Power Plant Maintenance

The electrical safety precautions that should be observed by the station personnel are as follows: 1. Treat every circuit, including those as low as 24 volts, as a potential source of danger. 2. Except in cases of emergency, never allow work on an energized circuit. Take every precaution to insulate the person performing the work from ground. That may be done by covering any adjacent grounded metal with insulating rubber blankets. In addition, provide ample illumination, cover working metal tools with insulating rubber, station men at appropriate circuit breakers or switches so that the switchboard can be de-energized immediately in case of emergency, and make sure all personnel are qualified to render first aid (including CPR) for electric shock. POWER PLANT MAINTENANCE Inspection and servicing procedures covered in this chapter are rather general. In most cases, they can be applied to any electrical power generator that you install. You realize, of course, that there are other special installation details that pertain only to the particular generator you happen to be working on. Because of the many different types of generators, certain instructions are applicable only to specific types of generators; therefore, you should consult the manufacturer’s instruction manuals for these details. Power plant maintenance can be divided into two general categories: operator maintenance and preven- tive maintenance. Operator Maintenance Operator maintenance includes the hourly, daily, and weekly maintenance requirements recommended in the manufacturer’s literature. Some operator maintenance and routine checks include the following: — — — — — — — — — — Bring oil level to the high mark on the dip stick. Free movement of ventilation louvers. Drain water and sediment from strainers and filters. Maintain level of coolant. Check radiator and coolant hoses for leaks. Check battery electrolyte level. Check all switches for proper operation. Drain water from fuel tank. Fill fuel tank as required with appropriate diesel fuel. Check fuel tank for leaks. Log all operator maintenance in the operations log book when it is completed. Preventive Maintenance Preventive maintenance includes the monthly, quarterly, semiannual, and annual maintenance checks recommended in the manufacturer’s literature. The maintenance supervisor is responsible for establishing a maintenance schedule to ensure the preventive main- tenance is performed. A maintenance log book should be established for each generator plant and all mainten- ance checks recorded. The operation log book should be reviewed periodically to ensure that all preventive maintenance recommended by engine operating hours is scheduled; for example, the schedule of engine lube oil and filter replacement is normally based on hours of operation. 3-11