Wärtsilä Will Supply Performance Monitoring Sealing Solutions to Hydropower Plant in Idaho
Wärtsilä Corporation will participate in the refurbishment programme for the US Bureau of Reclamation's Minidoka hydropower plant, Idaho, in the United States. This includes the refurbishment of the two horizontal turbine runners on the Kaplan turbines, located in the Allen E. Inman powerhouse.
Minidoka hydropower plant, courtesy of US Bureau of Reclamation.
Wärtsilä will supply its REguard Water Lubricated Face Type Seals with integrated Pressurised Interface Management System (PIMS) to GE Renewable Energy who is responsible for the overall refurbishment of the turbines. This is the latest iteration of Wärtsilä's Pressurised Interface Management System which can autonomously monitor, record and analyse performance data in real time, locally.
Furthermore, the new Wärtsilä seals will increase operational performance and, with the new integrated monitoring equipment, it will learn when maintenance is required, reducing operational downtime and increasing the time between maintenance periods.
– We have an ongoing relationship with the Bureau and with GE Renewable Energy, and this project marks a significant milestone for us in terms of business development. Since visiting the Minidoka plant, we have been able to specifically tailor our product to offer the best solution possible in terms of performance improvement and reduced through life costs, says Consulting Engineer, Simon Thompson of Wärtsilä.
Wärtsilä announced in October that it had expanded into a new market segment, offering a comprehensive package of seals, bearings and associated solutions to hydropower installations and industrial plants worldwide. Wärtsilä's Hydro & Industrial services offering targets the specific needs of hydropower, tidal energy and offshore wind installations as well as mining, paper, oil & gas, water management and power generation industries.
