COVER STORY ABOVE AND BEYOND
In July 2021, PPSPower was awarded a contract by National Grid to deliver specialist power services at a gas compressor station in Felindre, near Swansea in South Wales. Here the company talks to Tomorrow’s FM about the scope of its work on the project and the pride it takes delivering outstanding customer service for every client.
PPSPower is a national provider of back-up generator and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies) service, maintenance, repair and installation solutions.
Founded in 1956, the company has this year celebrated 65 years of trading. During that time it has grown steadily and is now the trusted partner for a range of high-profile clients from a variety of industry sectors throughout the UK.
The formula for success at PPSPower is simple: a positive approach to customer service, staff care and delivering the right skill sets to the right job and location, wherever required.
In modern buildings, most emergency power systems have been and are still based on generators. Like any mechanical device, they need a regular servicing, maintenance or upgrading to ensure they remain reliable – as a drop in power can be catastrophic.
PPSPower ensures businesses can continue to operate as usual, even when there’s a serious issue with their back- up power equipment. That was the case for the National Grid during late the summer of 2021.
A rapid solution delivered in South
Wales In July 2021, PPSPower announced that it had been contracted by National Grid to deliver specialist power services at the gas compressor station in Felindre, near Swansea in South Wales.
The site is part of the South Wales Gas Pipeline – the UK’s largest high-pressure gas pipeline, which was constructed to help meet the UK’s future energy needs. Starting from the compressor station at Felindre, the 197- mile pipeline runs to Corse, near Tirley in Gloucestershire, where it connects with the existing gas pipeline network.
Scope of work PPSPower mobilised a team to the site in South Wales, where engineers replaced an alternator on the 1,500kVa generator, which sustained serious damage when it shut down immediately following the activation of a heat detector during a load test.
PPSPower removed the generator’s exhaust at the gas compressor station in Felindre and provided a suitable crane to lift the complete generator onto transport, with delivery to PPSPower’s base in Sherburn-in-Elmet on the outskirts of Leeds.
From here, its team carried out the following works: • Replacing the alternator, which included:
24 | TOMORROW’S FM • Replacing existing MCCBs and installing new ACBs.
• Installing new power cables, including HDG ladder racking cable containment.
• Delivering, off-loading and positioning a 1350kW permanent load bank to automatically apply ‘dummy load’ when the generator is lightly loaded during a mains power supply outage.
• Performing a health check of the engine control module and engine, including a full performance history.
• Carrying out a steam clean and pressure wash of the exterior of the generator canopy and exhaust. After removing rust from the exterior of this area, heat- resistant paint was applied.
PPSPower also supplied, delivered and off-loaded a Tofoco 500 Series enclosure onto a pre-cast concrete plinth; and replaced fuel pipes, fuel feed and return pipework between the bulk fuel tank and the generator day tank.
Recommendations As the existing engine control panel (DSE 5310) was showing signs of beginning to fail, PPSPower recommended that a new control panel be manufactured with a DSE 7420. This would see PPSPower’s engineers downloading the software from the existing DSE 5310 prior to replacement. Once the new DSE 7420 was installed, they would then manually upload the saved ‘flash file’ settings to the new unit – to ensure seamless operation.
On completion of the works, PPSPower’s engineers carried out a full demonstration of the system, including a two-hour load bank test at our workshop. This load bank test was repeated on site.
Following this, PPSPower delivered the generator to the gas compressor station in Felindre, fitting it back in its original position, and refitting the exhaust.
Speaking about the project at Felindre, South Wales, PPSPower’s Managing Director Stephen Peal said: “We were delighted to work with National Grid on a project that saw PPSPower replace a heavily damaged alternator on their 1500kVA generator. This enabled the operation to return to full capacity.
“National Grid does a great deal of essential work in transporting gas within the UK via its pipeline network. To do this efficiently takes a huge amount of strategic planning, with support from a large supply chain. We are proud to be
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