58. Making Independence Day

In September 2003, Entergy made the decision to improve the HP section efficiency of the 840 MW unit 2 steam turbine at its Independence Steam Electric Station located about 100 miles north east of Little Rock, Arkansas, Author of Alstom reports. During the past ten years generating utilities have been responding positively to the commercial demands of operating in a competitive market environment. Attention has focussed on increasing the financial returns from existing plant assets. From the steam turbine perspective this has meant seeking cost-effective operating improvements by maximising efficiency of turbine cylinders and minimising need for equipment inspection downtime through retrofit application of modern steam path technology.