ST. THOMAS — A loss of communication between key systems in W.A.P.A. generating unit 23 was responsible for the unit\u2019s tripping off line, the loss of another generating unit and subsequently the failure of all electrical feeders in the district, W.A.P.A. said on Thursday via press release. Unit 23 is W.A.P.A.\u2019s largest generating unit, often times referred to as the authority\u2019s workhorse.<\/p>\n
W.A.P.A. Interim Chief Executive Officer Julio A. Rhymer, Sr. said Thursday that an investigation by plant personnel revealed that unit 23\u2019s exciter tripped \u201cdue to a loss of communication with the unit\u2019s exciter control modules. This loss in turn activated the generator\u2019s protection scheme resulting in the unit tripping off line. The loss of Unit 23 had a domino effect on the other generator on line at the time, Unit 25.\u201d<\/p>\n
The loss of the units occurred at 12:57 a.m. and in the ensuing hours, plant personnel, Line Department and System Planning engineers began to troubleshoot the cause and effect of the electrical service interruption. Due to the unique nature of unit 23\u2019s failure, plant personnel were required to spend considerable time in ensuring that the root cause of the unit\u2019s tripping had been identified prior to attempting its restoration. Thereafter, three smaller generating units: 14, 18 and 25 were brought on line and restoration of service was begun at 4:40 a.m. \u201cThe plant also brought a fourth unit, Unit 15, on line in the event additional generation capacity was needed,\u201d Mr. Rhymer explained.<\/p>\n
With the restoration complete, plant personnel rebooted various components within Unit 23\u2019s control modules and the unit was restored to service at around 10 a.m. W.A.P.A. has already reached out to the unit\u2019s original equipment manufacturer to provide additional technical assistance in improving the unit\u2019s reliability until a scheduled major overhaul takes place in September, according to the release. The unit must undergo a major overhaul before it is converted to burn tri-fuel: propane, natural gas and oil.<\/p>\n
Mr. Rhymer apologized to W.A.P.A.\u2019s customers for the inconvenience caused by the service interruption and thanked the authority\u2019s employees who responded to the power plant in the early morning hours of Thursday to assist in the restoration of service to residents of the district.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ST. THOMAS — A loss of communication between key systems in W.A.P.A. generating unit 23 was responsible for the unit\u2019s tripping off line, the loss of another generating unit and subsequently the failure of all electrical feeders in the district, W.A.P.A. said on Thursday via press release. Unit 23 is W.A.P.A.\u2019s largest generating unit, often […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":36204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[628,147],"tags":[1008,83],"yoast_head":"\n