2019-10-17
City of St. Cloud awards contract for digital governor and additional components to Voith
- New, state-of-the-art governor and static exciter will be installed at the St. Cloud Hydroelectric Generation Facility
“One of the risks of an upgrade is how new components interact with older ones. By using proven hardware solutions and Voith software developed for hydro equipment, we make sure these new components can perfectly integrate with the hydroelectric power unit and all auxiliary equipment that is already in place. We’re essentially rebuilding the interfaces at St. Cloud to smooth its operation while at the same time we replace obsolete equipment and lift the design standard to the 21st century.” said Marko Preibisch, Senior Manager Upgrades, Voith Digital Ventures.
Overall, the main parts of the project at St. Cloud are the digital governor and hydraulic power unit replacements. These new components are set to greatly increase the maintainability of the facility while also providing the equipment that makes remote service and automation possible, both of which are key to improving overall efficiency in operation. Without the installation of these new systems, the Dam is at increased risk of unplanned outages due to the potential that its older equipment would fail, and the operator would struggle to get parts and service for those legacy systems.
St. Cloud Hydroelectric Generation Facility, which connects Minnesota’s Stearns and Sherburne counties, spans the Mississippi River. It uses two 4.5 megawatt turbines that feed into the Xcel Energy, Inc. power grid. Voith’s installation work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019.
Learn more about Voith’s digital automation services here
About Voith Digital Ventures
The Group Division Voith Digital Ventures bundles the Voith Group’s long standing automation and IT expertise with the deep know-how in the fields of hydropower, paper machines and drive engineering. As an incubator, this Group Division is pushing for the development of new digital products and services. For decisively shaping the digitalization of mechanical and plant engineering, Voith is driving the industrial Internet of things (IIoT) forward. The Group Division plays a central role in digital innovations and applications for new markets as well as the development and responsibility for existing and new digital venture activities.
About the company
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has more than 19,000 employees, sales of € 4.2 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.
More about the Voith Group
The Group Division Voith Hydro is part of the Voith Group and a leading full-line supplier as well as trusted partner for equipping hydropower plants. Voith develops customized, long-term solutions and services for large and small hydro plants all over the world. Its portfolio of products and services covers the entire life cycle and all major components for large and small hydro plants, from generators, turbines, pumps and automation systems, right through to spare parts, maintenance and training services, and digital solutions for intelligent hydropower.
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