Based on the results of the technical and economic analysis performed by K&M Advisors as part of a separate assignment, SEPCO made a decision to proceed with implementing a fogging system at the 300 MW combined cycle power plant designed in 2 x 1 configuration and utilizing GE9E gas turbines. SEPCO engaged K&M Advisors to develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) document, assist during the bidding process, conduct proposal evaluations, and prepare a report recommending the winning bidder.

K&M developed the fogging system RFP. The RFP document prepared by K&M included instructions to bidders, functional technical specification including the scope of supply and services and general technical requirements, and forms to be submitted by bidders. The draft supply contract was prepared by SEPCO. Three companies submitted their proposal in response to the RFP. K&M reviewed the proposals, conducted proposal evaluation, including issuing several rounds of clarification questions to the bidders, and prepared the proposal evaluation report recommending the winning bidder.

SAMRA Power Plant, a combined cycle power plant with a capacity of 1160 MW at site ambient conditions, utilizing two 300 MW blocks, each with GE9E gas turbines in 2 x 1 configuration, one 420 MW block with GE132 gas turbines in 2 x 1 configuration, and one block with GE13E2 gas turbine in 1 x 1 configuration. Over the last several years, the Jordanian power grid has struggled to cover peak loads during high-temperature periods. As a result, SEPCO has reviewed potential solutions for increasing power plant generation by installing the Advanced Gas Path (AGP) parts on GE9E turbines and activating an enhanced mode of operation for their 13E2 gas turbines. SEPCO engaged K&M Advisors to evaluate the technical and commercial viability of the AGP installation and operation in enhanced mode. This included a review of the design of generating units, auxiliary equipment, and balance of plant systems to assess their ability to support the increased power output during fogging system and AGP operation.

K&M developed GateCycle models of combined cycle plants to calculate heat and material balances for different ambient temperatures without and with the previously installed fogging system. For each combination of the ambient temperature, fogging system status, and AGP status, K&M developed a spreadsheet summarizing the system power output and power output increase, heat rate and heat rate change, fogging system evaporation rate/demineralized water requirements, and other steam and water impacting operation of HRSG, steam turbine, ACC, and other auxiliary equipment that could be impacted by the fogging system. To analyze the demineralized system requirements, K&M calculated the fogging system demineralized water requirements and the total daily demineralized water demand and compared it with the demineralized water system capacity.  K&M also conducted an economic analysis to determine whether the installation of AGP is economically justified.

NEPCO is developing a 600 MW gas-fired combined cycle power plant to be added to the Jordanian generation fleet and initially engaged K&M to perform technical studies to define the technical parameters of the plant. The study since then was approved, and NEPCO engaged K&M so assist them in organizing competitive bidding for selecting a private investor for developing the project as an IPP under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

K&M will develop a pre-qualification document and manage the pre-qualification process to select pre-qualified bidders As the next step, K&M will develop a tender document and draft project agreements, including the PPA, Implementation Agreement, Land Lease Agreement, and Water Supply Agreement, and then manage the bidding process, responding on bidders clarification questions and conducting a pre-bid meeting. Upon receipt of the bidders’ proposal, K&M will perform technical and financial bid evaluation, recommend the winning bidder, and then assist NEPCO during negotiations of the project agreements and financial close.

NEPCO is developing a 580 MW gas-fired combined cycle power plant to be added to the Jordanian generation fleet and engaged K&M to perform technical studies to define the technical parameters of the plant. The scope of the studies includes the evaluation of the prospective project sites, selection of suitable gas turbine technologies, and unit sizes, analysis of possible combined cycle plant configuration and capacity ranges, selection of a preferred method for the gas turbine inlet air cooling, plant performance modeling, and estimating capital and operating costs and fuel and water demand.

K&M evaluated 8 prospective project sites and recommended the preferred site option. K&M also modeled the performance of the plant for all class E and F gas turbines available on the market from gas turbine suppliers for different plant temperatures in 2 x 1 and 3 x 1 1 configuration for site elevation and different ambient temperatures between zero and 40oC. Using the results of the modeling, K&M conducted an economic evaluation of different options and established the recommended capacity range and plant configuration, estimated capital and operating costs, and fuel and water demand.

K&M understands that from the beginning of the commercial operation, Phase IV Add-on Combined Cycle feedwater pumps experienced high vibration issues and that these issues are not fully resolved despite remedial measures undertaken by SEPCO3, the EPC Contractor, and SEPCO. Specifically, one of the pumps, pump C, still experiences high vibration.

On March 8, 2024, SEPCO issued a request for K&M to provide a quote for performing additional analysis of the feedwater pump operating issues and to provide recommendations on a path forward.

In response, K&M has outlined a three-task approach:

Task 1: Assess Vibration Characteristics and Analyze Vibration Data for Phase IV BFWP Motors

K&M will analyze the vibration characteristics and vibration data for the Phase IV BFWP motors that SEPCO has seen during the commissioning and operation of the plant. The analysis will consist of a review of all relevant documentation and operating data for the BWFP motor and pump assembly as compared to applicable international standards for rotating equipment operation and OEM standards. The data required for a thorough analysis of the issue can be seen in Section 5.3.

Task 2: Provide Recommendations to Resolve Underlying Issues and Mitigate Vibration-Related Levels and Concerns

Based on the information received and analysis performed for Task 1, K&M will provide recommendations for any remedial action or analysis to be performed that has not previously been implemented by SEPCO. The action may consist of running specific test scenarios for additional data points or may require physical intervention.

Task 3: Offer Guidance on Necessary or Recommended Mechanical Measures to Live with the Current Situation of the vibration issue on Phase IV BFWP Motors.

If it is determined that the vibration issues cannot be resolved, a secondary option would be to optimize how SEPCO operates the plant with Pump A having excessive vibration for the life of the plant. K&M will provide recommendations for plant operation configurations, such as, for example, having Pump A on standby or limiting its operation to certain maximum number of running hours per year to prolong the life of the bearings and rotor of its motor; scheduling pump maintenance at the time of gas turbine outage to minimize pump impact on the overall unit availability, conducting regular inspections of pump A motor bearings and preventive  bearing replacement to minimize the possibility of pump forced outage due to bearing damage, etc.

Deliverable:

Feedwater Pump Vibration Analysis and Operation Recommendation Report

Fogging System Analysis

SEPCO has indicated the power grid in Jordan has had difficulty covering peak loads observed during high-temperature periods. As a result, SEPCO has reviewed potential solutions for its Samra Power Plant to increase power plant generation during these peak periods.

SEPCO intent is to modify all seven gas turbines installed at the Samra Power Plant by installing a fogging system in the gas turbine inlet. This modification aims to increase plant power generation to help the power grid cover the peak loads during high-temperature periods. To evaluate the technical and commercial viability of the fogging system installation, SEPCO engaged K&M Advisors to review the design of generating units’ and auxiliary equipment and systems to evaluate their ability to support the increased power output during fogging system operation.

The purpose of this study is to:

• Verify whether existing auxiliary equipment of each of the phases is capable of supporting facility operation with the fogging systems, and
• Determine the demineralized water demand required for the fogging system.

Fogging System RFP Development

Once the technical viability of implementing the fogging system has been confirmed, SEPCO will need to develop an RFP for suppliers to submit their proposal for design that meets the requirements of applicable standards and good engineering practice. K&M will develop the RFP documentation for suppliers to ensure that the design of the system is adequate and technically sound.

Fogging System Analysis

K&M developed GateCycle models of combined cycle plants to calculate heat and material balances for different ambient temperatures without and with the fogging system. For each combination of the ambient temperature and fogging system status, K&M developed a spreadsheet summarizing the system power output and power output increase, heat rate and heat rate change, fogging system evaporation rate/demineralized water requirements, and other steam and water impacting operation of HRSG, steam turbine, ACC, and other auxiliary equipment that could be impacted by the fogging system. To analyze the demineralized system requirements, K&M calculated the fogging system demineralized water requirements and the total daily demineralized water demand and compared it with the demineralized water system capacity. We evaluated whether there is a deficit of demineralized water with fogging system operation and suggested the required additional demineralized water system capacity.

Fogging System RFP Development

K&M will assist SEPCO in developing the fogging system RFP. The RFP document prepared by K&M will include instructions to bidders, functional technical specification including the scope of supply and services and general technical requirements, and forms to be submitted by bidders. It is expected that the draft supply contract will be prepared to be included in the RFP will be based on the standard SEPCO’s supply contract, so no draft contract preparation is included in K&M’s scope. SEPCO will provide K&M with any available technical and commercial information received to date from the prospective fogging system suppliers.

The National Electric Power Company (NEPCO), a national electric utility responsible for operating Jordan’s transmission network planning system expansion including procurement of new generating facilities selected the Attarat Power Company, a private company incorporated in Jordan, whose shares are owned Malaysian, Chinese, and Estonia entities, to develop, design, finance, construct, test, commission, complete, own, insure, operate and maintain a 470 MW (net) oil shale fired power plant (together with the mine and water extraction facilities). The project consists of two 235 MW (net) unit. The project will sell its capacity and energy to NEPCO under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). K&M was selected to serve as an Independent Engineer on the project serving both NEPCO and APCO and getting paid by both parties on a 50/50 basis.

K&M was engaged by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to assist the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) with an assessment of Jordan’s energy needs, potential for IPP development, and the procurement of new power generating capacity. K&M conducted a feasibility study of public and private options for developing new power generating capacity to meet Jordan’s energy needs. This work included an assessment of Jordan’s energy supply and demand, an analysis of its regulatory and legal environment, and an evaluation of various project structures for private investment in power generation. K&M prepared draft tender documents for the procurement of a developer for 300-450 MW of generating capacity at the Samra site under a Build-Own-Operate arrangement. K&M attended pre-bid meetings and provided technical support to MEMR and NEPCO for the technical specifications of the project and the design of the transaction documents. The project eventually was built and a government-owned facility and is now operating as Phase 1 of Samra Electric Power Company (SEPCO) power generation complex.

K&M served as Lead and Financial Transaction Advisor to The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR). K&M assisted with structuring and tendering a 370 MW gas-fired combined cycle plant on a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis. The K&M team provided financial, legal, and technical support in site selection for this project, developed the international competitive bid tender documents, managed the bidding and selection process, and concluded contractor negotiations through financial close. An updated electricity demand study was reviewed and finalized by K&M. In addition, a risk assessment and financial sources assessment were prepared. The resulting RFP was issued to a group of bidders previously pre-qualified by K&M. After receiving and evaluating the proposals, K&M recommended a developer for negotiations. The K&M team then assisted MEMR with the negotiations of the project agreements with the successful bidder. The project reached financial closure in March 2007 for a total of US$300 million.

K&M served as the Lead and Financial Transaction Advisor to the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to assist in the development of a 241 MW reciprocating engine tri-fuel power plant. K&M provided commercial, financial, regulatory, and technical support to develop the project’s conceptual design, key project agreements, and commercial structure. K&M developed the international competitive bid tender documents (PPA, government support, fuel, water, land, and grid connection agreement) and managed the entire tender and selection process. K&M also designed the evaluation model and selected a consortium comprised of AES and Mitsui as the winning bidder to develop the project. On behalf of NEPCO, K&M led negotiations with the project developer to a successful financial close in 2012 with OPIC and EBRD for a total of US$360 million.