Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) yesterday said that a fire earlier this month at the Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung was caused by human error involving the installation of an incorrect gasket.
The Sept. 9 incident was traced to a gas leak from a flange on the newly installed Unit 2 gas turbine heater, the company said.
At a news conference in Taipei held to disclose its findings, Taipower said that a contractor had fitted Unit 2-2 with a flange gasket of the wrong specification.
Photo: Su Fu-nan, Taipei Times
During the unit’s trial run, the gasket failed after exposure to temperatures nearing 300°C, leading to a natural gas leak and fire.
Taipower said inspections of its other new units found no similar issues, and it would tighten procedures for gasket installation. The blaze was largely confined to Unit 2-2, with the main power-generating equipment undamaged.
Units 2-1 and 1 were also unaffected, the company said.
Taipower chairman Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) said the gas turbine heaters at the plant would remain offline until their safety has been fully verified.
In the meantime, the company would continue to investigate responsibility for the incident and hold those at fault accountable, he said.
The gasket would not have failed if the correct specifications had been used, Taipower vice president Cheng Ching-hung (鄭慶鴻) said.
The component was supplied by US-based General Electric Co and installed by CTCI Group, an engineering, procurement and construction services provider, he added.
Cheng said the analysis of the failed gasket is still under way, but confirmed that Unit 1 has passed safety checks.
Taipower has applied to the Kaohsiung City Government for approval to restart operations of that unit, he said.
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