ABB will supply a Symphony® Plus automation solution for the 320-megawatt (MW) Topolobampo fuel-fired power plant in the state of Sinaloa, in western Mexico. Mexico’s economy has performed well in recent years, chiefly because of its thriving manufacturing sector. Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), the plant operating state-owned electrical utility, is investing in new combined cycle power plant infrastructure.
The Topolobampo plant conversion is in line with the company's desire to both lower emissions from its power generating plants, increase efficiency and reduce operating costs. The plant is being converted into a dual-fired cycle power plant that will mostly operate with natural gas, instead of heavy fuel oil.
Prior to the plant conversion, ABB had supplied its ProcontrolTM P14 control system which will be removed and replaced with Symphony Plus HR Series (Harmony Rack) and Operations hardware and control software. Based on the positive experience with ABB´s control systems, CFE has decided to trust in a long term relationship with ABB for its flagship automation platform.
ABB's scope of supply includes a Symphony Plus distributed control system (DCS) comprising controls, protection and supervision for the plant, human machine interface (HMI), engineering work stations (EWS), video walls and Optimax plant performance monitoring.
Additionally the scope includes control and protection for an existing ABB gas insulated substation (GIS); soot blower controls and auxiliary systems; and additional process instrumentation, including transmitters, position switches and analyzers.
“ABB is a trusted and long-term CFE supplier, and plays a key role in this region with our strong local presence and extensive capabilities in power systems, including state-of-the-art control automation," said Massimo Danieli, Managing Director of ABB’s Power Generation business, part of the company’s Power Systems division. "ABB will provide CFE with a fast, cost-effective control solution.”