Turk Plant construction milestones continue

Among the completed items on the new John W. Turk, Jr. Power Plant are the generator step-up transformer (left) and the plant’s cooling tower (right). Photos by Scott McCloud

(Story by Peter Main)

FULTON, Ark. — Work continues toward completion of the John W. Turk, Jr. Power Plant, as reported by Venita McCellon-Allen, president and chief operating officer of Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) in a brief video for the Arkansas Coalition for Affordable and Reliable Electricity (ACARE).

ACARE provides ongoing communication with several thousand supporters of the project who have joined the organization since it was formed by SWEPCO and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas more than a year ago.

The Turk project continues to reach milestones. For example, over the past few weeks, the generator step-up (GSU) transformer was energized. A 138,000-volt transmission line connects to the GSU transformer and then to the plant generator on the turbine floor. Electricity is generated at 13,800 volts and then goes through the GSU transformer to step up the voltage to 138,000. The Turk Plant has two 138-kV lines and a third 345-kV line that will connect to the grid to serve customers.

In addition, water is being run for the first time through the plant’s cooling tower. Water is being run through the end fan — one of 16 fans — of the cooling tower to test water flow.

In upcoming weeks, operational testing of additional equipment will begin, including moving high-pressure steam through the lines. Beginning in late August, steam will be blown through pipes at high pressure in preparation for operating the unit’s turbine.

Residents in the surrounding area will hear a series of loud bursts of noise, similar to a jet engine, and will see clouds of water vapor as steam is passed through the lines at high pressure. SWEPCO will be contacting residents to inform them about the upcoming activity.