We are involved in the extension of the Los Azufres plant in Mexico, which obtains renewable energy from the centre of the earth.
The genset supplied by Genesal Energy is ready to power the critical loads at2,856 M above sea level, where the plant is situated.
Geotherm is a renewable energy source which is generated by the heat expanding from the core of the earth. Currently, Mexico is one of the most advanced countries in this field, and in Los Azufres the country’s second largest reserve also one of the biggest in the world is found (the largest in Mexico being in the state of Baja California).
The Los Azufres power plant is located in the state of Michoacan, 250 KM from the capital Mexico City. Due to the potential of this energy source, the Federal Commission for Electricity has driven the construction of Los Azufres III-Phase 2 expansion, with a net capacity guarantee of 25MW. This will be focused on supplying power to the Michoacan cities of Hidalgo and Zinapecauro. The objective is to ensure a stable and renewable supply for the ever-increasing energy demands in the region.
Genesal Energy has supplied emergency back up power for the plant, a made to measure generator set, very different to standard gensets, in that it can operate at almost 3000M above sea level.
The generator set, was the result of an exhaustive study detailing all the technical requirements of the project. Various aspects were analysed such as the conditions the genset would be working in, as well as calculating the loads it would support and the load steps in order to determine the most adequate engine and alternator.
The role of the new generator set in the Los Azufres Geothermal Plant is to supply power to the critical (essential) loads in the case of a mains grid power failure, with the objective of bringing the power plant to a safe shutdown and not a sudden stop. This is achieved using an Automatic Transfer System (ATS) to switch the power from the mains to the genset.
Some other interesting facts about this Project:
- The control panel was designed to a very specific specification, which was supplied by the client’s engineers – requiring a control cabinet with a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and a Siemens Siplus touchscreen.
- The control panel and the entire genset installation has been prepared to work in an environment with a high concentration of H2S (sulphuric acid – a gas which is heavier than air, inflammable and colourless). To protect against H2S and for easy maintenance all the PLC cards are covered with an acrylic based plastic. Additionally, the connectors on the cards and where they connect are gold plated to withstand a permanent concentration of 3mmm of H2S gas.
- It comes with a Modbus tcp/ip card and a fibre optic converter via a manageable switch with two fibre optic ports to create a fibre optic ring and guarantee continued communications.
- As well as communication, the most important signals are sent wired. This ensures all the genset information is stored in the Scada system in the DCS of the geothermal plant, and total control via SCADA.
GENESAL ENERGY has participated in the construction of the first submerged tunnel to be built in Latin America.
The structure, consisting of 4 traffic lanes and almost 3KM long, communicates 2 urban areas in the Veracruz area with a population close to 500,000.
GENESAL was responsible for designing the diésel generator responsible for ensuring power supply in emergency situations.
GENESAL ENERGY has recently administered a project to supply emergency electrical power in the Coaztacoalcos (México)tunnel, the first submerged tunnel of its kind in Latin America and one of the largest engineering projects ever undertaken on the American continent.
GENESAL’s responsibility was such that not only were they to supply the generator power unit, they were also in charge of the installation on site. The diésel genset itself (ERP 2407kVa at 13.2Kv) was designed at GENESAL’s European headquartes and manufacturing facility near La Coruna, and has since been installed and is fully operational in the tunnel.
Requiring an investment of $250 million dollars the 2,280-metre tunnel with 4 lanes for road traffic, runs below the riverbed of the River Coaztacoalcos, connecting the two neighbouring municipalities of Coaztacoalcos and Allende in Veracruz State. Further afield it has provided improved links to the states of Tabasco and Chiapas, and the tunnel services over 500,000 people as well as the numerous petro-chemical businesses in the area.
The fully submerged tunnel entered in to active use in April 2017, connecting Coaztacoalcos and Allende in little more than 3 minutes, a 40-minute reduction on the pre-tunnel journey time.
Synchronized Genset
The structure of the tunnel in some parts reaches a depth of 35 metres, and was constructed using pre-tensed reinforced concrete, with a total weight of 135,000 tonnes, equivalent to 355 Boeing 747 jumbos. The same type of construction used in the tunnel section of the structure connecting Copenhagen in Denmark to Malmo in Sweden was applied here.
Should the tunnel for whatever reason suffer a power cut in the mains supply, or if there is a drop-in voltage, the GENESAL ENERGY generator will switch on automatically, ensuring continued power supply. When the mains power returns to its previously normal state, the genset will synchronize with the mains power and close off the breaker switch, smoothly returning all load power to the mains without any discernible change in the origin of the power supply.
Indie the tunnel a special room has been constructed and designed by GENESAL ENERGY, and the genset has been installed in here. GENESAL also designed a second room for storing the medium voltage cells and transfer measurement.
Fitted with the latest technologies, the genset underwent stringent testing at GENESAL’s main plant before being shipped to Mexico on the 13th February 2017. Due to its size, the radiator was specially designed to meet with cooling requirements in this environment. This also allowed the whole set up to be constructed on one supporting frame, which later reduced the difficulties in the installation process.
This entire project was done in conjunction with the Mexican branch of GENESAL ENERGY.
Combined Cycle Power Plant – Mexico
| PROJECT ID | Combined Cycle Power Plant, Valle De Mexico II |
| OUTPUT | 1980/2178 kVA |
| TYPE | Soundproofed |
| SPECIALLY CONFIGURED | Genset manufactured according to a range of specific conditions as determined by the engineering |
GENESAL ENERGY has supplied an emergency power genset with a power rating of 2178 kVa which will be used as a back-up for the Combined Cycle Power Plant Valle de Mexico II in the municipality of Acolman (Mexico State). Once finalised the plant itself will have an output power capacity of 615 MW and will operate with natural gas, at an approximate cost of 700 million $USD in construction investment.
The power plant itself will contribute to a 4 % increase in available energy to meet the growing energy needs in the centre of the country.
This particular project has been delivered in conjunction with our GENESAL ENERGY Mexican branch, which has for many years contributed and supported the growth of the Mexican energy sector.
Contact
Do you need a generator set?
Fill in the form with your information if you want one of our generator sets or if you have any questions. We will prepare a quotation for you. We will prepare a quotation for you based on you requirements.
+34 900 730 124
consultas@genesal.com
Parroquia de Rois, b28
Polígono Industrial de Bergondo 15165
Bergondo, A Coruña
consultas@genesal.com
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