Implementation of Combined Cycle at the Santa Cruz Thermoelectric Power Plant
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Merit Award, Power/Industrial
Presented by Odebrecht Engineering and Construction
Owner: Furnas Centrais Elétricas SA
Main design company: Figener
Contractor: Odebrecht Engineering and Construction
Civil Engineer: Mauricio Amadeu
Structural Engineer: PROGEN Projects Direction and Engineering SA
MEP Engineer: Elson Carvalho
The combined cycle implementation of the Santa Cruz Thermal Power Plant significantly increases its generating capacity and brings a facility from the 1960s into the modern era. The plant, first converted to natural gas in the 1980s, is a key part of Brazil’s baseload power generation infrastructure.
The combined cycle upgrade, which increases capacity from 350 MW to 500 MW, required the decommissioning of two existing 48m high, 3,000 tonne boilers. Working in and around these boilers was identified early on as a major safety hazard, so the team devised a plan to significantly reduce the time spent dismantling them.
A custom metal frame was erected around the boilers, which reduced the number of cranes needed throughout the project and eliminated the need for workers to be inside the boilers when cutting them. This creative approach not only had benefits for the project schedule, but also improved safety on site.
According to contractor Odebrecht, this innovative approach to decommissioning large boilers can also be used to increase safety and reduce costs in similar power plant upgrade efforts.
