Uprate Studies

Current market and environmental demands have essentially precluded the building of large hydroelectric plants in the United States.  An attractive alternative to a new plant is to increase the output of the existing plant.  Upgrading is usually done through either the replacement of the existing turbine components or by plant expansion.  Significant increases are achieved ranging from 20-50% at a $/kW cost that is quite reasonable.

On existing equipment, the owner may have difficulty supplying drawings and reliable design, material, and manufacturing information. Inspection of the equipment, even partially disassembled, cannot supply all the essential information required.  GPEA, under such circumstances, can provide engineering with reliability unsurpassed by any other engineering and supply firm in the industry.  The reason for this superiority is GPEA's experience with products from many different suppliers, covering a time period of more than 50 years.
GPEA's data bank provides reliable information about the relevant design practices, standards, materials, and quality control methods.  GPEA's calculations are based on facts and not assumptions.

GPEA can help in your decision making process by performing a complete uprate study to determine the most economical uprate level for your plant.  The following is only a part of what our study determines, with realizations of trouble-free, 35 year, equipment life: