Single-platform solution to enhance reliability and streamline operations of Union Power Station Power Block 4
PITTSBURGH (April 17, 2014) — Union Power Partners, a subsidiary of Entegra Power Group, has awarded Emerson Process Management a contract to replace turbine controls at Union Power Station. The plant, located in southern Arkansas, is one of the largest combined-cycle facilities in the U.S.
Union Power Station has a generating capacity of 2,200 MW and comprises four individual 2x1 combined-cycle power blocks. It is adjacent to an Entergy substation that directly interconnects the plant to the Entergy Arkansas transmission system. This interconnection provides direct transmission access to power markets throughout the Entergy Control Area, as well as access to power markets in surrounding states.
“Union Power Station is an important source of power for Arkansas and the surrounding area,” said Tom Burger, plant manager, Union Power Partners. “Replacing the older controls will help enhance reliability and operational efficiency, which is so vital in helping us meet the electricity needs of our customers.”
The existing aging controls are becoming obsolete and will soon no longer be supported by the manufacturer, making maintenance and repair difficult. Emerson will replace legacy controls on the power block’s GE Frame 7FA gas turbines and GE D11 steam turbine with Ovation™ control technology, and the GE EX2000 systems with its Ovation generator excitation technology. The new controls will seamlessly integrate with existing Ovation systems already controlling balance-of-plant equipment and processes, as well as Emerson’s Ovation Security Center, which streamlines the execution of cyber-security measures related to compliance with the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards. The contract also calls for Emerson to supply auto synchronizers.
Equipment delivery will take place in October, and the first retrofitted power block is expected to be back online in December 2014.
“We’re gratified by Entegra Power Group’s ongoing confidence in our technologies and people," said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson Process Management's Power & Water Solutions. “We believe this controls retrofit, along with a newfound ability to control the entire power block using a single unified automation platform, will not only help enhance reliability, but also provide Union Power Partners further opportunities for operational improvement.”
