Operation & Maintenance of Power Plants
online at full function. Without power from the generator, the plant’s owners were forced to purchase expensive energy directly from the National Grid in order to power the facility. Because of the maintenance
Fig. 2. The continued function of equipment in power generation plants is all the more important because of the stringent health and safety criteria and environmental consideration.
GE Power Systems required 10 cooling tower motors to be overhauled in order to provide vital maintenance. Tis was a planned project in order to avoid the motors failing in the future which would prevent the cooling towers from functioning – an outcome that could have disastrous consequences. Te work involved removing the motors from the site to Deritend’s specialist facilities and reinstalling them once the overhaul had been completed. Previous to contacting Deritend, the motors and gearboxes were the responsibility of different departments. Tis in turn meant using two separate contractors to undertake the work. By taking on both elements, Deritend worked simultaneously on both motors and gearboxes, which offered significant time and cost savings as well as minimising disruption to the plant’s ongoing function.
Te amount of health and safety documentation
required was reduced, simplifying the administrative process. Tis was the first time that such a service had been offered for this type of work and the client was able to reap the benefits with significant financial and administrative savings, ensuring that the vital energy generation at Baglan Bay can continue unhindered.
Coryton refinery At Coryton, a strategic maintenance programme has also been put in place. Deritend worked at the refinery between 2005 and 2012, providing a range of onsite maintenance and repair services for electrical and mechanical equipment. Once again, a strategic maintenance programme helped to ensure safety while minimising downtime and need for repair. Te example of Coryton highlights how, when equipment failure does occur, having that strategic programme in place can help to fix the problem and restore function as quickly and efficiently as possible. When a 5MW generator failed it had to be repaired quickly, efficiently and safely for the plant to remain
programme, Deritend’s engineers identified the problem and quickly determined the best solution. Te generator was removed from the plant and fully repaired off site, working 24/7 in three operations at Luton, Wolverhampton and the Pre-Formed Windings facilities in Sheffield. Tis was done in parallel to reduce lead time, so the generator could be returned and
installed in full working order as soon as possible.
Te benefits of planned maintenance in both of these examples are
clear.By taking a proactive approach, downtime was minimised and at of Coryton, when equipment did fail, it was possible to isolate and resolve the issue quickly.
An holistic approach Trough a strategic maintenance approach it is possible not just to maintain equipment and plant function, but also to improve and enhance it. As part of an asset management programme, analysing data and applying intelligence to improve performance, plant managers can bring increased performance and also provide efficiencies in terms of energy consumption. By monitoring assets 24/7, plant managers and engineers can learn exactly how equipment is working, planning ahead for necessary maintenance and spotting where failure might be imminent. As shown by the examples of Coryton
and Baglan Bay, strategic maintenance programmes can have significant benefits for power plants in terms of cost efficiency and smooth running but can also help safeguard against health and safety and environmental failures. At a time when the industry is under pressure to deliver against so many different requirements, all plant managers should be considering this simple process to protect and preserve their assets. ●
Richard Hale is Managing Director of Deritend Industries, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK.
www.deritend.co.uk
www.engineerlive.com 23
“The maintenance of motors and pumps, in particular, can be carried out quickly and efficiently through a planned programme, without major disruption to the ongoing function of the plant.”
Richard Hale, Managing Director, Deritend Industries
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