Joe in NH
Diamond
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Location
- Stratham, Cow Hampshire
One of the jobs I worked at was filling in the "Cooling Canal" at Brayton Point Station.
The original Brayton Point was twin 150MW GE Units finished in 1963. These were unusual in both units being "cross-compound" where the HP and IP turbine were tandem-compound on one spindle/generator, and two LP turbines tandem-compound on another spindle/generator. Startup was interesting as the HP-IP turbine would be started and brought up a speed, and then the two LP turbines would then be "motored" using the HP-IP as power source. The unit could then be brought up to line synchrony together as one single turbine - but actually two turbines but electrically inter-connected.
These units were ROCK SOLID and spent most of their life on earth before Toyota at 175MW.
Unit 3 at about 675MW was added in the late 1960s being the Supercritical unit I mentioned.
All these units were designed for coal, burned coal for a good portion of their lives, but at various times depending on the oil market COULD burn No. 6 fuel oil.
Unit 4 was a Westinghouse unit, but made for "peaking" service. A durable beast it could take the licking that rapid load changes and trips could dish out. It was not so efficient - and burned oil only as fuel. To be used only on those hot summer days, cold winter nights, or when the grid demanded quick coverage. The unit was like zero to full load in 2 hours. The other three units would be most of a day getting to full load.
As Unit 4 was added (1974) the EPA became a motivating force. Suddenly one's thermal emission became a problem and for years residents of Mount Hope Bay complained that the bay "never seemed to freeze" anymore - as in there had been a change since Brayton point was built. The complaints both grew louder with someone to listen, and as Unit 4 was added to the bay heat load.
By the mid 1980s, the power company threw a bone to the EPA and built what was termed a Cooling Canal for Unit 4. This would make Unit 4 a closed thermal cycle. The canal had "spray modules" which would aerate the cooling water using the air. Originally designed for salt water which is plentiful, it was later decided to be maintenance advantageous to close in the canal and use fresh water.
By the late 1990s, the canal was expensive to run and there were complaints about the "fog" they created. It was decided to fill in the canal and instead built two large 500' hyperbolic cooling towers.
It became my job to oversee filling in the canal. It took about 92 days, with (average) about 82 full loaded trucks per day dropped. I was bored out of my mind counting trucks. The weight was all being tallied but for some reason the power company didn't trust that ALL the trucks made it to the drop.
Randomly I would count - I set up a VHS video camera and recorded the dump scene at uber slow speed. Then, at the end of the day I would then play back the entire day at 3x speed and count the trucks. An entire day took about 20 minutes to review - and I could do it twice to be sure of the count.
About the time I left the power company, the hyperbolic towers were built and in operation - but the complaints didn't stop. Such is life in the utility.
One can see on Youtube the demolition of the towers. That IS impressive - but in a way heartbreaking as I did have a good portion of my heart into this power plant.
Brayton Point Power Plant Cooling Towers - Controlled Demolition, Inc. - YouTube
It is best not to get too committed to things one has no control over. As Einstein said when he was queried about "the most powerful force." His reply? "the power of compound interest the most powerful force in the universe."
And power companies are ALL about return on equity. Providing power, providing jobs, or doing remarkable things with nature are just a side-line.
Joe in NH
The original Brayton Point was twin 150MW GE Units finished in 1963. These were unusual in both units being "cross-compound" where the HP and IP turbine were tandem-compound on one spindle/generator, and two LP turbines tandem-compound on another spindle/generator. Startup was interesting as the HP-IP turbine would be started and brought up a speed, and then the two LP turbines would then be "motored" using the HP-IP as power source. The unit could then be brought up to line synchrony together as one single turbine - but actually two turbines but electrically inter-connected.
These units were ROCK SOLID and spent most of their life on earth before Toyota at 175MW.
Unit 3 at about 675MW was added in the late 1960s being the Supercritical unit I mentioned.
All these units were designed for coal, burned coal for a good portion of their lives, but at various times depending on the oil market COULD burn No. 6 fuel oil.
Unit 4 was a Westinghouse unit, but made for "peaking" service. A durable beast it could take the licking that rapid load changes and trips could dish out. It was not so efficient - and burned oil only as fuel. To be used only on those hot summer days, cold winter nights, or when the grid demanded quick coverage. The unit was like zero to full load in 2 hours. The other three units would be most of a day getting to full load.
As Unit 4 was added (1974) the EPA became a motivating force. Suddenly one's thermal emission became a problem and for years residents of Mount Hope Bay complained that the bay "never seemed to freeze" anymore - as in there had been a change since Brayton point was built. The complaints both grew louder with someone to listen, and as Unit 4 was added to the bay heat load.
By the mid 1980s, the power company threw a bone to the EPA and built what was termed a Cooling Canal for Unit 4. This would make Unit 4 a closed thermal cycle. The canal had "spray modules" which would aerate the cooling water using the air. Originally designed for salt water which is plentiful, it was later decided to be maintenance advantageous to close in the canal and use fresh water.
By the late 1990s, the canal was expensive to run and there were complaints about the "fog" they created. It was decided to fill in the canal and instead built two large 500' hyperbolic cooling towers.
It became my job to oversee filling in the canal. It took about 92 days, with (average) about 82 full loaded trucks per day dropped. I was bored out of my mind counting trucks. The weight was all being tallied but for some reason the power company didn't trust that ALL the trucks made it to the drop.
Randomly I would count - I set up a VHS video camera and recorded the dump scene at uber slow speed. Then, at the end of the day I would then play back the entire day at 3x speed and count the trucks. An entire day took about 20 minutes to review - and I could do it twice to be sure of the count.
About the time I left the power company, the hyperbolic towers were built and in operation - but the complaints didn't stop. Such is life in the utility.
One can see on Youtube the demolition of the towers. That IS impressive - but in a way heartbreaking as I did have a good portion of my heart into this power plant.
Brayton Point Power Plant Cooling Towers - Controlled Demolition, Inc. - YouTube
It is best not to get too committed to things one has no control over. As Einstein said when he was queried about "the most powerful force." His reply? "the power of compound interest the most powerful force in the universe."
And power companies are ALL about return on equity. Providing power, providing jobs, or doing remarkable things with nature are just a side-line.
Joe in NH