Page 68 - Energize November 2021

TECHNICAL

Power plant maintenance: What is required

and how drones can help

Information from Flyability

Power plant maintenance is crucial, both to ensure the safety of personnel at the plant and to keep all of
the assets and infrastructure in good working order, so preserving the longevity of plant assets.

ithout the right maintenance active and in good working order from one day to the next.
procedures key equipment and In this article we’ll cover how power plants work, what power plant maintenance entails,
Wmachinery can fall into disrepair, how inspections fit into maintenance procedures, and then take a look at three different ways
leading to potentially dangerous situations that drones can help improve power plant maintenance.
on site and also to the premature failure of Power plants convert raw energy sources such as coal, nuclear heat, or wind, into usable
expensive equipment used in generating power in the form of electricity.
power. In a typical thermal power plant, fuel is heated to convert water into steam. The steam is
Given that new construction is incredibly then sent through a turbine connected to an electric generator in order to create electricity.
expensive, power plant owners would
generally prefer to prolong the life of an Here are some examples of thermal power plants:
existing power plant over building a new plant • Nuclear power plants use heat from a nuclear reactor to turn water into steam, and then
or adding onto an existing one. The longer convert the steam into electricity.
a plant can run, the more cost-effective it is • Coal power plants burn coal to turn water into steam, and then convert the steam into
over time, and maintenance plays a crucial electricity.
role in maximizing the longevity of a plant.
Power plant maintenance is a blanket In addition to thermal power plants, which burn fuel to convert water into steam in order
term that refers not just to the maintenance to generate power, there are also power plants that convert energy from naturally occurring
of assets and equipment but also to routine sources into power:
inspections, installation of equipment, regular • Hydroelectric power plants use the energy of water running through turbines to generate
reporting, systems integrations and reviews, electricity.
and scheduled preventative maintenance – all • Solar power plants use solar panels to convert the sun’s energy into electricity.
of the work required to help the plant stay • Wind power plants use the energy of wind turning giant fan blades to generate electricity.

Eskom coal fired power station

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