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Hydro-electric refurb
After nearly 60 years of service the hydro-electricity generator at Lochay Power Station in Scotland has been refurbished by Sulzer. Using the combined skills of the local service centre in Falkirk and the coil shop in Birmingham, Sulzer has improved the design and construction of the generator so that it now has an increased output.
With a total capacity of 47 MW, the Lochay hydro power station is part of the Breadalbane Hydro scheme. The two main generators are 22.5 MW English Electric units, which were commissioned in 1958. The remaining 2 MW are produced by a smaller Pelton turbine, which uses the compensation water that is released into the River Lochay when the main sets are not running.
As a result of the improved design and the use of the latest insulation technology, the power factor of the generator has improved from 0.8 to 0.85, while the overall output has increased from 22 MW to 25.6 MW. These improvements and the physical assembly of the stator should rejuvenate and extend the working life of the generator for another 40 years.
News Item details
Journal title: Energy World
Subjects: Manufacturing engineering, Energy consumption, Primary energy production, Hydro power, Power stations, Water, Generators
