Get the Buzz ... APM Gas Power Delivers Quality on a 5-Unit Outage!

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes

On February 24th, APM Gas Power mobilized for an extensive job scope. After completing a total of 8,338 hours on five outages, the team left on May 23rd victorious with both a safe, quality job and new learnings!

Leading the two crews of 22 millwright craft were APM Superintendents Brent Jordan and Travis Hurd. The Superintendents credit the job’s success to having a regular core team that executes high caliber work with attention to detail while always looking out for each other.

This excellent team cohesion worked to their advantage for the extensive scope on five total outages. One unit required both a Hot Gas Path and a synchronous condenser conversion, a new type of work being tested for solar power to help transmit power through grids lines. For this unit, the crew installed test probes, two types of bearings, and modification on the equipment along with the typical Hot Gas Path. The Gas crew also upgraded the roof modification on the other four units, equipping them with new roofs, fans, blowers, fuel values, and liners. Overall, this was an all-encompassing job that benefited from the team’s existing expertise as well as their willingness to embrace unfamiliarity to learn and grow their skillset.

Testing/Monitoring Equipment

The crew’s attentiveness proved useful in a quality STOP moment. The unit with Hot Gas Path and condenser work was new, so this was the first time it opened for maintenance. Upon opening the unit, the team discovered an expansion joint on the inlet installed backward and required complete removal to access the bearings. The team also noticed the adjacent unit had the same issue, pivoting the scope to provide higher quality work. In the end, the work on this unit was a success and provided unique learning opportunities for the crew – preparing them for similar job scopes in the future.

Removing Inlet Elbow

Empowering the team’s commitment to quality are the practices that keep them safe. At this site, Work Authorization was a frequently necessary Life Saving Rule. Since, at times, there was work happening at three different units at once, attention to work authorization ensured the right people were on the correct unit.

Huge kudos to the whole crew for their outstanding safety and quality performance! We would also like to recognize the Foremen for both shifts – Dusty Hunter for his inspiring leadership and Ben Shefman for his guidance with younger new members on the team and ability to keep operations running smoothly. Lastly, thank you to our APM Superintendents Brent Jordan and Travis Hurd for consistently executing safe quality work on all their jobs!