Plavinas hydroelectric power plant (HPP) began operating in the end of 1960s. And since that time the HPP capacity has significantly increased. It plays a major role in Latvian power system – with ten hydro units with total capacity of 893.5 MWel, it is the largest hydroelectric power plant in the Baltic States and one of the largest in the European Union.
LEC was involved in the restoration of beams and pillars of reinforced concrete constructions in Plavinas HPP upstream gantry crane tracks. The objective was to significantly improve the working conditions of the cranes, reducing the crane beam deflection, building the rails as a continuous construction, and reinforcing of the crane track beams both longitudinally and transversely.
Within this project LEC dismantled concrete sidewalk on AB and LB side, the old reinforced concrete beams, crane rails and beam railings, assembled new steel beams and new gantry crane rails using Gantrex rail system. The steel beams were tested and put into operation. During the project, the LEC successfully overcame a number of technical challenges, such as dismantling of the old beams and the assembly of the new ones without the crane.
At the same time until 2015 a project took place within which 330 kV block transformers TN1 and TN2 were replaced, and 330 kV switching point moved to the 52m mark. Transformer replacement was carried out by LEC, which also carried out the relay protection design and construction, dismantling and replacement of the existing cables, as well as 330 kV cable end assembly on transformers and 330 kV cable outdoor cap assembly. Total single-phase 330 kV cable length was 4533 meters, 27 330 kV cable end caps and three joint caps were assembled.
The project required careful planning and organization of work, that was done in cooperation with the client, so that the electricity generation was not stopped even for a moment.