Condenser Issues Force Planta Centro Offline

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Latin America's largest thermal plant, Planta Centro Complex, is offline because its five 400-megawatt generating units are undergoing maintenance. Unit 2 tripped offline early January 11, 2008, after a crack in a water-circulation pump in the vacuum. The plant's maintenance division began repairs in the water-circulating pump. Maintenance is expected to be complete on January 26, 2008.

Unit 4 went offline December 31, 2007, after a crack in the condenser led to chloride contamination in the thermal cycle. The maintenance division began hydraulic testing on the condenser on January 2, 2008. During the test, engineers discovered cracks in the upper part of the condenser expansion joint. The unit was scheduled to go online January 20, 2008.

Unit 3 continues to be offline since June 2007 after the generator failed because of a detached blade in the hydrogen-cooling ventilator, causing cracks in the primary water system's hoses. For details, view related September 12, 2007, article - Planta Centro Forced to Shut Two of Five Generators for Repairs.

On January 10, 2008, tests were conducted to evaluate the air seal's tightness. There are some issues concerning the maintenance division delaying the return of the unit. Plant authorities hope to bring the unit back online by January 23, 2008.

Units 1 and 5 are also unavailable, undergoing conversions in their main boilers to gas, a process which is scheduled to be completed by May 2008.

Planta Centro, in Carabobo State, is equipped with five generating units that use natural gas and fuel oil as fuel. Unit 2 was converted to dual-fuel capability and was in the process of converting the remaining boilers.

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