Wärtsilä has introduced to its range the concept of the ‘PowerCube’, a compact, modular system intended to provide industrial customers, utilities and independent power producers with small power plants based on 1-3 generating sets. They are delivered, on a turnkey basis, in ‘an economical, reliable and fast way’.
PowerCubes are complete single-engine power plants with all the auxiliaries and components needed to form a working power production unit. Each plant is of cubical construction with radiators on the roof and an exhaust gas stack close to the Cube or integrated within it. They are based on Wärtsilä type 32 or type 20 engines in the OilCube variation, and the 34SG engine in the GasCube variation, each providing up to 9 MWe. Units are delivered with all ‘above ground’ components and structures.
The electrical and automation system, including plant programmable logic control, is a low voltage system throughout the interior of each cabinet. The plant can be monitored and operated remotely or from free-standing workstations.
Advantages to the user are named as fast and easy installation, operation with a minimum of staff on site, and flexible plant extension. The standardised cubical design gives flexibility in optimising the layout for the plant. Starting with a single unit, customers can develop their power plant by adding new, easily interconnecting Cubes as their demand for power grows.
The small footprint and minimum interface with the surroundings also opens up new possibilities in locating the units. And having closed cooling circuit systems that reduce water consumption to a minimum renders them well suited to remote locations or any location in which water is scarce.
Interior layout of the OilCube version The new GasCube module GasCube module showing interior layout