Ulsan Combined Cycle Power Unit 3 Runs for 2,000 Days Accident-Free

The first Korean combined cycle power unit to achieve the feat

Korea East-West Power Co. said the Ulsan Combined Cycle Power Unit 3 became the first combined cycle unit supplying heating and electricity to achieve the feat of repeating an accident-free 500-day run four times, a record 2,000-days, as of Oct. 1.
The record, based on the actual operation of the unit, means that the facility was operated without any accidents for 10 years and six months from April 6, 1999 to Sept. 30, 2009.
EWP officials said the achievement is significant in that the steam turbines of the facility, inaugurated in December 1997, stopped operation on 81 occasions probably due to accidents.
The Ulsan Combined Cycle Power Complex Office has focused on fixing problems by capitalizing on its 10 years of accumulated operating experience and has introduced such systems as a prediction and diagnosis system through its own design technology, a similar accident prevention system and an intelligent equipment management system in order to enhance credibility, they said.
In 2007, the Ulsan Combined Cycle Power Complex saved about 7 billion won in fuel costs by improving the mid-lead gas turbine’s gas emission temperature for the first time in Korea ― enhancing efficiency 0.5 percent by improving the average turbine output to 10,000kW.
The Ulsan Combined Cycle Power Complex has built infrastructure for systematic life management and equipment operation capability as it conducted equipment health and remaining life span analysis last year.
EWP President Lee Gil-gu said the Ulsan Combined Cycle Power Unit 3 faced numerous crises as it stopped operation frequently because of seaweed flowing in from typhoons in the summer, but power unit employees put their hearts and souls into reaching the incredible milestone. nw

A general view of the Ulsan Combined Cycle Power Unit 3.