Avail received an urgent call that an explosion had occurred on a critical 864 MVA generator step-up transformer (GSU) at a major power plant in Saudi Arabia. The explosion caused significant damage to the transformer and the gas insulated line (GIL) which connects the transformer to a 380 kV Gas Insulated Substation (GIS). In response to this transformer explosion, Avail demonstrated rapid response capabilities.
Avail immediately dispatched the local Country Manager from Riyadh to the site to assess the damage and determine how Avail could help. Damage photos and copies of Instruction Book drawings were sent to Avail’s High Voltage Bus Systems division (HVBS) in Medway, MA, U.S. From these photos and drawings, HVBS was able to prepare a layout drawing outlining the best solution. In order to complete the detailed design, HVBS dispatched the Field Services Manager to the site to take detailed measurements of the equipment the GIL would need to connect with. With the detailed interface measurements from site, the Engineering team was able to complete the designs and release for manufacturing at Avail’s HVBS plant.
Due to the severity of the transformer fault and collateral damage, this repair required a total of 36 sections to bring the generator back online. This included expedited manufacturing of additional standard components such as flanges, silver-plated contact assemblies, adjustment bellows, and epoxy insulators. Avail, responding to the transformer explosion, swiftly mobilized its emergency supply of standard GIL components and utilized in-house capabilities to produce the necessary components within days of assessing the full scope of supply required.
In total, 22 tons of Avail high voltage transmission equipment were air freighted to Saudi Arabia via 747, a 48-hour transit from origin to destination that normally requires 8 weeks.
After seven days of around-the-clock installation coordinated by Avail, the equipment was ready for high voltage testing and commissioning, which were completed in less than one week. The plant was brought back on line three full days before the start of Ramadan as strongly desired by the utility due to mid-summer being the time of peak demand.
Avail High Voltage Bus Systems was able to accomplish in 39 days what would typically have required 5-6 months and would have left utility’s customers without power during the Ramadan holiday and the hottest time of year.
