Based on the results of the technical and economic analysis performed by K&M Advisors as part of a separate assignment, SEPCO made a decision to proceed with implementing a fogging system at the 300 MW combined cycle power plant designed in 2 x 1 configuration and utilizing GE9E gas turbines. SEPCO engaged K&M Advisors to develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) document, assist during the bidding process, conduct proposal evaluations, and prepare a report recommending the winning bidder.

K&M developed the fogging system RFP. The RFP document prepared by K&M included instructions to bidders, functional technical specification including the scope of supply and services and general technical requirements, and forms to be submitted by bidders. The draft supply contract was prepared by SEPCO. Three companies submitted their proposal in response to the RFP. K&M reviewed the proposals, conducted proposal evaluation, including issuing several rounds of clarification questions to the bidders, and prepared the proposal evaluation report recommending the winning bidder.

SAMRA Power Plant, a combined cycle power plant with a capacity of 1160 MW at site ambient conditions, utilizing two 300 MW blocks, each with GE9E gas turbines in 2 x 1 configuration, one 420 MW block with GE132 gas turbines in 2 x 1 configuration, and one block with GE13E2 gas turbine in 1 x 1 configuration. Over the last several years, the Jordanian power grid has struggled to cover peak loads during high-temperature periods. As a result, SEPCO has reviewed potential solutions for increasing power plant generation by installing the Advanced Gas Path (AGP) parts on GE9E turbines and activating an enhanced mode of operation for their 13E2 gas turbines. SEPCO engaged K&M Advisors to evaluate the technical and commercial viability of the AGP installation and operation in enhanced mode. This included a review of the design of generating units, auxiliary equipment, and balance of plant systems to assess their ability to support the increased power output during fogging system and AGP operation.

K&M developed GateCycle models of combined cycle plants to calculate heat and material balances for different ambient temperatures without and with the previously installed fogging system. For each combination of the ambient temperature, fogging system status, and AGP status, K&M developed a spreadsheet summarizing the system power output and power output increase, heat rate and heat rate change, fogging system evaporation rate/demineralized water requirements, and other steam and water impacting operation of HRSG, steam turbine, ACC, and other auxiliary equipment that could be impacted by the fogging system. To analyze the demineralized system requirements, K&M calculated the fogging system demineralized water requirements and the total daily demineralized water demand and compared it with the demineralized water system capacity.  K&M also conducted an economic analysis to determine whether the installation of AGP is economically justified.

The Grenada Airports Authority (GAA) operates the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) and a smaller internal airport – the Lauriston Airport on the sister island of Carriacou. The present electrical distribution system at the MBIA is over 40 years old and is planned to undergo renovation. GAA selected EACT, and St. Lucian company, as a contractor for design and construction supervision services related to the electrical distribution system upgrade. The Ministry of Infrastructure then selected K&M Advisors to perform the design review of the design prepared by the selected contractor. The primary objective of this assignment is to ensure that the design developed by EACT and contractors complies with applicable codes and good engineering practices and meets the conditions for supporting future airport expansion and minimizing power supply interruptions during the airport’s operating hours.

K&M Electrical Engineering Expert conducted a site visit to meet with the MOIID, GAA, EACT, and walk down the existing MBIA electrical distribution system to establish the communication protocol, meet the counterparts, and better understand the scope of the existing system, the required system upgrades, and constraints and limitations. K&M then reviewed the design documents, including calculations, drawings, and specifications developed by EACT, proposals submitted by EPC Contactors, and significant design documents and provided comments as required.

The energy regulator of the Cayman Islands is planning to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the development of a new thermal power plant in Grand Cayman, with an expected capacity of approximately 36.5 MW. CUC will serve as the off-taker for the power generated by the selected Independent Power Producer (IPP). K&M will support CUC by developing a draft Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) tailored to the thermal IPP project.

K&M is supporting CUC by preparing a draft Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the project, including identifying and recommending the allocation of responsibilities and risks between CUC and the IPP. As part of this work, K&M will adapt CUC’s existing thermal PPA to reflect project-specific requirements and will also review the Interconnection Agreement.

CUC is preparing to submit a proposal in response to a forthcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) for the development of a new thermal power plant in Grand Cayman, with an expected capacity of approximately 36.5 MW. CUC intends to contract MAN to deliver fully wrapped EPC services for the plant. There is some uncertainty regarding the final capacity that will be requested in the RFP – it may call for either a 36 MW or a 90 MW plant. However, certain parameters relevant to the plant’s conceptual design are expected to remain unchanged regardless of the final capacity. K&M will support CUC with the pre-RFP phase by reviewing the conceptual design developed by MAN, with a particular focus on engine performance (capacity and heat rate), interface definitions, and the completeness of the BOP scope.

K&M’s scope includes conducting site visits for meetings between CUC and MAN, reviewing the MAN proposal to identify gaps in the scope, description of interfaces, accuracy in performance estimates, and any other items presenting a technical or commercial risk to CUC, analyzing plant performance, including reviewing proposed MAN engine performance at site conditions and auxiliary power consumption to estimate net output and net heat rate curves, and validating inputs for the technical section of the proposal.

Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) engaged K&M to provide advisory services for developing a balance of plant (BOP) scope for the final dual fuel conversion for Engine Room 5. Under this assignment, K&M will review the proposals submitted by MAN and BWSC for the dual-fuel conversion of Engine Room 5 and develop a final project scope and price (if applicable) to enable CUC to solicit bids. K&M will begin by reviewing MAN’s proposal and their scope of services matrix, followed by an evaluation of the scope described in the BWSC proposal. K&M will then develop a comprehensive list of systems and BOP (Balance of Plant) equipment items required for the conversion to gas. Next, K&M will compare the BWSC proposed scope to MAN’s scope matrix and the internally developed list to identify any gaps or additional work that may be necessary. The team will also review the mechanical and technical specifications, provide detailed comments, and prepare a list of clarification questions for BWSC, MAN, and CUC as needed. Following this, K&M will evaluate the responses to these clarifications and incorporate the findings into the scope matrix and, if required, into the total price proposed by BWSC. Finally, K&M will prepare a detailed report summarizing the activities performed, presenting the final project scope and price (if applicable). This report will provide CUC with the necessary information to solicit bids for the project and evaluate those bids against the indicative benchmark pricing.

K&M understands that from the beginning of the commercial operation, Phase IV Add-on Combined Cycle feedwater pumps experienced high vibration issues and that these issues are not fully resolved despite remedial measures undertaken by SEPCO3, the EPC Contractor, and SEPCO. Specifically, one of the pumps, pump C, still experiences high vibration.

On March 8, 2024, SEPCO issued a request for K&M to provide a quote for performing additional analysis of the feedwater pump operating issues and to provide recommendations on a path forward.

In response, K&M has outlined a three-task approach:

Task 1: Assess Vibration Characteristics and Analyze Vibration Data for Phase IV BFWP Motors

K&M will analyze the vibration characteristics and vibration data for the Phase IV BFWP motors that SEPCO has seen during the commissioning and operation of the plant. The analysis will consist of a review of all relevant documentation and operating data for the BWFP motor and pump assembly as compared to applicable international standards for rotating equipment operation and OEM standards. The data required for a thorough analysis of the issue can be seen in Section 5.3.

Task 2: Provide Recommendations to Resolve Underlying Issues and Mitigate Vibration-Related Levels and Concerns

Based on the information received and analysis performed for Task 1, K&M will provide recommendations for any remedial action or analysis to be performed that has not previously been implemented by SEPCO. The action may consist of running specific test scenarios for additional data points or may require physical intervention.

Task 3: Offer Guidance on Necessary or Recommended Mechanical Measures to Live with the Current Situation of the vibration issue on Phase IV BFWP Motors.

If it is determined that the vibration issues cannot be resolved, a secondary option would be to optimize how SEPCO operates the plant with Pump A having excessive vibration for the life of the plant. K&M will provide recommendations for plant operation configurations, such as, for example, having Pump A on standby or limiting its operation to certain maximum number of running hours per year to prolong the life of the bearings and rotor of its motor; scheduling pump maintenance at the time of gas turbine outage to minimize pump impact on the overall unit availability, conducting regular inspections of pump A motor bearings and preventive  bearing replacement to minimize the possibility of pump forced outage due to bearing damage, etc.

Deliverable:

Feedwater Pump Vibration Analysis and Operation Recommendation Report

NV GEBE, the integrated Sint Maarten power utility responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity on the Dutch part of the island, experienced outage of several generating units, which created power shortages and required rolling blackouts on Sint Maarten. NV GEBE intended to resolve this issue in the near term by procuring 20 MW of emergency power and engaged K&M to prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP) for that procurement. K&M studied the power plant supply arrangements at Sint Maarten, assisted the client in selecting the project site, and developed an RFP, including instructions to bidders, evaluation methodology, and technical specification, which included technical requirements and detailed description of project interfaces, K&M was able to prepare the RFP within 2 weeks of the project award.

NV GEBE experienced outage of several generating units, which created power shortages and required rolling blackouts on Sint Maarten. NV GEBE intended to resolve this issue in the near term by procuring 20 MW of emergency power and engaged K&M to prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP) for that procurement. K&M studied the power plant supply arrangements at Sint Maarten, assisted the client in selecting the project site, and developed an RFP, including instructions to bidders, evaluation methodology, and technical specification, which included technical requirements and detailed description of project interfaces, K&M was able to prepare the RFP within 2 weeks of the project award.

K&M was retained by the Tampa Energy Corporation to structure a privately financed 56 million gallon per year ethanol facility and associated 80 MW bagasse-fired cogeneration plant in the Dominican Republic, which would sell surplus electricity to the electric grid. In addition, K&M had the overall technical and project management responsibility for this project. K&M assisted Tampa Energy in the funding, design, feasibility and engineering studies, equipment and machinery supply contracts, and the supervision of the construction of the production facility.

K&M served as technical consultant to the Egyptian Ministry of Supply under a multi services contract on behalf of the Egyptian Electricity Authority and US Agency for International Development (USAID). K&M completed a design review, provided construction management and start-up services for a 3 x 3 MW diesel generating station located in southern Egypt on the Red Sea.