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#114034 12/11/02 02:04 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,682
Likes: 3
Admin Offline OP
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[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]
Quote
Subject: AMEREN LABADIE PLANT TRANSFORMER FIRE

On Saturday, July 6, 2002, at approximately 6:35 p.m. Ameren experienced a transformer fire at its Labadie, Missouri Power Plant. Labadie Plant serves baseload, and contains 4 units, each capable of generating approximately 600 MW.

The transformer involved was the plant's Unit 1's GSU transformer which is a705 Mva unit, Westinghouse, built in 1968.

During the initial inspection, it appears the event was initiated by failure of one of the 345kV bushings. The bushing is a Westinghouse Type O.

The deluge system protecting the transformer actuated and controlled the fire until deluge system piping was broken by a falling insulator. The plant's Structural Fire Brigade finished extinguishment of the fire utilizing a 500 gallon foam trailer. The fire was declared out at approximately 7:10 p.m. The fire department had been called early in the event, but the
fire was out by the time the first responding fire department arrived at the site.

The damage was limited to the transformer itself, some flashing damage to the roof of the turbine building immediately above the transformer. There was no fire extension inside the plant. It is estimated that up too 1,000 gallons of oil burned before
extinguishment occurred. There was one fire brigade member treated at the scene for heat exhaustion, but he was released back to work that night.

The plant has a spare transformer that will replace the damaged transformer, expected time till the unit is back on line, 15 days. Estimated loss at this point in time is $ 3 million property damage, $ 2million business interruption.
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Photos submitted by Steve Matthey

#114035 12/11/02 12:49 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 840
C
Member
Yikes! Not good!

Does anyone know if the oil in these xformers contained PCBs?

What hazards are involved when PCB contaminated oil burns? Do the PCBs get incinerated, or released into the atmosphere?


Peter
#114036 12/11/02 02:21 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,148
R
Member
PCB, when burned in an accidential fire creates dioxins and furans. PCB is often disposed of by burning in a very high temperature incinerator with controled combustion air and this will also destory the dioxions.
ToxicAlert
Don


Don(resqcapt19)
#114037 12/11/02 02:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 840
C
Member
Thanks for the link, Don.

As I metioned in a long forgotten thread, Connecticut far and away leads the nation in waste-to-energy incinceration (65% of all trash is burned). There are 6 incinerators in operation here, one is only 15 or so miles from my house.

Dioxin contamination released by these plants doesn't seem to be on anyone's mind at all around here. Is it really that big of a threat? The pollution controls on these plants are quite good, my investigation tells me.


Peter
#114038 12/11/02 02:52 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,527
B
Moderator
Great photos, Webmaster. As to the PCB concern—I don’t think it was very likely to use anything but mineral oil in transformers of that size {705 MVA}.

#114039 12/11/02 02:56 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 83
P
Member
The plant and the transformer doesn't look old enough for it to have oil containg PCB's.

#114040 12/12/02 07:42 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,527
B
Moderator
I don’t want to scare anyone, but look closely in the second image at about the 8:30 position—you can just make out the crashed flying saucer. It's kinda’ silver-orange colored and shiny, which proves its authenticity. (Notice everything else is cleverly covered in black soot.)

[Linked Image from 67.115.161.42]

[Also note also the absolutely unmeltable zurianoid-metal "cellular antenna tower" attached to the back of the transformer.]


;-)

[This message has been edited by Bjarney (edited 12-12-2002).]

#114041 12/12/02 08:53 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,081
T
Member
Did the saucer crash as a result of the fire, or did the fire begin as a result of the crash?

[This message has been edited by ThinkGood (edited 12-12-2002).]

#114042 12/12/02 09:07 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 518
J
Member
I see that the PC crowd has confused everyone again!
PCB's were used because they were NONFLAMABLE. Yas, you get them hot enough, that can create nasty things- but so can everything else. The use of PCB's virtually eliminated transformer fires.
Now, we have replaced PCB's with mineral oil- and we have fires again.

#114043 12/12/02 09:34 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,527
B
Moderator
TG — The Zuranoids insist that they were just passing by for routine maintenance of their "cellular tower,” and got sucked into the top 345kV connections. Hypergalactic attorneys, Pfeldorgæn diplomats and interspecies insurance adjusters are still fighting over who owes who.




[This message has been edited by Bjarney (edited 12-12-2002).]

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