In-Place Replacement of a Wicket Gate

摘要

When a wicket gate shaft on Unit 2 at the 456-MW Noxon Rapids plant twisted to the point of failure, plant personnel devised a way to quickly repair the unit and get it back online. Personnel at the plant, owned by Avista, removed the damaged gate and installed a spare gate without dismantling the unit. To accomplish this, they had the leaves cut from the spare wicket gate, installed the shaft in the unit, then welded the leaves back in place. The repair was completed in just three weeks, and the gate has operated normally ever since.