Mechanical Isolations - Penstocks, Secondary Isolations, Flap Valves and Safety Grilles
This course will provide an understanding of the risks inherent in maintaining the mechanical isolations, routine maintenance requirements, reactive maintenance scenarios, access arrangements, including access for remote Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) inspections. It also provides training on how to deploy secondary isolation gates and vortex safety grilles.
Description
Key Topic Areas
Training will cover all manufacturers recommended inspection, routine and reactive maintenance requirements, safe isolation and manual operation where available. This will include:
- Potential hazards and risk mitigation associated with the work (addressed throughout the training below, as it progresses);
- Visual inspection of penstocks, secondary isolation gates and flap valves, including electric actuators, hydraulic power units and associated pipework:
- Key inspection points and ‘things to look out for’;
- Access arrangements, including access for remote (CCTV) inspection;
- Routine maintenance including:
- Removal of a hydraulic cylinder from a penstock;
- Replacement of cylinder proximity switches;
- Adjustment of penstock wedges;
- Replacement of penstock seals;
- Replacement of flap valve hinge pins;
- Maintenance of electric actuators;
- Maintenance of hydraulic power units including:
- Oil changes/top ups;
- Filter changes;
- Reactive maintenance including:
- Possible failure types;
- Emergency shut down and isolation points;
- Further steps – O&M manual and contacts;
- Manual operation of penstocks (including the need to coordinate with system controller);
- Deployment of the Secondary Isolation Gate;
- Deployment of Vortex Safety Grille (not HAMBK scope – by MWC).
Outcomes
On completion of the training, Delegates are expected to:
- Understand the risks inherent in maintaining the mechanical isolations;
- Be able to undertake a visual inspection of the mechanical isolations, with an understanding of the key inspection points and appropriate use of alternative methods of inspection (CCTV);
- Understand the routine maintenance requirements and be able to undertake them (within the limitations of a ‘typical installation’ setting);
- Understand the possible reactive maintenance scenarios, how to make safe following a failure and steps towards resolution;
- Be able to deploy the Secondary Isolation Gate (SIG) and retract it to its stored position;
- Be able to deploy the vortex safety grille and retract it to its stored position.
Competency/Skills Requirements
Before attending the training session, Delegates are expected to complete:
- Safety Fundamentals - Module 1 (Plans and Reporting);
- Safety Fundamentals - Module 2 (Introduction to Hazards);
- Safety Fundamentals - Module 3 (Chamber Access);
- HMI Operator Training Worksite Level;
- Maintenance Fundamentals.
Before attending the training, Delegates are also expected to have:
- Experience working with similar plant;
- Been trained in confined space entry;
- Been trained in electrical safety awareness.