Steam Turbine and Generator User Group 2023

Zamir Malik: Condition Monitoring Engineer, EDF-Energy

Zamir Malik is a Chartered Engineer and is currently working as a Mechanical Engineer in EDF Energy Central Technical Organisation, Barnwood, UK. He holds a 1st class BSc Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from UET Lahore, Pakistan. He also holds an MBA from University of Leicester, UK. He has a wealth of experience in condition monitoring and vibration analysis of major rotating machinery, and is working in this field for more than 25 years. He holds BINDT level 3 certificate in vibration analysis among many other qualifications. He has presented in different conferences and forums during last 25 years.

Emile Thomas: Senior Sales Account Manager, Edwards Ltd

Emile is a Chartered Chemical Engineer and a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with a background in pumps and fluid transport, having previously worked for several major pump companies and fluid handling consultants. He has experience in the water, construction, chemical process, petrochem and power industries. Emile has been working at Edwards for 4 years and is responsible for supporting their chemical process and power industry customers in the UK.

Lorenzo Di Grigoli: Fiel Sevrice Operations, Ansaldo

Lorenzo Di Grigoli was born in Genova (Italy) on December 29, 1992. He received the master’s degree in electrical engineering at “Scuola Politecnica - Università di Genova” in 2017. He has been working in Eng. Office of generator service dept. of Ansaldo Energia since 2017. He is involved in fact finder activities, robotic inspections, trouble shooting, preparation of Scope of Work, Inspection and Test Plan and Technical notes.

Gianfranco Martorana: Electrical Generator Expert, Ansaldo

Gianfranco Martorana was born in Rivoli (Italy) on January 8, 1976. He received the B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering at the Politecnico di Bari in 2002. He has been working as electrical generator expert in Ansaldo Energia for 15 years and he is currently leading the Eng. Office of generator service dept. He normally supports the field service activities in term of trouble shooting, planning of maintenance activities and resources. He has a strong orientation to innovation and from the beginning of his career is oriented in the developing to new methods and devices to improve the diagnostic aspect relating generators.

Howard Sedding: _, Qualitrol – Iris Power

Howard graduated in electrical and electronic engineering at the University of Strathclyde and then acquired MSc and PhD degrees. Prior to joining Qualitrol-Iris Power in January 2015, Dr. Sedding worked at the Research Division of Ontario Hydro for 28 years. He has contributed to many IEEE and IEC standards concerned with electrical insulation, rotating machines and high voltage testing. Howard has authored and co-authored more than 150 technical papers and is a co-author of the book “Condition Monitoring of Rotating Electrical Machines” published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology in 2008.

Sam Drinkwater: Technical Operations Manager, EthosEnergy

Sam is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with 17 years experience, specialising in steam turbines, their systems, auxiliaries and driven equipment, having worked for an OEM and world leading ISP in this sector.

Graham Young: Rotating Plant Specialist, EDF Energy

Grahams 31 year career in rotating plant initiated with a student apprenticeship in steam turbines at Rolls-Royce Parson’s. He started as a turbine blade-manufacturing engineer followed by development of linear friction welding technology for the Joint strike fighter lift fan. He then joined Alstom Power (Switzerland) as a turbine designer for mainframe gas turbines (GT24/26) and later in field service support for this engine type. Graham re-joined Rolls-Royce in a number of rolls including Trent 900 (A380) development and MT30 gas turbine package development for the QE carriers. In his most recent role of 12 years, he holds the position of rotating plant specialist for EDF Energy supporting the AGR and PWR UK power station fleet.

James Stagnatti: Engineering Leader, Steam Turbine and HRSG Service Engineering, GE Gas Power

James M. Stagnitti has 33 years of experience in Power Generation engineering. He currently leads the GE Gas Power Combined Cycle Steam Turbine and Heat Recovery Steam Generator Services engineering team which develops solutions to enhance and improve power plants. Previously, James was Senior Engineering Manager of Steam Turbine Design, responsible for combined cycle, fossil and nuclear steam turbine power generation and industrial applications. James has a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, USA.

Mattias Wallin: Generator Specialist, Genmag

As the owner of Genmag AB, and before that as a consultant, Mattias has worked with improving generator and turbine efficiency and lifetime. With experience from many commissionings and unit condition assessments in hydropower, Mattias has taken an extra interest in vibrations and potential causes of vibrations. He is currently spending most of his time on field windings and field winding analysis. Even though he has a background in the academic world, Mattias is happiest in a power station. He holds a Master’s in economics, MSc in mechanical engineering and a PhD in electrical engineering.

Frits Petit: Expert Engineer Vibrations & Mechanics, Engie

Frits Petit obtained a PhD in mechanical engineering at the University of Ghent. He started working at ENGIE Laborelec more than 10 years ago and developed his expertise assessing the structural integrity of different critical components with a focus on flexibility, fit for purpose and lifetime extension, this according to the existing codes and supported by finite element calculations. He has been involved in many different RCA's related to steam turbine creep-fatigue cracking and co-developed the Laborelec Rotor Stress Evaluator.

Ronny Wagner: Managing Director, REICON Wärmetechnik und Wasserchemie Leipzig GmbH

Ronny is a water treatment professional for the application of film forming amines in water - steam cycles as well as closed cooling and heating systems. He has ovr 10 years’ experience in preservation of nuclear, fossil and biomass or waste to energy power plants as well as in industrial scale boilers. As a member of the vgbe and IAPWS he has co-authored several standards for the safe application of film forming amines in power plant chemistry. As Managing Director of REICON, a German water treatment company and manufacturer of ODACON film forming amine products, Ronny strongly focusing on business development and international projects.

Matthias Svoboda: Consultant and Co-Founder, SvoBaTech AG

Michal Hoznedl: Head of Experimental Research of Flow, Doosan Skoda Power Ltd.

Matthew MacDonald: Rotating Plant Engineer, SSE

Matthew is a chartered mechanical engineer with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Durham University. He has spent the past eight years working for SSE, managing the integrity of their fleet of steam and gas turbines. His experience covers legacy plant from Alsthom, English Electric and GEC, as well as new machines from Mitsubishi, Siemens and GE. Matthew’s role involves, amongst other things, assessing damaged components, conducting root cause analyses, developing maintenance strategies, and appraising emergent technologies for new-build projects.

Phil Peel: Steam Turbine Chief Engineer, GE Steam Power

Phil Peel is the 2022/23 President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Phil has been a member of the IMechE since 1981, becoming a Fellow in 2007. His engineering career began as a student trainee with the UK Ministry of Defence in 1981. Having graduated in engineering from University College, Durham in 1985 with a B.Sc. in Engineering Science, he continued his studies to obtain a Masters in Turbomachinery in 1986. He has over 35 years of experience in the global power generation business. His career has focused on the development and design of large steam turbines, being based initially in Rugby, UK with GEC Turbine Generators and subsequently Alstom Power. Relocating to Switzerland in 2001, he led the development of new steam turbine technologies, advancing to the position of Chief Engineer in 2012, which he now holds with the current company owner, General Electric. His journey as IMechE volunteer started as a UK school liaison officer in the 1990s through the Engineering Council Neighbourhood Engineers Scheme. He was instrumental in launching the IMechE Switzerland Group in 2010, taking the position of country Chair from 2011 to 2016, and was a member of both the International Strategy Board from 2013 to 2016 and the Strategic Advisory Board in 2016. He has been a Trustee since 2016, initially as the International Ordinary Member and subsequently as a Vice President from 2018.

Michael Binder: Senior Sales Manager, GE

Michael started his career at Alstom Power in Mannheim in 2003 as a Generator Design Engineer after he graduated as mechanical engineer at the university of applied science in Mannheim. His career was always focused on generators mainly on BBC/ABB technology. After working as a project engineering manager for larger retrofit projects he took over the lead of the global generator fleet management team for BBC/ABB technology. After 15 years in generator engineering he joined the product sales department, responsible for large tenders for generators and synchronous condenser projects in the Central Europe region.

Andrew Laycock: Rotating Equipment Engineer, Sulzer

Christoph Gerber: Head of Product Management and Marketing, GE Steam Power – New Nuclear

Christoph Gerber is leading the Product Management & Global Marketing team within GE, responsible for the global nuclear fleet for New Build and Service. He graduated at the ETH Zürich in 2002, receiving a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He has over 20 years of experience in the global power generation business, focusing on the design of steam turbines for nuclear, coal and industrial applications. Starting as a mechanical engineering in 2003 at Alstom Power, he developed into project management, leading global teams of project and portfolio managers, having the PMP certificate. From 2019 onwards he was leading product management teams, responsible for the product portfolio for fossil and nuclear power plants in the Service and New Build business.

Andreas Hinterthan: Engineer, RWE

David Henry: Engineer, Siemens-Energy

Andrew Robson: Technical Expert, Siemens-Energy

Andrew Robson joined NEI Parsons as a Technical Apprentice in 1990 before leaving in 1997 and later joining Siemens Energy in 2007. Within Siemens Energy, Andrew has held roles in Project Execution, Bid Management and Solution Development concentrating on Mods & Ups, O&M and Digitalisation. Recently he has focused on looking at how Fossil Assets will operate around renewable energy, what solutions can be integrated to maintain competitiveness and meet the demands of Net Zero.

Tony Croucher: Technical Services Manager, Quartzelec Ltd

David Boyd-Smith: Asset Manager, Suez

David is an engineer with over 20 years industrial experience, largely in the power generation and waste management industries. After graduating, he started his career in steam turbines at Alstom Power where he worked for 8 years, predominantly in site repair and maintenance services. For the past nine years he has worked for SUEZ Recycling & Recovery in the Energy from Waste division. He has held positions in Site Operations, Asset Management and Technical Team. David currently holds the position of Technical Manager and is responsible for the strategic maintenance of rotating equipment.

Chirag Patel: Operations Manager, General Division, MD&A

David Tarrant: Generator Specialist, Sebenzana APP

David is a professionally registered Power Electrical Engineer with over 33 years’ experience in the field of large generators. The bulk of his experience is with condition assessment and maintenance of machines in South Africa, including all of Eskom’s 48,000 MW fleet, ranging in size from a few MW to over 1000MW nuclear units. He has also worked on large machines in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Europe, and all over Africa. David is a Senior Member of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers, and an Expert member of CIGRE.

Gareth Hughes: Senior Engineering Specialist, FM Global

After graduating from The University of Manchester in 1999, Gareth Hughes joined the Royal Navy as a Marine Engineer Officer and served on a wide range of platforms from patrol craft to aircraft carriers. Leaving as the lead test and trials officer for the Type 23 Flotilla in 2015 he then joined FM Global as a Fire and Natural Hazards engineer. After cross training to a Boiler and Machinery Hazards engineer he has now specialised in the high hazard Power Generation stream servicing a variety of sites across the UK and Europe. He is a Chartered Engineer with the IMarEST.

Pascal  Decoussemaeker: Product Manager, GE Steam Power / Infosys

Pascal has acquired a MSc degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Ghent. He has more than 30 years of experience in the power generation industry. During his career at ABB-Alstom-GE-Infosys, he has had various roles in commissioning, operation & maintenance, development and product management, both for combined cycle power plants, as well as for steam power plants. In his present role, he is responsible for the development and implementation of an offering of asset life management support services for steam turbines and generators. Pascal is based in Baden (Switzerland).

Alastair Miller: _, EDF Energy

Pal Galik: Power Industry Specialist, Business development Manager, Europe, Emerson Automation Solutions

Pal holds a Master degree in Mechanical Engineering from Technical University of Budapest, Hungary. He joined Emerson Hungarian Sales Office in 2005 as a control valve inside sales engineer. In 2008 successfully applied for Power Application Engineer Europe role and re-located to Chatham UK, to support European sales organization with difficult control valve problems. In the last 12 years, in his current role he’s been visiting Power Plants across Europe, analysing control valve related problems from frequent maintenance needs to difficult controllability and finding solutions to improve. He is a regular presenter at the European HRSG Forum.

Tristian Vye: Consultant, Frazer-Nash Consultancy

Tristan is a Consultant at Frazer-Nash who specialises in hydrogen safety in Gas Turbine Enclosures. Tristan sits on ETN and ISO committees for Gas Turbine Enclosure Safety, specifically looking at the implications of moving to hydrogen as a fuel. He has authored papers on the topic, using computational

David Henery: Principal Engineer, Siemens-Energy

Dave Henery joined NEI Parsons in 1986 as a graduate apprentice from Nottingham University. His initial design experience covered steam valves, hydraulics and controls, followed by design roles for the Siemens New Apparatus fleet. For the last 20 years he has held various engineering roles for steam turbine upgrade projects, including approximately 10 years as a Section Manager for Newcastle Modernisation Engineering. Most recently he was the Technical Project Lead for the Barrel HP turbine retrofits at Drax Power Station, followed by the conversion of the Killingholme Steam Turbine Generators to Synchronous Condensers.

Gabriele Porta: Steam Turbine Service Engineer, Ansaldo Energia

Born in Genova (Italy) on February 2, 1989. Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering - Design and Production cum laude in 2014. Qualification of International and European Welding Engineer (IWE/EWE) from 2015. Welding Simulation Engineer at ESI Italia from 04/2014 to 05/2017. Working in Ansaldo Energia from 05/2017 as steam turbine service engineer and welding coordinator. Support for scheduled and non-scheduled maintenance activities for OEM and non-OEM steam turbine technology from the offer phase till the work execution with roles of BID Engineering & Service / Field Engineering as main activities.

Luca Corso: Head of ST Service Engineering Dept. and Field, Ansaldo Energia

Born in Savona (Italy) on December 7, 1977. Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering cum laude in 2003. Working in Ansaldo Energia for more than 18 years since 2004. Experience in assessment, troubleshooting and root cause analysis (as team coordinator). Leading the steam turbine service engineering team since 2012 and field execution since 2020

Alex Niciecki: Systems Engineering Team Leader, Beran Instruments

Alex Niciecki is a Chartered Engineer who joined Beran Instruments in July 2021 as Product Owner and a Systems Engineering Team Leader for the Industrial Product family. Before Alex joined Beran he spent over 15 years working as a Systems Engineer in both the Aerospace and Maritime Defence sectors, developing safety critical, life-saving products. Alex is passionate about developing safe, highly reliable, and novel products that meet the demands of our customers.

Hitoshi Katayama: Engineer, Toshiba Energy Systems and Solutions Corporation

Yuichiro Gunji: Engineer, Toshiba Energy Systems and Solutions Corporation

Dr. Ian Golightly: Senior Controls Engineer, BRUSH PowerGen

Will Machin: Chief Design Engineer, Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd.

Will Machin: Chief Design Engineer, Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd

Tom Ison: Electrical Engineer, Sulzer Services UK