Operating and Maintenance Experience With Pump-Turbines in Brazil

This paper presents operating and maintenance data on 11 reversible pump-turbines in Brazil, one of which has been in service for 25 years. Actual hours of pumping and generating operation are given. While a number of mechanical difficulties were encountered, the principal maintenance problem seemed to be erosion due to cavitation, and due to sand and sewage in the water. However, none of the problems encountered was insurmountable, and all the units have given many years of satisfactory service.