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Barge Mounted Power Plants Full Paper
Barge Mounted Power Plants Full Paper
Barge Mounted Power Plants Full Paper
On
October 2003
Contents
1. Introduction
Floating static
Floating Special Mooring
Grounded
Moved about barges
4. Land based Auxiliary Equipment Cabling up
Fire Protection
Fuel Supplies
Warehouse and Stores
5. Location Considerations
Remoteness
Inaccessible
6. Types of Power Generation Plant
Diesel Engines
Gas Turbines
Steam turbines
7. Contamination
Fuel Quality
Water Quality
Air Quality
8. Impact of wave motion and environmental conditions
9. Maintenance
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Diesel Sets
Waste Heat Boilers
Construction
Other major non PML losses
11. Consequences of a major failure
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1. Introduction
This committee was formed to look at the unique
characteristics of Barge Mounted Power Plants, and the
implications to machinery Breakdown and Machinery Loss of
Profits Insurance.
Power barges have unique characteristics, when compared to
other forms of Power generation, in that the construction of the
plant is undertaken in a completely different environment to
one in which the plant will operate.
Barges will be manufactured within a shipyard and then fitted
out with generating equipment before being transported to the
location where they are to operate
This has implications for the ability to maintain and repair such
plants and can pose unique problems when major work is to
be undertaken.
The composition and operating conditions will vary
considerably from barge to barge
Power barges offer a quick and economic solution to building
Power plants in remote parts of the world. All-weather
accessibility is a problem and consequently entails
considerable extra expense in transporting components to site
as well as skilled construction labour which need to be housed
and the availability of construction equipment .
Contamination can occur due to the ingress of salt water and the atmosphere
having a high saline content.
Mooring arrangement
5. Location Considerations
Remoteness
Power barges are an attractive solution to the provision of power to remote
locations, providing of course that they have access to the sea. Power barges
being constructed away from the location where they will operate has the
advantage that components do not have to be transported across hostile and
difficult terrain. Labour costs are minimised as skilled staff do not have to be
transported to and accommodated in remote locations avoiding the extra
infrastructure costs and allowances.
Inaccessible
Whilst the barge has been sited at a location with navigational access to the
sea, the location may be inaccessible or not easily accessible over land. This
becomes a major consideration when maintenance or repairs are undertaken.
It may not be possible for large cranes that would be required for lifting
machinery to access the site.
Weight limits on roads and bridges, or height of tunnels may prevent Large
replacement components being transported to the site by road or rail.
Where it is not economically or physically possible to supply cranage and
parts by waterway, the option is to remove the barge to a dry dock or
quayside, where the work can be undertaken.
7. Contamination
Fuel Quality
Contamination Fuel may be conveyed by sea, potential contamination from
tanks of conveying vessel not being cleaned properly. Poor checking of
quality when fuel delivered, due to lack of facilities at site to analyse if fuel
meets design specifications, could lead to contaminated fuel being used.
Large sums of money transfer at this point and the possibility of incorrect fuel
being supplied for fraudulent purposes has to be considered.
When in close proximity to the sea, there can be exposure to salt water and
air with high saline content, which can cause contamination to fuel oil if there
is inadequate protection.
Water Quality
For barges with a steam cycle, make-up water quality is important. The
demineralised water storage tanks can become contaminated with salt water
and if undetected cause rapid corrosion damage to the steam generator. If
this water is used for NOx control on a gas turbine the introduction of sodium
and potassium will cause rapid corrosion of the hot gas path components.
Air Quality
High salt content in the air can clog air filters as well as causing accelerated
corrosion to compressors.
9. Maintenance
Static risks should be no more hazardous than a conventional power plant,
subject to the ability to transport adequate spares to site and the competence
of the maintenance staff.
Maintenance standards are however sometimes less than those for similar
land based plant, because barge operators tend to have less resources and
the more remote locations are easily forgotten.
Barges which are moved from site to site, pose an enhanced risk, as there is
a tendency for maintenance to be neglected as responsibility moves from one
location to another.
10.PML Considerations
Diesel Sets
Overspeeding or obstruction can cause destruction of cylinders and
crankshaft. The cost to repair damage could exceed 50% of the unit value. .
Series loss through fuel contamination. If all units on a barge are being fed the
same fuel, any impurities in the fuel quality will equally cause damage to all of
the sets.
Waste Heat Boilers,
Distortion through dry firing.
Steam / Gas Turbines,
100% damage due to overspeeding / first stage blade failure.
Construction
Compact nature of the barge may increase repair costs
Other major non PML losses
Corrosion caused by poor feedwater quality
Fuel contamination
Corrosion of hot gas path components from Contaminated NOx control water
Winding failures due to salt water ingress on direct air cooled stators
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LEG Subcommittee
Steven Norcliffe Munich re
Simon Wilcock Swiss Re
Andrew Bowles Zurich London
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