(December 13, 2010)
OKG and the turbine supplier Alstom have agreed that the newly installed design solution for the turbine bearings at Oskarshamn 3 must be replaced by a modified design. Alstom has devised a modified sustainable solution which is possible to install during summer 2011. However, until then continued big efforts will be made in order to secure the electrical production capable with the present design.
During 2009 Oskarshamn 3 (O3) was modernized in order to enhance the safety level further as well as to secure a prolongation of the technical life-time to sixty years. In the project an increase of the facility’s production capability with twenty per cent was also contained, which would entail that O3 on a yearly basis would provide more than seven per cent of this country’s electricity need.
During the whole year of 2010 OKG together with the supplier of the turbine facility at O3, Alstom, have worked with untiring efforts in order to attain full capacity in the facility. Time and again, however, problems have arisen with two of the eight turbine bearings which the 72 metres long and 1,100 metric tons heavy turbine rotor rests on. At three occasions problems have arisen with the bearings which have caused the O3’s disconnection from the grid for repair.
- OKG and Alstom already earlier agreed that the present design solution for the turbine bearings does not meet with our expectations, Mr. Lars Thuring, the Managing Director of OKG relates. Alstrom therefore is devising a new modified bearings design which will secure sustainable operations. The modified bearings design is expected to be installed during the coming summer’s outage in May – June 2011.
Until then the efforts will continue in order to maintain the highest possible electricity production with the temporary solutions during the winter season 2010 – 2011.
- Both companies are very disappointed over that fact that O3 cannot manage to supply the desired amount of electricity when it is needed the most, Mr. Lars Thuring concludes. Our ambition however is that we with our common efforts will be able to achieve a reliable solution which will secure the expected capacity in the future.
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