Bolivia’s GE Turbine Back to Bulo Bulo Plant after Maintenance in Houston

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Maintenance employees at Bolivia’s Bulo Bulo thermal plant have confirmed that Unit 1 could go back online October 18, 2007, after getting it back from repairs after a 120-day major maintenance outage. On June 10, the unit went offline after reaching 50,000 operating hours. The LM600 PC aeroderivative General Electric turbine was sent to Houston, Texas, to be repaired by the General Electric.

General Electric (NYSE:GE) officials said they fixed a leak at the turbine’s seal, which was causing an oil spill at the compressor’s pressurized spaces. The turbine has already arrived at the 90-megawatt (MW) thermal plant located in Carrasco City.

The next overhaul at the 45-MW gas-fired turbine will take place in approximately four or five years after the unit reaches another 50,000 operating hours.

In August 2008, another overhaul will be held at Unit 2 for approximately 90 days. Officials at Bulo Bulo are analyzing GE's proposals, which consist of carrying on the repairs on site or shipping the turbine to Houston, such as in Unit 1. A third alternative is to replace the GE turbine for another one with the same number of operating hours.

Termoelectrica Bulo Bulo began commercial operations in 1991 and is owned by Chaco S.A’s Compañía Eléctrica Central Bulo Bulo. The plant supplies 10% of the energy required by the National Interconnected System (SIC).

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