Cold Weather PreparednessCOLD WEATHER PREPAREDNESS BEST PRACTICES • Generator Owners –...
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COLD WEATHER PREPAREDNESS NORTH AMERICAN GENERATOR FORUM KAREN POOLE MIKE GABRIEL
Transcript of Cold Weather PreparednessCOLD WEATHER PREPAREDNESS BEST PRACTICES • Generator Owners –...
COLD WEATHER PREPAREDNESSNORTH AMERICAN GENERATOR FORUM
KAREN POOLE
MIKE GABRIEL
AGENDA
•NAGF General Information
•Extreme Weather Events & Reporting
•NAGF’s Working Group
•Cold Weather Preparedness Best Practices
•Questions
WHAT OR WHO IS THE NAGF?
The NAGF is an independent, member-driven, non-profit organization of generator owners and operators, focused on NERC and other grid reliability and resiliency issues.
Our mission is to promote the safe, reliable operation of the generator segment of the bulk power system through generator owner and operator collaboration with others who have a vested interest in the reliable operation of the bulk power system.
WHAT OR WHO IS THE NAGF?
We represent over 53% of the registered, installed BES generation in North America.
Like the Transmission Forum, we are one of the 20 NERC Pre-Qualified Organizations, and thus able to propose implementation guidance to NERC.
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS & REPORTING
2011 Southwest Cold Weather Event
2014 Polar Vortex
2015 Cold Weather Periods
2018 South Central Cold Weather Event
COLD WEATHER PREPARATIONWORKING GROUP
• Past Support to Industry
• Document – Best Practices
• 2020 • Providing Support to NERC 2019-6 Cold Weather Prep
Project• Membership on Working Committee Roster
• Provided background to NERC Project Lead
• Working on production of Generator Type Templates for Cold Weather Prep
COLD WEATHER PREPAREDNESSBEST PRACTICES
NERC TOP 5• Inadequate or Failed Heat Tracing
• Broken Wires• Corrosion• Incorrectly Sized
• Wind Break Design• Account for Wind Chill
• Inadequate or Damaged Insulation• Valves & Connectors
• Instrument Cabinet Heaters• Correct Insulation• Correctly sized
• Lack of Mobile Freeze Protection Equipment• Wind Breaks• Bullet Heaters• Tested & Staged
COLD WEATHER PREPAREDNESSBEST PRACTICES
Commonly Reported Failure Modes• Frozen Drum Level Sensing Lines
• Moisture Ingress• Solenoid Valves
• Gear Boxes
• Valve Positioners
• Under or Un-insulated Components
• Frozen NOx Water Lines – Environmental Restriction
• Iced-over Inlet Guide Vanes – Combined Cycle
• Blocked Cooling Water Intake
COLD WEATHER PREPAREDNESSBEST PRACTICES
• Generator Owners – Year-Round Cold Weather Program• Executive Leadership Support and Emphasis
• Risk-Based Controls• Internal Lesson’s Learned• One Size Does Not Fit All
• Generator –Boiler Type• Inverter-Based not exempt from weather issues
• Location• North – South – East – West• Indoor / Outdoor Boiler
• Orientation to Prevailing Winds
• Defined Roles and Responsibilities• Administrative Documents• Best Practices Guidelines
• Plant Documents• Process Map / Flow Chart• Procedures• Checklists• Work Orders
COLD WEATHER PREPAREDNESSBEST PRACTICES
Winter Preparations – Year-Long Program
• Manage Damaged Insulation & Heat Tracing Work Orders
• Evaluate Potential Problem Areas• Emphasize areas where equipment freezing will cause a unit trip, derate, or
failure to start
• Consider the effect of Wind Chill when applying freeze protection• Insulation thickness, quality, and proper insulation
• Working Heat Trace Equipment• Ensure it is properly restored or replaced following equipment maintenance
• Consider Covers or Heated Enclosures for Vulnerable Equipment• Transmitters, Valve Actuators, Connectors, Sensing Lines
• Maintain Annual Winter-Readiness Preparation• Temporary Supplemental Equipment
• Portable Heaters
• Wind Breaks
• Scaffolding
• Operation Supplies
COLD WEATHER PREPAREDNESSBEST PRACTICES
• Generator Owners should have Documented Cold Weather Processes and Procedures supported by Executive and Plant Leadership
• System Documents Defining Roles and Responsibilities
• Plant Documents
• Process Map / Flow Chart
• Procedures
• Checklists
• Work Orders
COLD WEATHER PREPAREDNESSPOINTS TO PONDER
Would you expect reliable service from a car that sits, exposed to the elements, and runs once or twice a year?
Do you want to rely on this car in emergency situations?
If you can anticipate the need for that car, wouldn’t you start it up and test it a few days before you needed it to perform?
Picture from: https://ultimategraveyard.com/portfolio/raw-land/ultimategraveyard_50s-packard-clipper-car_5853/
Does it make sense to wait for the coldest day of the year before attempting to start the least-used generating units in your area?
If you start a generating unit out of merit to relieve a transmission constraint, why not do it for a weather constraint?
Picture from: https://ultimategraveyard.com/portfolio/raw-land/ultimategraveyard_50s-packard-clipper-car_5853/
COLD WEATHER PREPAREDNESSPOINTS TO PONDER
