Ring Power’s Power Systems Division was recently contracted by Bechtel Power Corporation to perform what is known as a loop test for the turbine generators at the Florida Power and Light (FP&L) power plant in St. Lucie, Florida.
This particular FP&L location is currently a two-unit nuclear power plant. The loop test will allow Siemens to log "hot spots" in the turbine generators so their stator can be rewound to increase the electricity output from 1,000 MVA to 1,200 MVA.
The test involves multiple rental power components: a 4,160 volt single-phase power supply, (3) two-megawatt generators that are paralleled together for a load share, a 5,000 kVA step up transformer and a 1,200 AMP/ 5,000 kVA disconnect switch with a remote 120 volt shunt trip.
In addition, due to the unbalanced load of using only a single phase, an 800 kW unit is used solely to power the radiator cooling fans on the operating units.
Ring Power will have to apply the 4,160 volt single-phase power to the loop test coil without causing a spike in electricity. The power has to ramp up slowly and supply a minimum 258 Amperes with a power factor rating of only 0.25.
Using the exact same equipment needed for the turbine generator test at FP&L, generator technicians Rick Doyle and Danny Brown performed a pre-test at Ring Power’s Orlando facility on December 8, 2010. Bechtel Power personnel attended the pre-test and were impressed with the technicians’ demonstration.
Doyle and Brown were able to purposely trip one of the two-meg units off-line, causing the other two generators to seamlessly assume the load. The tripped generator was then brought back on-line without a hitch.
Ring Power Generator representatives were extremely pleased with the results, "We are proud to say we not only met the specification requirements, but we were able to exceed them with a power supply over 300 Amps and a power factor of 0.183." Congratulations Power Systems on exceeding Bechtel Power Corporation’s expectations and once again making their needs your "Customers First" priority.
Headquartered in St Augustine, Florida with branch locations in Brooksville, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake City, Ocala, Orlando, Palm Bay, Tallahassee and Tampa. Ring Power Systems provides new and used marine and industrial engines, diesel generator sets, air compressors, temperature control and other power equipment.