MODIFICATION OF UNIT 1 COOLING TOWER (CT) TO IMPROVE THE CT PERFORMANCE IN STAR ENERGY GEOTHERMAL (WAYANG WINDU) LTD

Abstract

Unit 1 Cooling Tower (CT) in Wayang Windu Geothermal Power Plant has been operating since 2000. Extensive works have been conducted by Star Energy Geothermal (Wayang Windu) team in order to improve the performance of the CT while assuring excellent operational reliability. The first project in 2011 was replacing the CT fan stack with a higher version. Data from a Unit 1 CT performance test revealed a decrease of approach temperature by as much as 1.44°C, an increase of range temperature by as much as 1.92°C, and an increase of CT efficiency by as much as 5.17%. The impact was equivalent to a net generation improvement of 1.44 MW. The second project, carried out from 2014 till 2017, involved replacing the existing low reliability CT gearbox with a more reliable gearbox and increasing the number of fan blades. The CT upgrading project improved the CT thermal performance and the impact was equivalent to a net generation improvement of 0.40 MW.