[SEL] Power Plant Update

[Elden DuRand]

Group:

A while back I posted a message about a Fairbanks-Morse power plant that needed a new home.  Here's an update.

It has been inspected and, except for about 30 years of accumulated dirt, the two older engines turn. There wasn't a bar for the O.P. genset but it looks like it should turn, too. (The engines were only turned about 1/8th of a turn in case something small was stuck.)

After turning the engines, the oilers were turned about 100 turns to get a little lube to the bearings.

The alternators and exciters look to be all right but should be cleaned up and recoated with glyptol.

There are a bunch of original tools - most likely nearly a set of tools for each of the older engines. Manuals are a question mark. There is a pile of junk leaning against the doors of a couple of cabinets that might contain paperwork but we won't know until the junk is cleared out of the building. That is supposed to happen soon.

There are two air compressors (electric motor driven) and tanks but their condition is totally unknown.

The control panels are complete and as they were when the plant was shut down for the last time. A couple of meter glasses are cracked and a step ladder fell on the chart recorder at some time in the past and broke the case.

It looks as if originally there were three of the 2-banger sets. One was removed and the 5-banger O.P. (250kW) unit with it's control panel was installed in it's place. The control panel for the old removed genset is leaning against the wall in the back room.

There is some surface rust on the rheostat housings, etc. but it looks to be only cosmetic. All of the control and power transformers are still in place (2200 Volt to 220 Volt 3-phase) and look to be serviceable.

The coolant pumps and heat exchangers and all the plumbing are there. The older engines were cooled by heat exchange from a well. The O.P. unit has a radiator.

The fuel day tanks , filters, etc. are there and may be useable.

At this time, we have qualified parties interested in the gensets but won't know for sure if they will be taken until Board meetings are held to decide.

The plan is to remove them some time in November. A barge will be chartered with a crane and can be floated to near the building at high tide. The plan is to load one or more semi flatbed trailers onto the barge and transfer the machinery to them after moving it outside the building. 

The trailers can most likely be hooked up and driven off the barge from the mainland dock.

The O.P unit is on a skid and closest to the door and we hope to be able to skid it out with come alongs.

The exciters, alternators, etc will be disassembled from the old units and we hope that we have enough muscle (moving gear) to be able to the engines (minus railings, etc.) in one piece.

We are also hoping to get volunteer professional riggers to do the smart part of moving everything. The control panels and the alternator rotors should be crated and we need someone who knows how to get this done. There is some 120 Volt AC power in the building for lights and tools.

Anyhoo, that's about it. We're really optimistic about saving this iron and, barring some bureaucratic snags, it should get done.

Take care - Elden & Friend
http://home.cybertron.com/~edurand