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For full details of this year's User Group and to book your place please visit www.imeche.org/stug.
Please briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience in regard to the Steam Turbine and Generator User Group.
Michal Hoznedl (MH): This is the second time I am going to participate at the Steam Turbine and Generator User Group as a representative of the Czech company Doosan Škoda Power. At the previous few User Groups there have been my colleagues. I have the honour to give the lecture in the Plant Auxiliary Systems section and I am looking forward to share information about our steam turbines with a panel of experts.
What would you say is the top challenge facing your industry at present?
MH: The biggest challenges relate to the transition from large turbines operated at a stable output towards smaller turbines (mostly up to 100 MW). These turbines are often operated as supplementary sources to renewable resources or in industrial branches and municipal waste incinerators. It is therefore necessary to design turbines for a time-varying and very low output, often below 10% of the rated output. It is necessary to solve problems with the lifetime and reliability of turbines while maintaining their very high efficiency and low price. It is also necessary to develop and offer turbines for the medium other than steam, for example carbon dioxide, organic medium or air.
How would you say your industry has evolved over the past two years?
MH: The field of steam turbines is developing quite intensively despite of the fact that it is a conservative one. In the past years, it was necessary to manage the transition from the design and production of large turbines to smaller ones with lower output, often highly customized. Work has begun on design of turbines with alternative working fluid and the first realization is being resolved. The turbine is equipped with a number of sensors. The data is downloaded online to the cloud and evaluated. SW is being developed for the detection of rubbing, residual lifetime calculation and for blade erosion wear. Thanks to this, the turbine operator has a better overview of the behaviour of his turboset and can better plan shutdowns and maintenance.
What developments are going on in your industry that may have an impact on the development of future approaches to operation, design, maintenance, service or upgrading of steam turbine or generator assets?
MH: A number of research and development activities take place within the R&D of Doosan Škoda Power. New methods of anti-erosion protection of the last moving blades are being tested. These are surface treatments of the blades using welds, thin layers and hydrophobic surfaces. New methods of cooling outlet casings are being developed. Research measurements in the laboratory and on real-size turbines are ongoing. A large part of the research and development activities is focused on the optimum turbines run in partial operations, on the operational flexibility of turbosets and on the integration of turbo-generators into energy nodes in the system of decentralized power energy.
What will you be presenting at the Steam Turbine and Generator User Group and how will this benefit participants?
MH: My presentation will be about not very common topic and it is Acoustic Noise around turbosets and their auxiliaries. This topic is becoming more and more important from the H&S point of view and has to be solved by turbosets manufacturers. Some basic of technical acoustic will be presented at the beginning of my speech. Then I will continue with explanation of acoustic noise measurement and corrections. Some examples of noisy parts of the turbine and auxiliaries detected by acoustic camera and methods how to decrease the noise will be presented at the end of the presentation. My main goal is to convince the professional audience that Doosan Škoda Power is responsible company dealing with all criteria required for the design of modern steam turbines and auxiliaries.
Which other speakers and presentations are you looking forward to hearing at the forthcoming seminar?
MH: The most interesting presentations for me will be all from Steam turbine technologies and Best practises in steam turbine service sessions.
Why is it important for engineers and industry to come together at this event and share best practice?
MH: This is not the only conference I will be attending this year. Nevertheless, I can say in advance that this User Group, where operators of power energy units meet with manufacturers or consultants, is a huge opportunity for all parties to get to know each other's opinions and requirements. Newly established contacts can then develop future cooperation and business.
This year's Steam Turbine and Generator User Group will take place on 13-14 March 2024 in Manchester.
Whether you are involved in the operation, design, maintenance, service or upgrading of steam turbine or generator assets, the User Group is THE forum for engineers and professionals to meet, network and learn from the shared experience of the Steam Turbine and Generator community.
For full details and to book your place please visit www.imeche.org/stug.