Q: Could you briefly explain your role, involvement and experience with regards to this seminar?
Andrew Derbyshire (AD): I am a Principal Safety Engineer for DNV GL specialising in safety systems and more specifically Functional Safety, I am also the UK technical manager for all of our accreditations as a Notified Body.
Ian Webb (IW): I am Head of Product Support for the Siemens small and medium range of Industrial Gas Turbines. I have presented at the last to seminars on common maintenance topics, from an Engineer’s prospective.
Jared Kitchen (jK): I am a Product Development Engineer at Pilgrim International Limited. Pilgrim engineer bolting solutions for gas turbine power generation. My seminar is about new developments in engineered bolting for gas turbines applications.
James Hill (JH): I am a Senior Acoustic Engineer at AAF Ltd’s Power & Industrial Division, who provide filtration and acoustic solutions for Gas Turbine Packages.
Q: What are the main engineering challenges facing the industry at the moment and what are the most common issues you hear from colleagues?
IW: In my view, the biggest challenge in the industry is the need to continually reduce cost of maintenance but maintain quality which for operators/customers is measured as Availability & Reliability.
JK: Gas turbines are becoming more powerful and require more robust bolting solutions. This is especially true in the UK where gas turbines are subjected to more high load start-up cycles during their service, when compared to the base loading commonly experienced other regions. High loads can lead to coupling slippage and stuck bolts that damage couplings, and increase outage duration and cost.
AD: As technical manager the looming Brexit and what effect that will have on trade and regulatory frameworks is a challenge, from a safety systems perspective the biggest challenge we face is a skills shortage and understanding of the concept of Functional Safety.
JH: From my perspective, noise is becoming an increasingly visible issue; combined with market demands for cost reduction there is a need for new acoustic technology to keep up with both the market and the regulations
Q: What key topics are you excited to speak about?
AD: I am passionate about Technical Safety and having worked in Military aerospace I am keen to bring my learnings into the Oil & Gas industry
IW: The data we have or should have and how it might be used to support safe and reliable equipment operation for the future.
JH: New noise control technology developed specifically for gas turbines
JK: I’m excited to speak about Pilgrims technological developments with the delegates and to gather feedback. This will help to target my work and future developments at Pilgrim.
Q: Who else are you most interested in hearing from on the programme?
JK: I am interested in the talks by Roger Fairclough and Clifford Smith.
AD: At every seminar I attend there is always a presentation that captures my imagination and I often draw parallels to my own working life
JH: Nasir bin Hasnan, Gas Turbine Engineer, Saudi Aramco
IW: Customer experience of using the company I work for and the comparison to other maintenance providers. What do operators/customers like and don’t like.
Q: What are your top tips when tackling a new assessment?
IW: Source the data you rely on carefully to make you decisions, know the strengths and weakness of both the data you propose to use and its format. Inaccurate data is not always bad as long as you know and understand its limitations and how you might overcome them.
JK: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail!
AD: Prior planning is the key to any successful assessment and knowing your customer, the project and their challenges
JH: Again from an acoustic perspective – one of the most important things is to integrate the acoustic design at the earliest possible stage. The later it is left, typically, the more expensive it is.
Q: Why is it important for engineers to join this seminar?
IW: Engineers need to be able to bench mark how they operate and maintain complex generating equipment compared to others in the industry and learn and understand what best in class might look like.
JK: The pooling of technical knowledge between engineers facilitates more efficient development in the industry as a whole. The event allows industry specific engineers to network and learn from each other. In turn this helps the industry to progress more quickly and efficiently.
AD: Seminars are a good way of maintaining knowledge and sharing of best practice and more importantly count towards your Continuous Professional Development (CPD) which the engineering council have now made mandatory
JH: It is always important for engineers to meet with their peers to continue their professional development and I hope that my presentation will be on a subject matter that delegates will find new and interesting.
Q: What developments are you most interested in for the future and why?
JH: Advanced modelling techniques and increasing computer power have led to some steps forwards in acoustic design methods in recent years. Moving forwards I am most interested in applying these to creating new designs and materials as I think there are exciting opportunities to start taking current research and applying it.
IW: Clever and cunning changes to the standard way fossil fuelled generating equipment has historically been maintained, in order to reflect the new flexible operation demanded by the current generating market.
How can we ALL benefit from using the data we have or should have to optimise the maintenance of the machines we are responsible for. This must include better Availability and Reliability at reduced cost.
JK: I am interested in the future of power generation, specifically in terms of sustainability. I am also interested in advanced manufacturing methods and metallurgy.
AD: Greater use of autonomy in our everyday lives and how these new systems present us with a new set of challenges and hazards which we need to overcome.
About the Power Generation Gas Turbine User Group 2018
The Power Generation Gas Turbine User Group is a well-established event catering for those involved in the design, management, operation and maintenance of gas turbines. The Institution’s long-standing User Groups are peer reviewed by a committee of key industry thought leaders, ensuring high quality presentations, unique networking opportunities and the chance to share experiences among the gas turbine community.
New for 2018: discuss the role of gas turbines in the future of Britain's energy mix, together with successful strategies for plant life extension, asset management and refurbishment while maintaining cost effectiveness.
For full details and to register, please visit www.imeche.org/gtug2018