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Track 1: Power Plant Performance & Profitability

1A: Strategic Outage Management to Create a Proactive Plant

We will discuss preventive practices, coordination of outage activities, and application of advanced measurement tools that help improve outage management. Standard practices often fall short for facilities because they don’t foresee errors caused by dynamic problems, leading to costly complications and lost production. Hear specifics about how plants have seen a decrease in urgent work requests and an increase in work management and planned/scheduled activities by changing their approach from reactive to preventive. Chair: Keith W. Morris, P.Eng., Retired, Doosan Power Systems Co-Chair: Merrill A. Jones, Sr. Director Business Development, Day & Zimmermann Speakers: Minnkota Power Cooperative Improves Work Management, Planning and Scheduling Abstract Craig Bleth, Plant Engineer, Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc. Co-Author(s): Wally Wilson, Senior Subject Matter Expert, Life Cycle Engineering Inc.   Jeffery Energy Center SNCR and Smartburn Installation – A Case Study of a Fast Track Environmental Project Abstract Geoff Greene, Director, Tecumseh Energy Center, Westar Energy   Proactive Shop Strategy to Avoid Field Balancing after a Major Outage Abstract Zlatan Racic, Director-Owner, Z-R Consulting Co-Author(s): Marin Racic, Senior Engineer, Z-R Consulting

1B: Are Turbine-Generator Upgrades the Key to Performance and Profitability?

This session addresses both steam and gas turbine-generators and covers process changes and modifications that improve operation and optimize efficiency. Additionally, project examples will be cited that demonstrate how heat rate improvement can be achieved so you’re compliant with the CO2 emissions reduction guidelines recently established by the EPA. Chair: Mike Harbison, President, M E H & Associates, LLC Co-Chair: Jeffrey Fassett, President, IEM Energy Consultants Speakers: Specific Upgrades for Specific Needs Abstract David Ferns, Engineer, Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. Co-Author(s): Keita Fujii, Senior Engineer, Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. Katsuhiko Abe, Engineering Manager, Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc.   Industrial Steam Turbine Upgrades and Modifications to Optimize Efficiency with Changed Process Steam Conditions Abstract Pat Thornton, Plant Thermodynamics and Modeling Engineer, Alstom Power   Improving Performance and Achieving Heat Rate Reductions at Coal Fired Power Plants through Steam Turbine-Generator Modernizations Abstract Rob Bursch, Marketing Specialist, Siemens Co-Author(s): Michael Smiarowski, Manager, Steam Turbine Modernization, Siemens Energy, Inc.

1C: Overcoming Outage Management

A review of current approaches to outage management with explanations of their shortcomings and benefits will be discussed before real world case studies are revealed, focusing on which processes and programs need to be implemented to reduce outage challenges. Experts will share tips on how to improve human performance and streamline work control process to reduce downtime. Chair: Merrill A. Jones, Sr. Director Business Development, Day & Zimmermann Co-Chair: Keith W. Morris, P.Eng., Retired, Doosan Power Systems Speaker: Challenges of Outage Management and the Pursuit of Continuous Improvement Abstract Malcolm Hubbard, Chief Operating Officer, ep3, LLC   Human Performance & Process Improvement through LOTO Automation Abstract Bryan Gay, Director of Software Delivery, Champs Software, Inc.

1D: Increase Reliability and Profitability while Adapting Maintenance to Changing Market Demands

Reliability is as important as ever, but most of us have more challenges and less budget than ever. Hear experts share how they’ve prioritized maintenance activities, created and optimized an Asset Management Plan (AMP), and used analytics to increase reliability and profitability. Presentations will be followed by an open panel discussion on adapting maintenance to the changing market demands on today’s operating fleet with a Q&A at the end. Chair: Rick Wheeler, Executive Director, Life Cycle Engineering Inc. Co-Chair: Jonathan Long, V.P., Project Management, Entergy Services, Inc. Speakers: The Increased Cost of Cycling Operations at Combined Cycle Power Plants Abstract Douglas Hilleman, P.E,, Principal Engineeer, Intertek-AIM Co-Author(s): NIKHIL KUMAR, SYSTEMS ANALYST, Aptech Engineering Services Inc   More Challenges, Less Budget – Using Adaptive Planning Analytics to Prioritize Maintenance Activities Abstract Una Nowling, P.E., M.Sc., Technology Leader for Fuels, Combustion, and Efficiency, Black & Veatch Co-Author(s): Kevin Jennison, FUEL SERVICE AREA, Black & Veatch Management Consulting

1E: How Big Data, New Technologies & Preemptive Measures Improve Plant Performance

Learn new performance and efficiency improvements that address changes in plant duty cycles and environmental compliance. Methods, lessons learned, and results will be shared that help with the increasing challenges to maintain operational efficiency and adopt new technology using internal resources. For example, hear how Xcel Energy used “Big Data” to bring radical transformation to their fleet and how Luminant enabled their plant operators to take preemptive measures to stay out ahead of potential challenges. Chair: Michael D. Morris, P.E., Executive Consultant, Independent Consultant Co-Chair: Frank Andracchi, PE, Energy Industry Executive, Independent Consultant Speakers: Advanced Monitoring & Diagnostics - Experience at Luminant and the Benefits of Industry Collaboration Abstract Clinton Carter, Director, Marketing, Sales, Government Relations, Luminant   Improving Technical Competency in Power Plants Abstract Matt Zuehls, PE, Associate Vice President, HDR Inc. Co-Author(s): Bob Moss, Senior Partner / COO, Synterprise, LLC Steve MIlls, VP Energy Supply Operations, Xcel Energy   Driving Efficiency Improvement in Coal Plants: A Response to the Clean Power Plan Abstract Dave Brill, Vice President, Black & Veatch   Continuous Performance Assurance at Budget Constrained Power Plants Abstract Rodrigo Camargos, Process Optimization Engineer, Primex Process Specialists, Inc Co-Author(s): STEVEN DICARLO, PROJECTS GENERAL MANAGER, Power Plant Management Services, LLC Stewart Nicholson, President, Primex

1F: Heed Lessons Learned and Operate at Peak Performance during Outages

With continued pressure to improve generating plant financial performance there comes increased need to maximize the value achieved in the limited time available for outages. This panel discussion brings industry practitioners who will discuss their experiences and recommendations in execution of generating plant outage maintenance. Invited speakers from: Longview Power, KCP&L, TransAlta, Entergy, Westar, and Eskom Chair: Phillip Webster, Retired, Independent Consultant Co-Chair: Jeffrey Fassett, President, IEM Energy Consultants Panelist: Josh Newman, I&C/Electrical Maintenance Manager, Westar Energy   Robert Breedlove, Fleet Maintenance Manager Combined Cycle Generation, Entergy   Nick Slappy, Vice President of Safety and Resource Management, Southern Company Gas

1G: Three Building Blocks for Quick ROI in the Face of Challenge

Get up to speed on the latest trends and best practices for application in power plants to improve performance through process control, plant systems and instrumentation, and filtration management. The demands on the average plant operator have evolved the past 20 years, and the industry has seen a recent paradigm shift to better leverage technological advancements. This session will deliver a practical building block approach to achieve a quick return on investment no matter what your challenge or environment. Chair: Mr. Robert Norton, Director of Business Development, Saulsbury Industries Co-Chair: Jeffrey Fassett, President, IEM Energy Consultants Speakers: New Trends in Advanced Process Control and Impact on Power Generation Operations Abstract William Poe, Sr. Principal Technical Consultant, Schneider Electic Software   Enhancing inlet pulse systems for performance improvement in harsh environments Abstract Dan Burch, Product Marketing Leader, CLARCOR Industrial Air Co-Author(s): Brad Kippel, Principal Engineer – Global Mechanical Systems, GE Power & Water Tim Nicholas, Team Leader – Aftermarket & Services, CLARCOR Industrial Air   Flue Gas Humidity Measurement - Combined Cycle Plant Benefits Abstract Jeff Bossong, Operations Manager, Humidity 2 Optimization   High Performance HMI Design Abstract Bob Kanel, Technology Manager, Operator Effectiveness and Simulation Solution, ABB

* - This speaker has been invited to speak at ELECTRIC POWER 2016, but is not yet confirmed.