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An Update from Weld Australia’s Technology Networks
Weld Australia’s Technology Networks provide a forum for technology transfer and research and development, linking members with industry and research organisations. Weld Australia works with Technology Network members to ensure they remain diverse and resilient in the ever-changing and increasingly challenging global markets.
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Power Generation Process Safety Group Weld Australia’s Power Generation Technology Network met recently, with representatives from AGL, Alinta, Aurecon, CS Electricity, Delta Electricity, Origin Energy, Energy Australia, Stanwell, Synergy and Weld Australia in attendance.
Lara Kayess (Manager, Asset Management, Aurecon) is facilitating an audit with each member of the Power Generation Technology Network to establish a baseline of Process Safety Management systems. A 40-question survey, based on an OECD questionnaire, has been developed. The survey questions have been built into an MS form with a selection of drop-down responses. An accompanying introductory pack has also been developed to introduce the Weld Australia Process Safety Group, outline the reasons for the survey and the benefits to a company in doing the survey. Kayess provided an update on the audit progress. A number of businesses have completed, or agreed to complete the survey.
The Group is in the process of establishing an Incident Database. The objective of the Database is to share safety events and the learnings arising from these events that have a broader industry concern. It was agreed that members of the Group will trial the Database tool for efficiency and ease of use.
The Group is also producing a series of Good Practice Guides. The first two guides to be produced were the Guideline for Safety Critical Elements and a Guideline for Reporting Process Safety Incidents for the Electricity Industry. These two documents have been circulated for review and are currently underway.
Power Generation Boiler Group Held at the end of April, the Power Generation Boiler Group meeting was attended by over 60 people. There were representatives from AGL, Alinta, ALS Global, ANSTO, Delta Electricity, Greenview Strategic Consulting, HRL, LaserBond, Quest Integrity, Stanwell, Synergy, Uniper and Weld Australia.
The meeting was kicked off by Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia). Geoff gave attendees an overview of Weld Australia’s recent activities. According to Geoff, there has been significant growth in certification, with 70 companies to be certified to AS/NZS ISO 3834 by close of the year, and increases in EN 15085 and DIN 2303 certification.
Geoff detailed the move to online training for courses such as the IWS, IWT and IWE, as well as Weld Australia’s work on the Advanced Welder Training Centres (AWTC), with new AWTCs commissioned for Victorian Correctional Services and South Metro TAFE.
Attendees then heard from several expert industry speakers. Mehdi Soodi (who recently joined LaserBond as their Technical Sales Manager) gave a presentation about LaserBond, opportunities for reclamation and their new surface engineering technologies, such as E-CLAD. Yun Tian (Lead Asset Engineer, Synergy) gave an overview of Synergy’s flexible operations program and low load tests that were carried out at Collie Power Station.
Terry Houston (Asset Engineer Mechanical, CS Energy) outlined CS Energy’s response both from a plant and people perspective to the changing energy market drivers. He also outlined CS Energy’s experience with anodamine dosing, their igniter upgrade project and plant tuning.
Wayne Hill (Asset Manager Boilers, Delta Electricity) gave an overview of boiler risks at low load operation and strategies to mitigate the risks. Methods to assess boiler combustion stability were reviewed together with an example of boiler combustion optimisation for low load operation undertaken at Mt. Piper.
Russell Coade (Principal Engineer, HRL) outlined the scope of a proposed project: Effect of cycling on boiler remnant life, location of failures and optimisation of monitoring, inspection and instrumentation.
Simon Vanderzalm (Senior Consultant, Greenview Strategic Consulting) gave an update on NEM, including the transition to renewables, the downward trends in pricing as a result, the impact of rooftop solar on demand during the day and factors influencing the current changes in the market.
Dave Potter (Managing Director, Uniper) gave an overview of Uniper and presented a case study on the continuous optimisation of flexible operations at Ratcliffe Power Station focussing on operator cultural changes and what was achieved during the winter of 2020-2021.
Finally, Bruce Cannon (Principal Welding Engineer, Weld Australia) gave a brief update on Standards.
The Benefits of Technology Network Membership
• A confidential forum for discussing issues with peers • A unified body that advocates for change among industry clients • Advantageous access to technical advice and engineering support • The opportunity to benchmark against industry best practice • A conduit between industry and research organisations • Beneficial nationally and internationally accredited training • Cost effective certification products and services • Collaborative sharing of resources and services for repair options in accordance with Australian and international standards • Opportunities to influence Australian Standards, contract terms and specifications • Opportunity to participate in research and development projects • Technology transfer and networking via industry specific forums Contact Alistair Forbes (National Manager Corporate Businesses, Weld Australia) on a.forbes@weldaustralia.com.au for details.
