the power - Global Media Publishing Ltd. - UK.COM

PLANT FOCUSTwo 20-cylinder Wärtsilä 32generator sets bound for HaitiThe reconstruction work continues in Haiti after the devastating earthquake in January 2010.Wärtsilä generating sets have been selected to expand an existing power station to add much neededcapacity. Delivery is being made during 2012 on a fast-track basis, reports WIP.Wärtsilä, a leading global supplierof flexible and efficient powerplant solutions, has beenawarded the contract to supply the generatingsets for an extension to an existingpower plant in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.The extension will add 17 MW ofelectricity generating capacity to theVarreux power plant, which will help easethe power shortage in a country stillrecovering from the devastatingearthquake in 2010. At present the entiregrid is receiving less than 200 MW ofpower.The order has been placed by SociétéGénérale d'Enérgie S.A. (Sogener), Haiti'sfirst private power generation company,established in 2002.The scope of supply consists of two20-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 generator setstogether with auxiliaries, engineering,and supervision of the installation.The engines will be delivered during2012 on a fast-track basis, and the newpower generating facilities are scheduledto be fully operational by early 2013.Sampo Suvisaari, General Manager,Central America and the Caribbean,Wärtsilä Power Plants told WIP: "It isgratifying to be involved in a projectrelated to Haiti's reconstruction.There is a lackof electricity generatingcapacity in the country,and this new facility willhelp the Haitian peopleby reducing blackouts.“Wärtsilä's ability torespond to this needwith a fast-trackdelivery, as well as theefficiency and reliabilityof the engines themselves,were key reasonsfor Wärtsilä winning thiscontract," he said.Wärtsilä has a strong presence throughoutthe region, and is the main supplier ofdiesel power plants and services to theCaribbean islands.The company supports these installationswith local sales and service offices.Wärtsilä only recently introduced a morepowerful version of its popular 32cm boreengine.First introduced in the 1980s, and withmore than 4,000 units sold to the marineindustry alone, the Wärtsilä 32 enginehas, according to the company, beenwidely used in both the marine and landbasedpower plants markets. In themarine industry the engine is used forboth main engine and auxiliary engineapplications.The new upgraded version is availablewith an increased power rating of 580 kWper cylinder at 750 RPM (50 Hz version).This represents a 15% increase in poweroutput over the earlier 32 engine, with nochange in external dimensions.This increased output means that theWärtsilä 32 now covers a power rangefrom 3,000 kW to 9,300 kW. One areawhere the company believes that this newpower output will be of particular interestis in the offshore drillship market. It isfelt that in combination with Wärtsilä’sLow Loss Concept, the new engine canoffer a powerful yet compact package fordiesel electric propulsion.The engine is able to operate efficientlyand economically on low sulphur fuels(