Small electricity generator delivered Collie – where there is much surplus capacity

Hope to find out why this was needed and what the specs are – Antonov An-225 Mriya’s 117-tonne cargo arrives at Worsley refinery in Collie 16 May 2016 – Worsley alumina refinery is owned by SOUTH32 LIMITED – the recent BHP spinoff.

5 thoughts on “Small electricity generator delivered Collie – where there is much surplus capacity”

  1. Alumina refining requires a lot of steam. The boiler house produces high pressure steam which is passed through a steam turbine to generate electricity and the lower pressure pass out steam goes to the process. Here is an outline of the Alocoa Wagerup process www.alcoa.com/australia/en/pdf/WAG_Chapter_4_Existing_Wagerup_Refinery.pdf . I would guess that it is a 2-pole generator (driven a 3000rpm) with a capacity a little over 100MVA. Brush or was an English company producing electric motors and generators. I would guess that it is cheaper to make in the Czech republic which still has a steel industry.

  2. This says there are two generators total capacity 120MW.
    Generator from giant plane arrives in Collie 17 May 2016
    au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/31618135/generator-from-giant-plane-arrives-in-collie/

    The fuel is not mentioned – assuming it is gas – could be reciprocating or turbine. Still puzzling they pay all these costs when Collie is overflowing with surplus coal fired electricity capacity.
    From Jan 2016
    West Australian Treasurer goes all Green talking of shutting down Collie coal fired electricity generation

  3. Warwick, the new generator what ever the size will be driven by a steam turbine as indicated in my comment above. The fuel for the boiler may be gas or coal (likely knowing BHP experience) or both. The Brush web site indicates they make generators of two types 2-pole and 4-pole. The later only go upto 60 MVA (MVA is different from MW by the synchronous factor & efficiency). Brush make generators for a range of turbine manufacturers GE being the main one.
    Please note co-generation (electricity and process steam) is much more efficient than single pass (steam or gas) turbines or gas turbines with waste heat boilers. The BP oil refinery at Kwinna has co-generation (I think 65 MVA electric) using waste gas and fuel oil.
    It is possible that an existing generator is being replaced. It is not possible to use any generator. It has be designed for the capacity and steam pressure.

  4. I do know that the BHPBilliton Worsley Alumina refinery uses coal from Premier Coal for steam production used in the alumina process.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.