Thursday, June 19, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Panel Session

Session Chairs:
Steve Radke

Presentations

Note: Presentations may start a few minutes before the time listed in the schedule.

Moderator name and affiliation:
Steve Radke, Siemens Energy

Panelist names and affiliations:
Matthew Radcliff, Dominion Energy
Michal Hoznedl, Doosan Skoda Power
Norbert Suerken, Siemens Energy
Soichiro Tabata, MHI
Constantine Chitic-Foldi, EPRI

Description:
In the continuing series on Steam Turbine and Steam Cycle flexibility this year’s panel will discuss the challenges of last row blade erosion.

This series is intended to bring practical needs experienced by the industry and foster discussions about near-term solutions, future technology development by industry and potential long term solution development through academia.
Due to the influence on the grid of renewables certain operators choose to operate their steam cycles at low loads, instead of stopping the turbines completely. This is done to both reduce the number of speed cycles, and in certain cases to allow for faster load response from the plant.
This discussion will be focused on steam turbines operating in combined cycle power plants.
Panelists were chosen to cover the practical aspects of the problem, and real-world applications of solutions. In addition some more theoretical topics will be discussed to allow for both academics and real-world operators to interact on near term and future solutions.
The first panelist will present the challenge of last row steam turbine blade erosion from the plant operators’ perspective. This expert has polled other operators and will bring in practical challenges he has discussed with the experts during the panel development.
The next three panelists will be OEM experts that will discuss some solutions to address erosion that they have seen in their fleets. These experts cover all sizes of steam turbines.

The first OEM expert from Doosan Skoda Power will discuss smaller steam turbines operating at less than 90MW. Some solutions discussed are operational changes and coating. In addition, some influences from the exhaust and condenser configuration will be discussed.
The second expert from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will focus on a range of 125 MW to 350MW. Solutions discussed include blade design changes and operational changes.
The third expert from Siemens Energy will focus on the larger turbines in the Siemens Energy fleet operating between 190MW and 380 MW. Solutions to be discussed include operational changes, blade design changes, and materials changes.
The fifth panelist will come from EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) an industry-wide organization that will cover industry trends and a fleet-wide review of erosion issues. In addition will cover some cross OEM trends on solutions. This presentation will cover Operating Experience from certain plants and statistics of the combined cycle steam cycle fleet.

Following short presentations from the experts there will be a moderated discussion where the audience will be able to ask the experts and discuss technical topics surrounding last row blade erosion.