In terms of total annual net electricity generation, this power plant is ranked #44 out of 11,979 power plants nationwide.
Background:
The W.A. Parish Generation Station in Thompsons, Texas, is a significant power plant owned and operated by NRG Energy. It is one of the largest conventional power stations in the U.S. and has a total installed capacity of 3,653 MW. The plant uses both coal and natural fuels and occupies a 4,664-acre site near Smithers Lake.
The station has a rich history, including the implementation of the Petra Nova Carbon Capture Project in 2017, which was the largest carbon capture system installed on an existing power plant at the time. This system aimed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by capturing and transporting CO2 for enhanced oil recovery. However, the project was idled in 2020 due to low oil prices and later restarted in 2023.
The plant also faced many challenges, such as a fire in 2022 that damaged a turbine and contributed to the 2021 Texas power crisis. However, its operations and innovations have made it a notable facility in the energy sector.
Sentry’s Role in Helping a Notable Power Plant:
The power plant needed new equipment to replace SWAS panels for Units 1-4. After going through the bidding process, Sentry Equipment was selected. That decision was driven by NRG’s trust in our local sales team, our quick response, and our extensive track record not only of designing and building high-quality panels but also of executing timely rip-and-replace projects around turnarounds.
The formal walkdown for the Units 1-4 replacement project was conducted in September 2024 by Sentry’s installation technician, Kyle Prill, and Ben Lee, our representative with Ed Reed Company.
Current SWAS panels on Unit 1 and Unit 2 natural gas-fired HRSGs. Unit 1 shown with a demo unit of the latest Sample Sentry automated variable reducing element (VREL) with Mag Trap.
After Sentry was awarded the project, we held an on-site purchase order review to ensure everyone at NRG, including the panel operators, would be happy with the new panels. It was then that we learned that with the limited operations team on site and the highly cyclical nature of the units, a solution to make operating the panel more hands-off would be valuable for NRG.
NRG was happy to work with us and install a demo unit of the latest generation of AutoVREL. The Unit 1 Sample Sentry beta install was in January of 2025, and so far, NRG has been very pleased with its functionality and how it works alongside the MagTrap. NRG then opted to include MagTraps, TSV’s, and AutoVREL’s on all high-pressure streams on their new panels.
Current SWAS panels on Unit 2 and Unit 3 natural gas-fired HRSGs.
Unit 1 will be installed in the fall while the new SWAS panel for Unit 3 will be pushed to the fall 2026 outage. Due to their strict turnaround windows, we have worked with NRG to flex different parts of the project based on our production timeline as well as their outage schedule.
The new SWAS panels for Units 2 and 4 are the most recent installations by Kyle Prill, Jeff Timm, and Josh McGraw, our installation and retrofit team in the power industry. The team has done a great job coming up with solutions that work for everyone, including cutting in additional double block and bleed valves to allow us to do hot cutovers on some auxiliary sample cabinets.
Sentry Equipment is with you the whole way. Contact us through our online contact us form or call us at: +1-262-567-7256
Written by Sentry Equipment
With proven sampling expertise since 1924, Sentry products and services provide business operations the critical insights to optimize process control and product quality. We deliver true representative sampling and analysis techniques to customers around the globe, empowering them to accurately monitor and measure processes for improved production efficiency, output and safety. Standing behind our commitments, we are determined to tackle any application, anywhere.
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