If you’re a power plant manager or decision-maker, you know it’s vital to handle routine preventative maintenance issues efficiently and effectively. It’s also important to have a plan for addressing these tasks if you’re looking to expand capacity or are considering a new power plant construction initiative.
That’s why it’s beneficial to have a power plant maintenance partner. Specifically, you want an industrial contractor in Florida with certifications and experience in power and energy plants. They can help ensure that power plant maintenance tasks are completed safely and correctly.
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
Power plant maintenance engineers typically find themselves in a difficult position. They’re tasked with ensuring the plant can meet power production requirements while adhering to safety regulations. That objective alone is challenging. But they’re also expected to keep aging equipment functioning properly.
Often, it’s more work than one person or small team can handle. Consequently, they may have to give power plant maintenance tasks less attention than is ideal.
Fortunately, there’s a simple and effective solution. Increasingly, power plant managers are using the services of industrial contractors to augment their internal maintenance resources. This frees staff to tackle other issues while ensuring that experienced power plant experts are handling regular maintenance and additional one-off projects as needed.
It can be difficult to find mechanical engineers in Florida who meet the requirements of this niche field. But once you do and establish a trusting relationship with an industrial contracting firm, you enjoy powerful peace of mind, knowing they’ll handle critical tasks professionally.
Why Every Power Plant Needs Preventative Maintenance Assistance
Every business owner or operator knows it’s advantageous to address minor problems before they become major concerns. That’s undoubtedly true with power and energy plants.
Power plant preventative maintenance provides many benefits, including that it:
- Minimizes downtime
- Increases power generation and profitability
- Extends equipment lifespans
- Improves worker safety
- Ensures regulatory compliance
Obviously, plants that are lax in conducting regular maintenance experience the opposite of these benefits.
Issues that routine maintenance can address or prevent in and around power plants include:
- Transformer overload and failure
- Overhead line sag
- Circuit breaker failure
- Underground cable treeing
Failing to attend to these and other problems can result in costly repairs and outages.
Scheduling Power Plant Preventative Maintenance
Nothing feels better for a power plant manager than 1) finding a highly qualified industrial contractor and 2) scheduling preventative maintenance visits. After a skilled mechanical engineer has performed the necessary inspections and work a time or two, power plants see significant decreases in equipment failure and downtime.
The engineer uses their experience along with predictive maintenance tools (PdM), computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems to stay ahead of problems.
Often, they work from a preventative maintenance checklist that they develop in collaboration with the client. The engineer also coordinates with the client on what will drive the maintenance. It may be time-based (monthly, quarterly, etc.), usage-based (runtime, cycle counts, etc.), or condition-based (triggered by changes in sounds, vibration, etc.). And in many power plants, all three drivers are incorporated into a maintenance plan.
Ultimately, the engineer proactively replaces worn or damaged components and resolves system problems, and stakeholders enjoy much lower stress levels.
Improved Plant Performance Is Just a Phone Call or Email Away
All it takes to realize the many benefits of power and energy plant preventative maintenance is a call or email to Coker. We can help you craft a maintenance plan and then promptly start performing expert inspections and work so you can continue operating your plant safely and profitably. Contact us today to learn more about our services as one of Florida’s top industrial contractors.