July 9, 2007 — Residents around the Richmond Power Plant should expect occasional blasts of steam at higher-than-normal noise levels Wednesday, according to a news release from the V.I. Water and Power Authority.
“The steam blow is necessary to clean and remove debris, which may have accumulated in the steam lines during the extended shutdown and repair of Unit No. 10 Turbine,” the release said. “The steam blow will ensure that all debris that may damage the unit during startup is removed.”
Unit No. 10, a 10-megawatt steam turbine manufactured in 1967, has undergone a major upgrade, including installation of a newly forged rotor, and is scheduled to be returned to service in late August, according to Damian Marius, Richmond Power Plant’s maintenance manager.
Once the unit is operational, it will definitely improve the efficiency of the power plant, Marius said. Repairs, completed by Dresser-Rand, the original equipment manufacturer, totaled more than $1.2 million and were funded by proceeds from Series 1998 and 2003 bonds, the release said.
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