Pondering a Plethora of Penstock Issues
Publication: Pipelines 2023
ABSTRACT
Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) operates the Middle Fork American River Project (MFP) that includes three powerhouses with above-ground penstocks nearing 60 years in age. PCWA is managing a plethora of penstock issues that have manifested themselves over the life of these penstocks. These issues include episodic ground movement at multiple saddles and one anchor block leading to associated movement in select penstock pipe sections and joints; local area slope instability and surface drainage inefficiencies; age-related degradation of linings and coatings; and unfavorable conditions at welds in sleeve-type mechanical couplings. This paper/presentation describes programs and projects PCWA has initiated and executed to monitor, mitigate, and address these issues focusing on replacing a slipping coupling with one having greater span to accommodate anchor block movement; conducting a program to test and replace unfavorable flash welds on middle rings of couplings susceptible to rupture.
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REFERENCES
Bier, P. J. (1958). Power Penstocks, Analysis of Various Penstock Designs and Construction Methods. Water Power.
Dresser Industries Inc. (1978). Dresser Couplings for the Joining of Hydroelectric Penstocks, Dresser Industries, Bradford Pennsylvania.
CEATI International Inc. (2019). CEATI Report no. T162700-0393, Hydraulic Generating Station Penstock Maintenance and Repair Reference Manual. Montreal, Quebec.
Structural Integrity Associates, Inc. (2016). Middle Fork Dresser Coupling Evaluation. San Jose, Ca.
Black & Veatch. (2021). Ralston and French Meadows Penstocks Flexible Coupling Assessment Report, Revision 1. Black & Veatch, Kansas City, Mo.
Nervik Consulting. Inc. (2018). Penstock Coupling Risk Mitigation, Middle Fork Penstock and Ralston Penstock Dresser Couplings. Nervik Consulting Inc. Corte Madera, Ca.
National Board. (2015). National Board Inspection Code, Part 3 Repairs and Alterations. The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.
ASME. (2019). ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section IX, Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Qualifications. ASME, New York, NY.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Pipelines 2023
Pages: 125 - 133
History
Published online: Aug 10, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Anchors
- Channels (waterway)
- Conduits
- Construction engineering
- Construction management
- Coupling
- Drainage
- Energy engineering
- Energy sources (by type)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Equipment and machinery
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic structures
- Hydro power
- Infrastructure
- Irrigation engineering
- Joints
- Pipe blockage
- Pipe joints
- Pipeline management
- Pipeline systems
- Project management
- Renewable energy
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Surface drainage
- Water and water resources
- Waterways
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