Report cites faulty valves for explosion damaging CWLP's 86-MW coal-fired unit

摘要

Faulty valves caused an explosion and fire last year that heavily damaged an 86-MW coal-fired generating unit at Springfield (Illinois) City Water, Light and Power's Dallman baseload coal plant, costing the city tens of millions of dollars and idling the affected unit for up to two years (EUW, 19 Nov '07, 14). That is the conclusion of Exponent, the Bowie, Maryland-based scientific and engineering consulting firm retained by the city to investigate the November 10 accident. In a report released last week, Exponent said the accident might have been averted if the turbine manufacturer, Westinghouse, had given CWLP "timely advice and recommendations ... regarding the long-standing, sticking throttle valve problems, suggested solutions to the problems, and warnings of the risks associated with the sticking throttle valves."