cultures, along with the lore of the Wild West, come together to form the region’s rich and fascinating history and is translated into the region’s cuisine. Visitors will find a diverse mix of natural

beauty and urban flair setting the stage for a phenomenal variety of activities including cycling, golfing, hiking, stargazing, or visiting one of the many wildlife or botanical museums. For those who venture off the beaten path, Tucson is proud to be a little out there; a natural oasis from the unoriginal and pretentious that inspires the free spirit in us all.

Getting There and Around

There are many ways to get to Tucson, including daily direct flights into Tucson International Airport (TUS), from US cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas, just to name a few. For international visitors, multiple carriers feature flights to Phoenix, including British Airways which has a daily flight from London.

Getting from Phoenix to Tucson takes less than two hours via the I-10 freeway. Both the I-10 and I-8 are also great for visitors looking to experience southern Arizona by way of California, providing drivers with a direct route to Tucson from both Los Angeles and San Diego.

Link(s)

Official Visitors Guide – Source: http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/MaddenMedia/totg_ddt17/2017011602/#0

The Women In Power collaborative venture is a networking, mentorship, and peer-to-peer support group that spans across the entirety of the CEATI organization, including all our programs. It aims to promote engineering to women in the field and help females thrive in a male-dominated industry. In an effort to facilitate comradery and networking, this group is currently available to anyone involved in the CEATI programs or events at no added cost.

For more information about the Women In Power group, visit our website.

Please join us at our Women in Power Reception at CEATI’s 2018 Spring Industry Conference!