Generator Circuit Breakers

Retrofit Application

Cover letter
Power plants are being asked to generate more power as the world's consumption increases. Production
must be secured and reliable. In this context, the Generator Circuit Breaker (GCB) retrofit deserves a closer
look.
At Alstom Grid, we consider retrofit
projects as a partnership with our
clients
Alstom Grid SAS core values are: Trust,
Team and Action. Sharing them with
our customers creates efficient
partnerships, destined for positive
results.
Within a retrofit project, a thorough
understanding of the power plant is
essential to clearly ascertain the project
requirements.
Power plant refurbishment covers a
large field of activities, from civil works
to new equipment commissioning.
Optimising the replacement of existing
equipment within plant time constraints
is a major consideration, along with
securing the equipment production and
installation.
We consider a GCB retrofit as a turnkey
project and our dedicated Retrofit team
will support you by first offering an
extensive site survey to provide the
most adaptable and global solution.
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Reasons for generator circuit In conclusion
breaker refurbishments Retrofitting your Generator Circuit
Most power plants are more than 20 Breaker ensures you a fast return on
years old. For this reason alone, investment and a strong partnership
refurbishment is needed in order to for the future.
renew power plant production by
replacing GCBs and related equipment.
Antiquated GCBs require maintenance
times that are expensive when power
plants produce hundreds of MW. They
could also need spare parts that are
becoming increasingly more difficult to
obtain. Is your MW
GCB retrofitting increases a power
production
plant's life while reducing outage costs. secured?
With the latest in GCB technology, the
plant is more reliable and profitable, as
well as being better protected and able
to meet new electricity market
requirements.
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Advantages and benefits

An Alstom Grid GCB solution increases the reliability and safety of power plants and brings the following
advantages:

High performance
Our Generator Circuit Breaker technology is consistently updated due to our significant investment in R&D, giving
you the highest level of quality and innovation.
All of our SF6 GCB models are equipped with the FK type spring-operated mechanism, which enables up to 20 000
operations.
The advantages of this technology are:
• High reliability, availability and quality
• Simple, clear functional principle
• No more hydraulic leakages

Life extension
Power plant owners have to protect their key devices to produce power from the generator and the transformer,
amongst others. Protecting these devices is the GCB - and a well-protected power plant is one with the highest
levels of reliability, availability and safety. Our GCB's also have a minumum 30 year life span.

Rapid Installation
Power plant owners have a major constraint: the optimisation and the safety of power production.
How is it possible to overcome this constraint?
Our solution is to retrofit the existing GCB during a unit shut down for maintenance with an optimised duration of
works. Our latest generation of GCB is very adaptible and can be delivered either assembled - or when space is a
concern, unassembled - enabling us to propose universal solutions.

GCB retrofits save customers

money!

An antiquated GCB needs more

maintenance than a new one and can
lead to unscheduled downtimes. Add
the difficulty in obtaining spare parts
and the math is simple - maintaining an
antiquated GCB is a heavy investment.

A new GCB not only has the latest

technology, but offers a warranty period
where maintenance during the first
years is covered.

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Our technical process for retrofit projects

The Alstom Grid GCB retrofit team has developed a pertinent offer, which fits the criteria of reliability,
adaptability and availability. From the site survey, adaptation to the available space, existing bus bars and
civil engineering to commissioning - Alstom Grid proposes an optimised and integrated offer that reduces
installation and commissioning times.

Customised analysis Solution Retrofit realisation

The first services we offer to the
partnership include step by step
directions the project will take and a
complete analysis of constraints. This
enables us to propose the most
adapted solutions.
A site survey report will be carried out
by our GCB retrofit team to collect all
GCB technical and environmental data.
Information collected during the site
survey enables us to make technical
feasibility studies.
To aid in the studies, we use 3D
software to issue detailed proposal
views followed by the installation steps.
This preparation allows us to define an
optimised time schedule for
manufacturing and site works to
minimise the unit's shut down.
The proposed offer is then elaborated
on a turnkey basis where we take full
responsibility.
After receiving approval of the solution,
we work together with our local
partners on the execution of the
following tasks:
• Dismantling existing
equipment
• Civil works adaptation
• Bus bar adaptation
• Erection of the new
equipment
• Commissioning in
collaboration with the client
All site works are performed according
to time schedule milestones.

Customised
analysis

Solution
Retrofit
realisation

At every stage of the retrofit project we share a hand

in hand relationship with our customer to find the
best solution together!

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Worldwide retrofit know-how

Proven experience all around the world.

USA, New York HPP

12 x FKG2S without enclosure

Panama, Enel Fortuna

3 x FKG2S without enclosure

Argentina, Salto Grande

14 x FKG2S with enclosure

Brazil, Vila Do Conde

2 x FKG2M with enclosure

Brazil, Presidente Dutra

2 x FKG2S with enclosure
Spain, CH Sallente
10 x FKG2S without enclosure
Italy, Angelo
2 x FKG2S conbined
Germany, Stadtwerke
Duisbourg
1 x FKG2S combined
Vietnam, Ialy HPP Saudi Arabia, PP8
2 x FKG1N combined 10 x FKG2S without enclosure
Taiwan, Tongshaio
2 x FKG2S without enclosure
China, Anshan
1 x FKG1N without enclosure
China, Xin An Jiang
9 x FKG1N without enclosure

France, Grand Maison

Spain, CH Sallente site
14 x FKG1N without enclosure
Works stage

France, La Rance
12 x FKG2S without enclosure

Switzerland, Ferrera & Sils

PSPP
8 x FKG2S without enclosure

Russia, Zagorskaya
12 x FKG2S without enclosure

Slovakia, Vojany PP
1 x FKG2S
Old GCB New retrofitted GCB installed
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Global expertise supporting adapted solutions

Proximity is key to providing the level of service excellence expected by customers. The Alstom Grid GCB
team is located in key regions around the world, ensuring the most efficient support and expertise to assist
our customers during the different stages of their projects.
Skilled Alstom Service teams are also spread throughout the world, providing immediate support, training
and supervision.

Moscow
Russia

Villeurbanne
Charleroi
France
Suzhou
USA China

Shanghai
Chennai China
India

Central sales office and competence centre Localised sales offices

Villeurbanne, France Suzhou, China

Shanghai, China

Charleroi, USA

Moscow, Russia

Chennai, India

Central sales office & competence centre

Villeurbanne, France

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Our range of generator circuit breakers

Alstom Grid offers the perfect generator circuit breaker solutions for installation in new power plants or for
the refurbishment of existing ones. All GCBs are designed to meet the customer's specific needs. Both circuit
breaker-only and combined solutions are available.

* For more information, please contact us.

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ALSTOM Grid Worldwide Contact Centre
www.grid.alstom.com/contactcentre
Tel: +44 (0) 1785 250 070

www.alstom.com