Institution news
Ahead of his presentation at this year’s User Group, we spoke with Tony Croucher, Technical Services Manager at Quartzelec, to discuss new opportunities for successful asset maintenance and life extension with new condition monitoring and automated solutions.
Q: Please can you briefly explain your role and any involvement you have with the Institution of Mechanical Engineer’s Steam Turbine and Generator User Group?
Tony Croucher (TC): I work for Quartzelec, I large independent Electrical machine company. I’ve been in the service sector for 20years and my principle role is to support the field service teams on all aspects of electromechanical design for the repair, overhaul, testing and retrofit/upgrade of rotating electrical machines. From small 415V inductions motors up to 300MW 2 pole turbo generators, and everything between.
I supported one of my colleagues in preparation of the Turbo Generator repair presentation at a previous Steam Turbine and Generator Group.
Q: What is the number one challenge for those using or benefitting from these technologies in today’s current market?
TC: Life extension of existing equipment support the green economy. The capital cost in cash terms and environmental damage is massive compared to the cost of preventative maintenance through scheduled maintenance and condition monitoring. This keeps existing plant going and retrofit and upgrades for increased efficiencies and use with sustainable resources.
Q: What would you say is the most exciting development in this field currently, either within your organisation, the in the industry in general or both?
TC: The rise of the condition monitoring AI analysis for online monitoring and in-situ electromechanical
Q: Where do you see the future of these assets going in the next 5 – 10 years?
TC: In a short time, AI is going to transform analysis of Condition Monitoring and test data to allow precisely targeted maintenance interventions; for example knowing where Partial discharge is occurring along other data such as temperature and vibration of amplitude/frequency, using new technology such as video vibration analysis, to allow the generator to run longer between shutdowns, and when they occur they can be shorted, targeted and less intrusive.
Q: What other topics are you looking forward to hearing about and discussing at the upcoming user group?
TC: Being focused on service sector and maintaining existing equipment, I am interested see wat new developments are coming in generator design as these are the machines I’ll be working on in 10 years as they move away from the OEM LSTA’s and into the service market.
Also, where new developments are improving efficiency in manufacturing processes and how in-service efficiencies are developing.
Q: Why do you feel it is important for all engineers and professionals involved in these technologies to join the user group in 2020?
TC:Pooling of knowledge. The quantum knowledge when we share is greater than working in isolation.
Steam Turbine and Generator User Group 2020, 18-19 March 2020, Manchester
The Institution's annual Steam Turbine and Generator User Group offers attendees two days of high-level technical content and knowledge sharing to support all engineers involved with steam turbine and generator equipment.
With more than 100 delegates joining in 2019, this is THE event for all those involved in the design, manufacture, operation, management and maintenance of these assets to stay up to date and benefit from the shared experience of the turbine engineering community.
The full programme is now available, with organisations presenting in 2020 to include:
- Department for Business
- Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Viridor
- World Energy Council
- SSE
- Doosan
- GE
- Siemens
and many more.
Early bird ends 26 January 2020; for full event details and to book your place please visit the event website.