A hydropower plant in Stirlingshire, UK, is back in service a month after flooding in the turbine powerhouse damaged key equipment, Gilkes has announced.
The project powerhouse and 100kW turbine installation were flooded following the rains of storm Desmond on the 6th December 2015. The flooding - which was about 350mm deep - had engulfed the generator, turbine actuator, turbine bearing cartridge and the bottom of the turbine control panel.
Gilkes was on site assessing and removing the damaged equipment within 24 hours of being contacted by its customer. The generator, turbine bearing cartridge, turbine actuators and control panel components were removed from site for overhaul or replacement. Using parts from Gilkes extensive strategic stock and the help of a quick response from Rewinds and J.Windsor of Liverpool on the generator overhaul, the company was back on site re-installing and commissioning the week commencing the 04th January 2016. The scheme was fully re-commissioned and put back into service by the 09th January 2016.
" We are very pleased to have been able to provide a quick turnaround for our customer in this situation," commented Alastair Steele, Field Operation Manager. "There was the potential if it was not for our stock holding this scheme could have been offline for up to 12-14 weeks due to component lead-times and Christmas Holiday shutdowns".
