Combined Cycle Power Plant Fundamentals

April 15-16, 2025 | Online :: Central Time

0425-combined-cycle

The fossil fuel industry is facing new challenges, including the need to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. In response to these challenges, many organizations are considering the placement and development of new combined cycle plants. However, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding among industry professionals regarding the operation and advantages of combined cycle technology, as well as the chemistry of heat and energy involved in these plants, hindering the effective implementation of these plants.

This course will highlight the following topics:

• Basics of energy, water chemistry, and plant equipment
• Combustion and steam turbines
• HRSG
• Emissions control
• Balancing of plant equipment
• Operations, maintenance, and safety

Register today to gain a comprehensive understanding of how combined cycle plants function efficiently. Groups of five or more get discounts starting at 15% off!

Learning Outcomes

• Discuss basic concepts of the plant cycle, namely conversion of chemical energy to electricity
• Examine how a combined cycle power plant works together to produce energy
• Identify components of a heat recovery steam generator and how they work together to produce steam energy
• Review basic components of a steam turbine and how the turbine transforms steam energy from the heat recovery steam generator into mechanical energy
• Review basic components of an electrical switchyard and how it works to transmit electrical energy into the electrical transmission and distribution systems outside of the power plant
• Review the operation and maintenance of a combined cycle plant

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 : Central Time

Power Plant Concepts

• Examples of power plants
• Basic energy concepts
• Heat and energy
• Work and heat in power plants

Chemistry

• Basic water chemistry
• First law of thermodynamics
• Input = output at steady state
• Natural gas combustion
• Stoichiometry
• Excess air
• Heating value

Combined Cycle Plant Equipment

• Basic plant equipment
• Combustion turbine
• HRSG
• Steam turbine
• Cycle efficiency
• Equipment arrangement

Gas Turbines

• Types
• How they work
• Applications
• Components
• Flow paths

Heat Recovery Steam Generator

• Description and functions of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG)
• Types and configurations of HRSGs
• How an HRSG produces steam
• Components of an HRSG
• Design considerations
• Fabrication considerations

Steam Turbines

• Impulse and reaction turbines
• Turbine classifications, designations, and arrangements
• Technology advances
• Overview of steam turbine components
• Steam flow control
• Rotors
• Casings
• Bearings
• Blades
• Seals

Wednesday, April 16, 2025 : Central Time

Electrical Systems and Generators

• Example line diagrams
• VAR control
• Electrical equipment
• AC generators
• Switchgear
• Step-up transformers
• Emergency equipment

Emissions Control  

• Gas turbine emission pollutants 
• Emissions control technologies and applications 
• Dry low NOx burners 
• Water injection 
• Steam injection 
• Frame and aeroderivative engines

Balance of Plant Equipment

• Equipment in the cycle diagram
• Pumps
• Cooling systems
• Fuel supply
• Water supply
• Electrical supply
• Fire protection

Water Treatment, Instrumentation, and Controls

• Water treatment systems
• Instrumentation
• Main control systems and interlocks

Maintenance

• Gas turbine maintenance
• Steam turbine maintenance
• Generator maintenance

Operations

• Gas turbine operations
• Steam turbine operations
• Generator operations

Safety

• Lockout Tagout (LOTO)
• Confined space

Review

John Baker, Utilities Generation Plant Manager, City of Riverside

John has acted as the City of Riverside’s Generation Plant Manager for over 12 years and was the O&M Manager at Calpine for 11 years prior. Over his 20+ year career, John has become skilled in all things inspection, maintenance management, preventative maintenance, project planning and management, workplace safety, troubleshooting, engineering, and more. He is involved in the SCPPA Generation Group, Combined Cycle Users Group, and Western Turbine Users, Inc., studied at the Universal Technical Institute, and is a Certified Utility Safety Professional.

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Combined Cycle Power Plant Fundamentals

April 15-16, 2025 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before March 14, 2025 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 1.0 CEUs for this event.

Verify our IACET accreditation

Who recognizes IACET Credits?

Instructional Methods

Case studies, PowerPoint presentations and group discussion will be used in this event.

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must sign in/out each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit

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Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 11.5
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who Should Attend 

• New employees who work at or deal with combined cycle power plants
• Generation dispatchers who need a basic understanding of combined cycle power plant operation
• Regulators, communications staff, and others who need a basic understanding of combined cycle power plant operations
• Administrative or management support professionals who need a better understanding of combined cycle power plants to plan and implement projects
• Corporate accountants who desire a better understanding of combined cycle power plant operations and the factors that can affect operating costs
• Sales professionals who must understand combined cycle power plant operations to better serve customers