Venezuela's Planta Centro Forced Offline for the Second Time in Two Months

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Planta Centro Thermoelectric Complex, one of Latin America's largest thermal plants, was forced offline on March 21, 2008, for the second time in two months. Three of the units went offline because of problems in different components.

•Unit 3: Problems were found in the turbine control system (Turbotrol 51 manual and Turbotrol 52 automatic systems). Maintenance personnel are performing repairs and hope to bring the unit back online by April 5, 2008.

•Unit 4 went offline after an internal crack in the boiler caused a strong leak. Plant officials revealed to Industrial Info that they found six cracked tubes in over-heater No. 1. After an internal evaluation of the main boiler, officials said they will determine the time needed for repairs.

•Unit 2 went offline because of a failure in water circulation pump No. 1. The plant's maintenance division began repairs in the water circulating pump that are expected to be complete by March 31, 2008.

Units 1 and 5 are undergoing conversions in their main boilers to gas. The conversion is going as planned and is expected for completion in May 2008.

The plant has a total power output of 2,000 megawatts (MW). However, in the past few months, the plant had been generating about 450 MW of electricity because of the conversions of Units 1 and 5. Also, the Planta Centro Complex was forced offline in January 2008 because of condenser issues. For details, view related January 22, 2008, article - Condenser Issues Force Planta Centro Offline.

At the moment, the plant is completely shut down.

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