8MW Diesel Powered Substation

Macon, Missouri’s power generation capacity consists of four facilities, two designed and implemented by SKW Energy Services. The first is an 8MW substation based on six reused 2.2 MW diesel generators, intended to secure a revenue stream through capacity credits, the sale of rights to call on generation capacity during peak usage. An additional fee is earned if the capacity is called upon.

Services provided by SKW included 69kv substation design, protective relaying for the transformer, utility tie-in, and protective relaying of the generator. Electrical plans were supplied for bidding and construction. The generation units are kept at near operating temperature using a hot oil system to allow quick starts. Since the generators can come on line in less than a minute, they earn additional spinning reserve credits. The stations’ controls were tied into the existing power SCADA system and the facility operates unmanned.

The City again called on SKW to design CHP system based on a 10 megawatt gas turbine that also generates steam for a nearby ethanol plant. Services included a financial feasibility analysis/study, including a range of gas costs and turbine/HRSG options; and major equipment selection and procurement. SKW also provided design of the high voltage substation upgrade and the turbine control building; prepared drawings and specifications for construction bid package; designed substation /generator /protective relays. The PLC-based control systems for turbine and heat recovery steam generators were designed, programmed and commissioned.

Since the CHP system was installed the local grid has experienced four outages. Ethanol plant operation was not affected due to the option to switch all of the CHP substation’s power to its use.