August 2, 2010 - GE Energy’s Control Solutions business has signed a contract for the first Mark VIe Hydro Integrated Control System to be installed in Brazil. The equipment will be installed in the AES Caconde Hydro Plant to control two 50 MW hydro turbine-generators and all the plant auxiliaries. The total order for Energy Services is $11M for complete power plant refurbishment. Turbine and generator rework will be performed by GEVISA, GE Motors operation in Brazil. The project scope includes updating Mark VIe cabinets for unit and station control.
The installation includes new pump sets for the existing hydraulic pressure system, new FC5000 distributing valves to replace the existing actuators, EX2100 warm-backup static exciters with Power Potential Transformers, Generator Protection Panels, and a Surveillance System. Engineering, installation, commissioning, and training services are part of the scope as well, making this a full turn-key project. The GE Energy Latin America team will lead the execution of the project. Design, fabrication and testing will take place at the Campinas Facility, which is located inside the GEVISA Industrial Facility.
This partnership between GEVISA and GE Energy creates an important reference in the marketplace and opens the doors for GE Energy Services to participate in the very active Brazilian hydro plant refurbishment market.
Benefits of GE’s Mark VIe Hydro Integrated Control System:
- Lower maintenance costs – Replacing mechanical components with digital controls simplifies the hydraulic control schematic and makes the system easier to maintain.
- Fast turnaround – By drawing on vast hydropower experience, time-consuming and costly pitfalls such as onsite redesign and modifications are avoided during upgrades.
- Increased revenues – Faster start-ups, with faster connection to the grid, increase revenue earning potential with higher profit margins.
As a result, units are back online sooner.
