BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC) announced the conduct of a preventive maintenance system (PMS) on its 135-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Concepcion, Iloilo.
The maintenance of the 135-MW circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) power plant has started from February 18 until March 30, 2024.
The plant was scheduled for maintenance to perform a “major overhaul of the turbine and generator.”
It developed after General Electric (GE), an independent service contractor they hired, inspected and tested the plant and discovered the generator “sustained stator insulation damage.”
Stator insulation damage in a power plant can occur due to overheating, moisture ingress, electrical stresses, and mechanical damage.
The stator is a critical component of a generator, and its insulation is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the electrical winding.
When insulation is damaged, it can lead to electrical faults, reduced efficiency, and ultimately, generator failure.
“This issue will be rectified by replacing the damaged parts to ensure the power plant’s long-term viability,” said Adrianne Dave Guilas, PCPC Issues Management Group, Inc. senior associate.
What Happens During Maintenance Shutdown?
PCPC said they will source new parts to repair the generator outside of the Philippines.
It also said an inspection report will be done to determine the cause and extent of the damage and, more significantly, determine how soon we can get back online.
Guilas said PCPC will not be synchronized with the grid until March 30, adding the power plant is conducting the necessary measures to resolve this matter as soon as possible.
“Nevertheless, PCPC will remain committed to our existing power supply agreements to ensure that our consumers will not be affected by the extended outage, and will continue to supply replacement power at no additional cost,” said Guilas.
PCPC is a subsidiary of Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC).
There are nine distribution utilities and electric cooperatives that have signed up with PCPC for their base load power capacity requirements.
The plant is designed to utilize the latest circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler technology to minimize emissions and is equipped with a seawater flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system to control sulfur dioxide emissions.
The CFBC power plant is a type of power generation system that utilizes a fluidized bed of particulate material suspended and circulating within a furnace or combustor. This technology is widely used in power plants for its flexibility, efficiency, and low emissions./PN
