WEG and Neoenergia carried out maintenance services on a transformer at the premises of Termopernambuco (Termope) thermal power plant in Ipojuca, northeastern state of Pernambuco, allowing efficient repair and avoiding power generation shortage. 

With power range of 18 / 22MVA and a voltage of 13.8 / 4.16kV, this equipment, which operates as an auxiliary transformer, guarantees continuation of the project operation. 

“With this solution, we were able to reduce repair service time from an average of six months to 30 days since it was carried out on site. Another advantage was the possibility of gathering both the field and the remote expertise of our company and WEG, with full knowledge of the equipment, engineering background and technical qualification of the teams”, says José Luis Molla, Termopernambuco´s Deputy Maintenance Manager. 

To ensure safe repair services, the plant has prepared suitable infrastructure to accommodate the equipment and technicians. Featuring power rating of 22MVA and weighing over 22 tons, the transformer makes part of the plant's auxiliary system. The repaired transformer contributes to the safety and availability that the plant provides to the system. In addition, WEG is one of the few companies with expertise of supplying and instantaneously installing the commutator at load, which proves the company´s technical-industrial capacity. 

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Termopernambuco implemented a strict health and safety protocol, which included testing, mandatory use of masks and intensification of personal hygiene and work environments. The rules were followed accordingly by the employees of both companies preventing them from new coronavirus contamination. 

Termopernambuco has generation capacity to generate up to 533 MW, from three turbines in a combined cycle system. This technology combines the operation of two gas turbines, driven by fired natural gas together with a steam turbine. The plant unit holds selling contracts of 455 MW for two distributors of the Neoenergia Group for a period of 20 years, split between Celpe, state of Pernambuco, with 390 MW for Celpe (PE) and Coelba, state of Bahia, with 65MW.