Jump? How high?
Nearly continuous variable plant output and fast system response are two key features of Currant Creek's design. The plant's capacity can be set for any of several load ranges within 90 minutes of a call from dispatch. "One thing that's really great about this plant is its flexibility," explained John Bowater, Currant Creek's manager. "On high-demand days, it can respond very quickly and precisely."
Currant Creek's flexibility is particularly valued by PacifiCorp's commercial and trading group. They realize that any capacity that can be bid in discrete blocks has a better chance of being dispatched. Following are the five ways that Currant Creek can be configured, and the capacity range produced by that configuration:
- Single gas turbine + steam turbine: 134 to 210 MW
- Single gas turbine + steam turbine + one HRSG with duct firing: 154 to 262 MW
- Two gas turbines + steam turbine: 268 to 430 MW
- Two gas turbine + steam turbine + one HRSG with duct firing: 288 to 482 MW
- Two gas turbines + steam turbine + both HRSGs with duct firing: 304 to 525 MW
The plant is designed for 250 to 260 starts per year and is typically dispatched for 12 to 15 hours per day, depending on the spark spread. To facilitate rapid start-ups, the HRSGs are equipped with stack dampers, and an auxiliary boiler has been provided to maintain vacuum in the steam turbine during overnight shutdowns. Those are two pieces of equipment that should be standard in any cycling plant.
The incredible shrinking staff
In keeping with advances in modern control technology, Currant Creek has a small complement of staff responsible for day-to-day operations and maintenance. Technical support from PacifiCorp's engineering group in Salt Lake City eliminates the need to assign full-time engineering specialists to the site.
Currant Creek has a staff of 24. However, five of those 24—the plant manager, a chemist/environmental specialist, a safety/training guru, a procurement professional, and an administrative whiz—will be responsible, beginning next summer on a 50/50 basis, for duty at the new Lake Side Power Plant being built by Summit Vineyard LLC and Siemens Power Corp. 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. As a result, the effective FTE (full-time equivalent) position count at Currant Creek will be a stingy 21.
First, do no harm
Bringing in almost as many construction workers as residents of the town of Mona (population: 750) would have been a recipe for disaster if The Shaw Group and PacifiCorp managers hadn't recognized the potential for problems and dealt with them in a respectful way before groundbreaking. Many meetings with the town and county leadership paved the way for a wonderful working relationship.
It was The Shaw Group's intent to leave the community better off than it had been before the workers arrived. They took the time to help with cancer and blood drives, for example, and to contribute to many other worthwhile projects. "We are mighty thankful you came to our county," said Robert Steele, Juab County commissioner. PacifiCorp also funded over $180,000 worth of projects that will directly benefit Juab County residents.
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