Legacy alarm replacement specialist Omniflex has worked with Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL) to provide an upgrade solution for the plant alarm equipment across the Nalubaale and Kiira hydroelectric power stations on Lake Victoria. Omniflex Omni16R replaces 49-point obsolete MPAS90 systems that were first installed in the 1970s and are now end of life and are no longer manufactured, with new OMNI16R units packaged to minimise engineering and plant redesign, while bolstering up to date plant-wide safety.
MPAS90 was manufactured by Highland Electronics based in Dunfermline, UK, who specialised in alarm annunciators across hydroelectric power plants. The company went out of business in 2002, so product support and direct replacements haven’t been possible for over 20 years. Omniflex stepped in to provide the OMNI16R using a ‘fit, form and function process,’ allowing the new equipment to fit in the same space and use the same wiring as the previous equipment, which included the 50Vdc logic, minimising operational disruptions normally associated with system installation and testing.
Failure to replace obsolete alarm annunciators would mean functionality would fail and prevent the plants meeting their targets which are all about energy availability ensuring operational safety integrity levels (SILs). The Omni16R rack and the alarm input wiring is engineered to be identical to the previous MPAS90, with alarm card terminals located suitably to match the old wiring saving many hours during retrofit.
The old alarm system fascia was replaced with the Omniflex Omni-X version fascia, which can mechanically match the old MPAS90 version layout with minimal adjustments in the control room matching the previously bespoke fitting arrangement, as well as upgrading the alarm windows to reliable energy efficient LED.
“Replacing MPAS90 with OMNI16R provides a cost-effective upgrade with minimal disruption to operations. By using the existing panel space and wiring, it saves any costly engineering reconfiguration and enables a smooth transition,” explained Ian Loudon, International Sales and Marketing Manager at Omniflex. “These are huge facilities. These hydro plants are part of the backbone of generating power for the entire country’s energy and infrastructure. Failure is not an option.”
Formerly known as Owen Falls Dam, Nalubaale Power Station’s generators produce up to 180 megawatts of power. Built in 2003, Kiira Power Station can generate up to 40 megawatts.
Omniflex provides Fit, Form and Function replacements for annunciators globally saving companies huge amounts of engineering cost whilst keeping the plant safety and functionality intact to the original design.
Find out more about the importance of up-to-date alarm annunciator systems by downloading this whitepaper focused on managing power plant safety.
