On-Site Power

Gen-Sets for Post-Katrina Pump Stations Finding New Purposes

Houston-based industrial gen-set firm Depco Power Systems purchased 92 generators and engines from the dismantled project and is now finding uses for the equipment. 

Nearly 100 industrial-sized gen-sets used to help New Orleans prevent flooding in the past-Katrina era are finding new homes and purposes.

Those temporary pump systems served the area for 12 years beginning in 2006, created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect against future storm surges. A new, permanent $714 million flood management solution was completed in May 2018, making the old power systems unnecessary there.

Houston-based industrial gen-set firm Depco Power Systems purchased 92 generators and engines from the dismantled project and is now finding uses for the equipment. Already, 14 C18 industrial power units have been sold to a pump manufacturer, while eight 3412 poewr units are being repurposed by other companies.

Hurricane Katrina ravaged the region when it hit in the summer of 2005, causing hundreds of deaths and $160 billion in long-term damage to property and equipment. Much of the city sits at or below sea level, and the complex system of levees, canals and pumps could not keep up when the surge rolled in with the historic storm.

The city had 148 drainage pumps ready for the job, but 80 percent of the city still flooded in Katrina’s aftermath.

The Corps of Engineers constructed “temporary” water pumps and flood gates in 2006 to protect Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes. Once the new, permanent system was in place last year, the Corps. Contractor M.R. Pittman Group LLC to decommission the 12-year-old flood prevention system.

Depco took the decommissioned parts to its Houston center for servicing and testing. The repurposed units can power oil rigs, other pumps and projects anywhere in the world, the company said.

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New Orleans will play host to the DistribuTECH conference exhibition Feb. 5-7, and also POWERGEN International in November 19-21. On-site power is a key content session at POWERGEN. The call for abstracts is now open and click here to find out more.

 

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