Saturday, 08 April 2023 16:41

CEL executes slab repair project for turbined water discharge channel

Written by Coralia Cuellar

The Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa (CEL), is carrying out the repair project of the ramp of the discharge channel of the two turbines of the 15 de Septiembre Hydroelectric Power Plant, since its construction in the 80s.

It is also simultaneously carrying out stabilization works on the downstream slope of the right bank, which are making significant progress and are expected to be completed next may.

According to the autonomous company, the project is being executed with its own funds in the order of US$11 million, and both the construction and supervision are being carried out by local companies.

The project has the authorization of the Transactions Unit, since it involves the closure and drying of the turbined water discharge channel, therefore, there will be no hydroelectric power generation during the month of april.

To maintain the environmental flow during this period of the year, during the repair of the discharge channel, water will be transferred from the reservoir through 4 of the 8 gates of the spillway in a controlled and continuous manner, to maintain the ecosystem downstream unchanged.

The works will provide greater stability to the slope on the right bank and thus ensure the safety of the dam. Due to the deterioration of the concrete slab as a result of its continuous operation over the years, a gully has formed underneath it, putting the turbined water outlet structure at risk of a sinkhole, which could cause the forced shutdown of the plant and other damages if it is not repaired preventively.

The repair of the discharge channel will be carried out by placing dozens of cubic meters of anti-washout concrete fill in the gully that has formed under the slab of said channel; as well as in the pit formed in the river bed downstream of the channel slab; with the objective of restoring the design hydraulic profile, and prolonging its useful life.

While the works on the river bed are being carried out, the powerhouse will be used to perform major maintenance on Unit No. 1, which consists of biennial preventive maintenance of the main and auxiliary equipment, that is to say the generator, turbine, excitation, speed regulator, power transformer, intake, and pumping systems, among others; during this time, Unit No. 2 will undergo a general inspection of all the equipment in Unit No. 2, which will be carried out in order to ensure that it is in good condition. 2 a general inspection of the entire unit will be performed in order to project its Integral maintenance, also known as Overhaul* in the dry season 2024-2025, similar to the work performed in U1 in 2013-2014.

15 de Septiembre Hydroelectric Power Plant

Located 90 kilometers from San Salvador, between the departments of San Vicente and Usulután, this plant has the largest installed capacity. It has two generating units of 90 MW continuous. It was inaugurated on September 15, 1983. It then underwent a modernization process that was completed in june 2007.

The 15 de Septiembre Hydroelectric Power Plant consists of a 57.2 meter high rock-fill dam, an 8-gate concrete spillway, integral intake and a surface powerhouse.

The term Overhaul refers to an in-depth treatment of each part of the Unit, to leave it in optimal conditions. It is a regenerative process that covers all components.

 

Translated by: A.M