Yallourn W Power Station
With most power stations and in particular coal-fired power stations, the water cooling systems are critical to the overall efficient operation of the power generators. Recently AA Radio Services were approached to provide a solution to part of the water monitoring system at the Yallourn W Power Station. If the water cooling system has to be cleaned or maintained, the power generation unit has to be closed down for maintenance; this is a lengthy process and means the generation company loses revenue whilst that unit is out of service.
Veolia Water, through Acacia Engineering, were investigating ways to ‘condition’ the cooling water used in the system to reduce the amount of corrosion within the pipes and other components and so lengthen the period between regular maintenance shut-downs. Part of the problem encountered was that the surrounds of the cooling towers and power station were large expanses of concrete and running cables to each location would have been a very expensive option.
AA Radio Services designed a system utilising RF Innovations radio modems, together with the RF Innovations MSIO Scada units to monitor the required functions and control the chemical additives. The system was configured to operate on 900 MHz frequencies and this allowed operation within the high electrical fields in the generation area, as well as amongst the water cooling towers.
The system was configured and made to work in conjunction with the standard Scada applications package preferred by the client. Radio coverage was excellent and it meant that the water cooling system is now monitored and treated in a real-time basis, thus extending the life of the cooling system dramatically and so making the generation process just that little bit more efficient and profitable.
Yet another example of how AA Radio Services can use radio systems to improve efficiency and performance.