Signal Peak - North Las Vegas, Nevada

Reliant Energy Equipment Storage and Preservation Program

Reliant Energy’s Signal Peak Project is a 500 MW combined cycle project which has been postponed.

The power island equipment is stored in various locations. The Alstom heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) package was shipped to North Las Vegas for long-term storage.

Sterling Energy was initially engaged by Reliant Energy to provide technical consulting for the receiving and long-term preservation program to a local transportation and storage contractor who Dominion Energy awarded this scope. Sterling Energy initially provided the Asset Preservation Program Manual for the project. We were later authorized to take over management responsibility for the entire preservation program, with responsibilities including:

• Establishing lay down criteria for the equipment arriving by truck and rail
• Tarping sensitive equipment which was determined to be stored outdoors (insulated panels, etc.)
• Performing initial preservation tasks, such as placing desiccant and vapor corrosion inhibitors (VCI) in electronic cabinets, valve crates, motor/pump/fan assemblies
• Developing a system for maintaining equipment inspection and maintenance history
• Developing a system for releasing equipment as startup spares to a sister plant 45 miles away
• Conducting weekly inspections and preservation maintenance

The delivery schedule called for equipment to be delivered over an 8 month period. Approximately 35,000 square feet of warehouse space was leased in North Las Vegas. The warehouse stores filter elements, insulation, pump/motor skids, instrumentation, CO catalyst, ammonia injection skids, etc.  Three additional outdoor lay-down yard areas were leased to store the HRSG tube bundles, structural steel, ladders and walk ways, pipe, panels, etc.

The long-term storage and preservation of the equipment in the high wind and hot desert conditions of Las Vegas area posed unique problems. Flash flooding in open lay down yards required close attention to drainage pattern and ensuring cribbing was adequate to protect the equipment from these intermittent, but none-the-less expected weather events.

Fugitive dust, consisting of highly abrasive sand and particles, are a very real reality in the desert. The HRSG tube bundles (photo above) were “diapered” with a bottom plastic tarp fastened to a top tarp, thereby creating a tight seal against dust intrusion. The eight sets of bundles are tied down with fastening ropes to prevent ballooning during heavy wind conditions.

Preservation inspections and maintenance is routinely being performed on the equipment. As with our other equipment preservation projects, Sterling Energy developed an Assert Preservation Program Manual customized for this project. It outlines the receiving and preservation inspection guidelines for the HRSG tube bundles, electrical cabinets, piping and mechanical components, instrumentation, air filters, insulation, etc. A total of 25 separate guidelines were developed.

Maintenance records and equipment history is being maintained by our site Preservation Technician.

Storage Location:

   North Las Vegas, Nevada

Project Description:

   500 gas turbine combined cycle project

Owner:

   Reliant Energy

Primary Equipment Supplier:

   Alstom