A Critical Way to Minimize Downtime at Hospital and University Power Plants
October 19, 2023
It is not uncommon for hospitals, universities, and other large institutional complexes to have their own power generation plants, often in the form of combined heat and power (CHP) cogeneration. While this decreases their reliance on the main energy grid, it also requires them to have their own backup systems. An integral part of that emergency plan should be the preservation of critical and operational spares.
The Danger of Corroded Spares
A power plant cannot operate without turbines, valves, and a variety of other critical components. If these break down and force institutions to resort to the limited capabilities of backup generator mode, a few days or weeks of interrupted service can cost thousands of dollars, not to mention the potential safety of at risk patients in medical facilities. It is therefore imperative to make repairs and replacements as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, workers who find that the backup valve or turbine has corroded during storage face the dilemma of letting downtime continue or installing a part that may be unsafe.
The Simplicity of Spares Preservation
A better answer is to avoid these problems by proper planning and spares preservation. Fortunately, this aspect of asset integrity and risk management is relatively simple. Valves, turbines, and other components can be easily preserved in VpCI®-126 Film with additional sources of VpCI® fogged or placed inside as needed. These materials release Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors that are attracted to metal surfaces, forming a protective molecular layer that simply floats away when the packaging is removed. As a result, installation of the spare can be rapid, minimizing downtime.
Now Is the Time to Preserve Spares
Power is crucial for hospitals and universities. By properly preserving critical spares, these facilities can maximize uptime and minimize losses for this indispensable resource. Contact Cortec® for more preservation ideas and assistance in establishing a critical spare preservation plan.
Keywords: hospital power plants, minimizing power plant downtime, university power plants, facility management, cogeneration plants, combined heat and power plants, critical spares, power loss at hospital, power backup plans, preservation of turbines, Cortec
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