Waldron Completes Preliminary Engineering and Design for Steam Plant Repowering
Submitted by John Sweet P.E.
Waldron Engineering recently completed the preliminary engineering and design work for the re-powering of a large steam and electric generating plant. The project scope included the addition of a new 150,000 lb/hr dual fuel (natural gas and no. 2 fuel oil) boiler to be erected in the field using modular construction techniques, along with two new 600,000 lb/hr deaerators and four 350HP boiler feed pumps. New 13.8kV switchgear and medium voltage distribution systems were also engineered to support new equipment and replace the existing switchgear for the entire plant. A new reverse osmosis water treatment system and it's associated pumps, storage and controls were also part of the design. To tie this all together, Waldron also included preliminary engineering and design of a new plant wide control system.
The design concept allowed for future site development that is in the immediate plans. This included the later addition of a second boiler of identical size and scope, a new 1500 kW emergency generator set installation, a new above ground fuel oil unloading, storage and transfer system, and a new 5.2 MW backpressure steam turbine generator. Waldron did complete heat balance analysis for equipment sizing, electrical transient analysis, minimum technical requirements documentation, general arrangement drawings, plan and elevation drawings, p&id's, detailed cost opinions and construction schedules.
WEI's efforts have enabled our client to gain a better understanding of the risks associated with the design, procurement and construction components of this project. It also has enabled them to mitigate some of their cost risk by moving the design work forward to a stage that will enable construction component cost opinions to be made with lower uncertainties and contingencies.