Siemens to upgrade I&C system for GE steam turbines in South Korea

Siemens has received an order for upgrading the I&C system for GE steam turbines in units 5 and 6 at the Samcheonpo Thermal Power Station, South Korea. The upgrade is aimed at enhancing the availability of the plant and the plant's reliability during operation, as well as to reduce the operating and maintenance costs for the plant.

The customer is Korea South East Power Co. Ltd (KOSEP), the operator of the power plant. Unit 5 was upgraded in November 2014 during a scheduled outage. Work on Unit 6 is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2015.

Installation of SPPA-T3000 I&C system

The Samcheonpo power plant, located in the South Korean province of Gyeongsangnam-do, consists of six units. Commissioned between 1983 and 1998, it has a total installed electrical generating capacity of 3240 MW. Siemens’ upgrades include the installation of the Siemens SPPA-T3000 I&C system for the boiler and for the auxiliary systems (balance of plant), as well as replacement of the existing turbine control system and instrumentation and controls at the turbo-generator.

SPPA-T3000 is said to enable problem-free migration of the turbine control system and the turbine protection system not only for Siemens turbines, but for turbines from other manufacturers as well. According to Ute Menikheim, regional manager of the Instrumentations, Controls and Electrical business unit within Siemens Power and Gas, “this is the first time that Siemens has upgraded two GE turbines of this size successfully to the Siemens SPPA-T3000 I&C system.”

An increasing number of operators are adapting their power plants to new market conditions, which call for greater flexibility, higher availability, improved efficiency and lower emissions. KOSEP can enhance the flexibility and efficiency of its power plant, thanks to the SPPA-P3000 solution for process optimization which was also installed as part of this project, Menikheim said.