Testing underway at Paradise Combined Cycle Plant

The Paradise Combined Cycle Plant reached 84 percent completion last week, with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) meeting a major deadline on Monday by attaining first fire in Unit 1.

“We’ll admit natural gas fuel into the combustion turbine, establish ignition and bring the turbine up to operating speed,” Roger Waldrep, general manager of TVA Major Projects, said in advance of the beginning of the testing process. “That will tell us whether the combustion system works, vibration is good, etc. — it’s kind of like cranking your car to check the health of the engine.”

The plant, located two hours north of Tennessee, generated no electricity on Monday, as pre-operation checks were performed. Tuesday’s tests, according to Waldrep, would see more substantive action take place.

“We’ll refire the engine, bring it up to normal operating speed, and match frequency and voltage to the TVA grid,” Waldrep said. “Then we’ll close the breaker and connect to the grid, which is initial synchronization. That’s the first time we’ll be generating power, and that power will be available on the grid.”

Once operators and engineers have successfully brought the plant to full load, another extensive round of testing will begin.

“We’ll spend another three weeks refiring the gas turbines to make steam that we’ll blow through the boilers and steam piping systems,” Waldrep said. “That way we’ll ensure that the steam system is sound and that all the piping systems are free of any debris.”