Venezuela's Planta Centro Derated to 190 Megawatts after Equipment Failure in Three Units

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The Plant Centro Complex, one of Latin America's largest thermal plants, has been derated to 190 megawatts (MW) from a total of 2,000 MW after three of its five units experienced equipment failure. The plant, located in Carabobo, is owned by Compania Anonima de Administracion y Fomento Electrico. The remaining two units, Units 1 and 5, have been undergoing conversions in their main boilers to gas since August 2003.

Unit 2 was taken offline on June 21 for a planned maintenance outage for a revision to the turbine bearing No. 1 and repairs to the No. 2 water circulation pump. After an inspection, plant personnel found a cracked paddle on low-pressure turbine No. 2. As a result, both turbines will undergo complete revisions, which are expected to be finished by August 8.

Unit 3 is the only available unit at the plant, running at about 47%. It is generating only 190 MW because of a high-pressure difference in the inlet/outlet of the regenerative air heaters and because of problems with the control card of burner No. 8. At the same time, the engine of the water feed pump C has burned out. Repairs on this unit have been halted due to the unavailability of a gantry crane.

Unit 4 was taken offline on April 17 for annual maintenance, which is expected to be finished on July 28. Earlier this year, Industrial Info reported that Unit 4 had to be shut down after a combustion leak was detected in guide bearing lube B. For more information, see related February 13, 2008, article - Planta Centro Unit 4 Offline after Combustion Gas Leak.

In addition, the plant was forced offline in March because of problems in three of the units. For more information, see related March 31, 2008, article - Venezuela's Planta Centro Forced Offline for the Second Time in Two Months.

Planta Centro is equipped with five generating units that use natural gas and fuel oil. Unit 2 was converted to dual-fuel capability and the plant is now in the process of converting the remaining boilers, a process that is scheduled to be finished by December 2008 on Unit 1 and by June 2010 on Unit 5.

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