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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.
Owen Crew (OC): Excitation and Engineering services have worked with many of the companies at the STGUG. My colleague Douglas Cope presented here a few years ago; presenting a talk on static excitation conversion.
What would you say is the top challenge facing your industry at present?
OC: I think the biggest challenge facing the industry is the increased renewable penetration on the grid. Power networks will have to overcome the challenges of decreased inertia, voltage stability and reactive power.
How would you say your industry has evolved over the past two years?
OC: More embedded generation; more sites whose primary product is not power have been utilising their generators for reactive power support and power export as opposed to managing site loads.
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?
OC: Customers are becoming more conscious about reactive power usage. More sites are offsetting reactive loads using their synchronous machines or are providing reactive power support for the power network.
What will you be presenting at the Steam Turbine and Generator User Group and how will this benefit participants?
OC: I will be presenting data captured during a rotating diode failure on a synchronous motor. The data captured offers an insight into the characteristics of the infrequent failure.
Which other speakers and presentations are you looking forward to hearing at the forthcoming seminar?
OC: I am particularly interested in synchronous compensators so I’m looking forward to hearing Sam Atkins’ presentation.
Why is it important for engineers and industry to come together at this event and share best practice?
OC: Knowledge sharing is vital for maintaining a knowledgeable workforce for design, fault finding and maintenance.
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.