Remnants of the nuclear radiation released from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011 have claimed more than 2000 lives until now. It did not cause any direct deaths at the time of accident but has eventually caused loss of lives in the later years that continued until 2018. Several power plant incidents across segments have happened across the world which has reminded countries and organizations to ensure reliability in engineering operations. According to industry standards, there is a specified timeframe until which a power plant can operate uninterrupted after which it is important to examine all the processes in a timely manner in order to find any possible loopholes that have been created over time and fix them before it is too late.
“The first-generation nuclear power plants in France were designed to be as reliable as possible with the technical means available at the time they were built. While they did not have a timeframe for obsolescence, it was generally decided that in 40 years we would see how the equipment and technologies had evolved even though we knew our basic plants could last longer.”, mentioned Joan Giraudeau, Founder, Plateau Service Nucléaire (PSN).
For enhancing the reliability in power plant engineering operations, governments and organizations are adopting several measures that are not only ensuring safety and longevity, but also adding value to the power engineering market as a whole.
At commercial and industrial facilities, majority of the issues related to power quality can always be traced back to vital issues like improper grounding, inadequate wiring, dust accumulation due to poor maintenance and loose connections. Because of these reasons, the sheer necessity of proper grounding can never be neglected. Power plants are solid state systems that depend a lot on the grounding procedures in order to distribute the excess power created. Only with accurate grounding and wiring, any kind of damages to the circuit of the power plant can be avoided.
In this regard, an entity that offers premium products and services in electrical grounding, bonding, lightning protection, and surge protection solutions for various industries, including power generation facilities like power plants is Erico International. The company’s products and services aim at enhancing safety, reliability, and performance in electrical systems and especially grounding and wiring stability within power plants.
Many of the disturbances in power occur in the form of noise that are generally to get generated from the power plant itself. Dedicated circuit distribution is being implemented in this regard. The equipment that are used inside a power plant are highly sensitive and need to have dedicated isolated circuits to function with optimum accuracy. This prevents the power plant from any power surges or disturbances.
To give an example, an MNC that specializes in robotics, power, heavy electrical equipment, and automation technology areas is ABB. The corporation offers a range of solutions for power plants, including dedicated circuits, control systems, and electrical equipment customized to the specific needs of power generation facilities.
The usage of spike suppressors in power plants help in combating high amplitude of voltage spikes and are also able to eliminate sudden changes in voltage. However, not all spike suppressors in the market can be trusted for quality and integrity which is why it is always important to check whether it is of good quality and will be able to function properly inside a power plant.
In this regard, Eaton Corporation offers a range of electrical products and solutions, including surge protection devices (SPDs) designed to protect critical equipment from power surges and spikes in industrial environments like power plants.
UPS generally provides protection to a power plant against short-term power interruptions and outbound disturbances in power supply. The systems typically comprise of rectifier/charger, a static inverter, a battery bank and a manual or automatic switch for bypass. An UPS has the capability to protection against all kinds of quality problems related the power supply that also include momentary outages.
In this regard, a company offers a variety of UPS solutions designed to provide reliable backup power to critical equipment in industrial settings, including power plants is Schneider Electric. The company’s UPS systems are tailored to meet the specific needs and requirements for large-scale power infrastructures.
To enhance reliability in power plant engineering operations a multifaceted approach is required that encompasses condition monitoring, redundancy and continuous improvement. By implementation of these strategies and integrating new-age technologies, power plants can mitigate risks, minimize downtime, and ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity.
