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MONTREAL, Oct. 31, 2003 -- Invensys plc, a global specialist in production technology, announced that its Vision & Robotics business unit has delivered the Scompi® 345 robotic system to the Liujiaxia Water Power Station in China for on-site repair of erosion damage to turbine runners.
Scompi is a portable, track-based multi-process metal fabrication robotic system that assists welders in the assembly, refurbishment and repair of turbines, penstocks and head gates. The Liujiaxia hydropower station dam site is 2,020 kilometers from the headstream of the Yellow River. It receives heavily sediment-laden waters, causing serious sand erosion to its five turbines that require refurbishment every two years. With the purchase of the Scompi system, Liujiaxia intends to achieve faster, higher quality and longer-lasting repairs, which results in reduced turbine downtime.
"Currently when Liujiaxia runners need repair, workers crawl into the runner area to manually grind the eroded surface and deposit overlay welding," said Jean-Francois Dupont, operation manager for Invensys Vision & Robotics. "This is a very difficult job, but the alternative is to disassemble the runner, a procedure that offers optimal blade profile but typically is very expensive and takes nine months to perform."
This Scompi system sale is considered to be a significant step in further expanding the market for Vision & Robotics products in China. The Invensys business unit has targeted opportunities throughout the Pacific Rim for advancing hydropower repair technologies and providing gainful tools to upgrade hydropower installations.
"By integrating the Scompi technology with manufacturing and intervention processes, benefits occur at every level, from improved health and safety of workers to lowered cost for high-quality interventions," said Jean-Luc Fihey, project manager for the development of the Scompi technology at Montreal-based Hydro-Québec, a leading provider of hydroelectricity in North America.
Scompi technology was developed by Hydro-Québec. Invensys, in partnership with Hydro-Québec, has industrialized the technology and is marketing Scompi systems.
Liujiaxia is in the initial installation phase that will be followed by procedure development and sample testing.
"It is a crucial moment and we are following it closely," Dupont said. "What we understood from this experience is that China wants to be at the forefront of technology. It has entered a new stage in which all its investments are placed in the most advanced technologies.
"For the hydropower manufacturing and repair and maintenance industry, Scompi was viewed as offering the most benefits and potential. Their objective was to find a technology that would produce high quality, improve the work conditions of the welders and reduce the amount of downtime during interventions."
The Scompi robot is a track-based, six-axis manipulator arm and carriage assembly that can fit between 25-centimeter blade spacing and can be quickly installed at various work sites of a runner. Hydro-Québec has been using it for repair tasks since 1995 and it has proven ideal for on-site repairs requiring grinding and welding.
Scompi reduces the need for welders to work long hours in tight, awkward spaces that expose them to toxic welding fumes and burning projectiles. Turbine in-place repair quality is improved because the robotic process minimizes weld defects, distortion and detrimental residual stresses. Turbine downtime is shortened because the robotized processes and repair interventions can be conducted in intervals.
About Vision & Robotics
Vision & Robotics, part of the Invensys Production Management Division, has been developing automated vision inspection and robotic manufacturing solutions for 10 years. The business unit provides solutions for the lighting, continuous web, heavy metal fabrication, turbo machinery, automotive, electronics, aeronautics, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and consumer goods industries. For additional information, visit www.solutions2accelerate.com.
About Invensys
Invensys is a global provider in production technology. The group helps customers improve productivity, performance and profitability using innovative services and technologies and a deep understanding of their industries and applications.
Invensys Production Management works closely with customers to increase performance of production assets, maximize return on investment in production and data management technologies and remove cost and cash from the supply chain. The division includes APV, Avantis, Eurotherm, Foxboro, IMServ, SimSci-Esscor, Triconex and Wonderware. These businesses address process and batch industries -- including oil and gas, chemicals, power and utilities, food and beverage, and personal health care -- and the discrete and hybrid manufacturing sectors.
Invensys Rail Systems is a global provider in the design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of safety related rail signaling and control systems as well as a complete range of rail signaling and communications products. The business includes Westinghouse Rail Systems Limited (WRSL), Dimetronic Signals, Safetran Systems, Burco Services, Westinghouse Signals Australia and Foxboro Transportation. WRSL was recently awarded two contracts valued at more than 850 million pounds (US$1.3 billion) for the renewal of signaling on the London Underground.
Invensys operates in more than 60 countries, with its headquarters in London. For more information, visit www.invensys.com.
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