Mobile plants provide power for Iraqi oil and gas company
Problem
With its power plant to remain inoperative for another year, an oil and gas project in Iraq was facing a serious headwind to its production capabilities, which, down the line, would possibly affect the country’s electricity generation. Other repercussions were the possibility of sales and opportunity losses, employment insecurity for its workers and an administrative conflict with the Iraqi government.
Solution
Altaaqa Global Cat Rental Power provided a 50-megawatt Taqafficient power plant package including transformers, gas fuel treatment plant, and a dynamic gas blending technology that optimizes power output while being eco-friendly. Renting a temporary power generation facility offered an immediate and flexible fix, as well as a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective operation. Using a combination of 70 percent gas and 30 percent diesel, the package was able to economically provide the necessary energy requirements of the project, while complying with the world’s sustainable energy regulatory standards.
Result
The oil and gas facility opened as planned. Financial and opportunity losses were averted and all the facility’s operatives were maintained. www.altaaqaglobal.com.
Generator set increases power at coal mining site
Problem
Teck Coal, operator of some of the largest coal mines in North America, was using outdated and underpowered motivators that required frequent maintenance and caused costly downtime. “It ran at 1,400 kW, and whenever we tried to move it, the breaker would trip, sometimes as many as four or five times during a move,” says Mehul Joshi, electrical engineer for Teck Coal. Dirt and grime from the engine covered the electronic control equipment, which caused additional maintenance and required frequent equipment replacements.
Solution
An MTU Onsite Energy generator set, including an MTU 20V 4000 G83L engine, meeting EPA Tier 2 emission standards, replaced the old motivator. The power output is rated at 7,200 volts and 2,575 kW at an elevation of 1,300 meters.
Result
The new motivator gave the newest shovels ample power without stalling out at high elevations. Additionally, all the electrical components in the new motivator are housed in a separate, dust-tight enclosure. The improved interior design increased user safety and comfort, while reducing the frequency of electrical maintenance. 800/325-5450; www.mtuonsiteenergy.com.
Centrifuges extend engine life, operating hours
Problem
A major surface mining operation in Kentucky and West Virginia was looking for ways to extend the service life of their heavy-duty diesel engines. That effort eventually focused on oil cleanliness and an evaluation of leading bypass filtration technologies.
Solution
After analyzing filtration effectiveness, capacity, ease of service and costs, the company selected the Spinner II centrifuge from T.F. Hudgins. Centrifuges are self-contained oil-cleaning units for bypass and offline filtration of engine lubricants and industrial fluids. They extract both large contaminants and particles as small as one-tenth of a micron, controlling soot and reducing wear. Following a successful test period, the customer installed Spinner II centrifuges fleet-wide and switched to a synthetic oil.
Result
The company has seen improvements in oil cleanliness and engine protection. Drain intervals for off-road equipment increased to 1,000 and 1,500 hours. Their Caterpillar 988 and 992G series wheel loaders have gone from 250-hour service intervals to 1,000 hours. The company was able to eliminate three oil changes per year. Their Caterpillar 773 and 777D truck engines are running trouble-free for 43,000 hours, about 70 percent more than the average service life of those engines. They also report doubling the engine life of their Cummins gen set engines and Caterpillar D11 dozers. 713/682-3651; www.tfhudgins.com.
