Power and ElectricalPower Plant Performance, Efficiency and Optimisation
A percentage point of heat rate on a generating unit is worth more each year than most maintenance budgets, and it is usually lost gradually to causes nobody is measuring. This course covers finding and recovering it. Delegates work through thermodynamic cycle performance and the calculation of heat rate, performance testing to a recognised standard, and the component level assessment of boiler, turbine, condenser and feedwater heating that locates a loss. Degradation mechanisms are covered alongside the operating decisions that affect efficiency in daily practice. The course closes on the economics: valuing a recoverable loss, building the case for the work, and monitoring so the recovery holds.
Course objectives
- Calculate heat rate and assess thermodynamic cycle performance
- Conduct a performance test to a recognised standard
- Locate a loss through component level assessment
- Assess boiler, turbine, condenser and feedwater heater performance
- Identify degradation mechanisms and their rate
- Recognise the operating decisions that move efficiency daily
- Value a recoverable loss and build the case for the work
Who should attend
- Power plant performance and process engineers
- Operations and shift engineers
- Maintenance and reliability engineers in generation
- Plant managers and technical directors
- Independent power producer technical staff
Course outline
- 01Cycle performance and heat rate
- 02Performance testing to a recognised standard
- 03Component level loss location
- 04Boiler and combustion performance
- 05Turbine performance and degradation
- 06Condenser and feedwater heater performance
- 07Operating decisions that affect efficiency daily
- 08Valuing a loss, funding the work and monitoring the recovery
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 to 18 September 2026 | Nairobi, Kenya | Classroom | R11,995 per delegate | Register Now |
| 20 to 24 October 2026 | Gaborone, Botswana | Classroom | R11,995 per delegate | Register Now |
| 26 to 30 October 2026 | Maseru, Lesotho | Classroom | R11,995 per delegate | Register Now |
| 14 to 18 November 2026 | Cape Town, South Africa | Classroom | R11,995 per delegate | Register Now |
| 10 to 14 December 2026 | Durban, South Africa | Classroom | R11,995 per delegate | Register Now |