Work

Work and mitigation measures

In February 2017, Hydro-Québec’s teams started work on the essential steps that have to be completed before this major project can begin. Carrying out these preliminary steps will ensure that the refurbishment can proceed in optimal conditions. They are set to be completed by the end of 2020. Many operations are or will be carried out concurrently. The main challenge for this project is to coordinate activities in a manner that takes account of the space available in the generating station and the scope of the work to be performed by several contractors at the same time.

Essential steps

Preliminary work

Main work to be completed from 2020 to 2026

For information on upcoming or already-awarded contracts, refer to the Economic spinoffs section.

Slideshow

The content of the Slideshow is about the refurbishment of Rapide-Blanc generating station

March 2022 – Lowering of the stator frame onto the soleplates (yellow). The stator is moved using an overhead crane with a custom-designed lifting yoke. The lifting yoke is key to a steady and accurate lowering. It takes about an hour from when the stator is lifted at the entrance of the generating station to its positioning above the turbine pit. Space is limited and transport is slow, but safe.
March 2022 – The stator continues to be lowered into its final position. The team ensures the stator and the soleplates are correctly aligned.
March 2022 – Transport of the shaft-runner-distributor assembly of generating unit 6. The equipment must fit between the generating station’s downstream wall and the manifolds in the center of the other units.
March 2022 – Installation of the shaft-runner-distributor assembly inside the turbine pit.
March 2022 – Finalization of the installation of the shaft-runner-distributor assembly.
Mars 2022 – Finalisation de la mise en place de l’ensemble arbre, roue et distributeur
September 2021: A part of the cofferdam being installed. The installed cofferdams are made up of seven parts.
September 2021: A part of the cofferdam being installed. The installed cofferdams are made up of seven parts.
September 2021: The cofferdams installed upstream ensure the safety of the workers downstream of the two openings, which converge in the penstock of generating unit 6. The blue and yellow structures serve to raise objects and debris.
September 2021: The cofferdams installed upstream ensure the safety of the workers downstream of the two openings, which converge in the penstock of generating unit 6. The blue and yellow structures serve to raise objects and debris.
September 2021: The shaft and gate system are still inside the generator, underneath the workers and the stator. The yellow piece of equipment in the center of the photo was custom designed to remove the shaft.
September 2021: Now that it has been removed from generating unit 6, the gate system will be disassembled and recycled. The yellow guardrails mark off the temporary work platform, which was installed to create a safe work area in this confined space.
September 2021: The rotor shaft seen here ensured the connection between the rotor and the wheel.
September 2021: The inside of generating unit 6, gutted of its equipment.
September 2021: LAR and Voith employees will be working here, i.e., at the top of generating unit 6’s penstock. On this photo, the workers can be seen marking off the work area.
July 2021: Left bank turnaround area for deliveries to be made safely.
July 2021: New distribution substation. The substation is currently located within the generating station’s security perimeter, as was common practice at the beginning of the 20th century.
July 2021: Upstream of Rapide-Blanc generating station. Cofferdams (grey panels) have been installed in front of the intake gates of generating unit 6. They hold the water back upstream and serve to isolate and dry out the work area.
July 2021: A new building that will house workshops and offices.
July 2021: Distributor removed from generating unit 6.
July 2021: Inside of generating unit 6 with the rotor having been removed.
July 2021: Removal of the turbine and of the distributor cut in half. The assembly is held by slings from the main hook of the overhead crane.
July 2021: Second half of the distributor. The first half is visible on the previous photograph.
July 2021: Cofferdams (grey panels) have been installed around the pillars of generating unit 6 to dry out the area for refurbishment work on the concrete in the drawdown zone.
Late May 2021: The work to remove generating unit 6’s rotor is done.
May 2021, getting ready for the dive downstream of generating unit 6. The diver will secure the area for concrete repair work.
May 2021, series of trashracks. There are six per generating unit. For generating unit 6 to be refurbished, the trashrack must be completely removed. Trashracks prevent debris carried by the current from damaging the equipment.
May 2021, cross-section of generating unit 6’s spider.
May 2021, installation of a platform for Voith stator assembly.
December 2020, envelope of the new building that will house the shops and offices.
December 2020, reconfiguration of the dining hall to comply with public health measures and accommodate the higher number of workers during mealtimes.
December 2020, beam relaxation and structural strengthening on the generating station’s downstream wall to bear seismic and structural loads in compliance with building code. This step is required for the transportation of large equipment to the new generating units.
December 2020, preparatory diving work downstream of unit 6 ahead of its refurbishment: underwater concrete work on the pillars of the draft tube and around the grooves of the stoplogs and installation of post-tension anchor rods on the pillars to consolidate them.
December 2020, site of the distribution substation. The poles have been erected, and the electrical equipment will be installed.
December 2020, construction of the duct banks to supply the new substation.
December 2020, work to build the turnaround area on the left bank to transport parts to the water intake deck.
December 2020, house in the village of Rapide‑Blanc with a trailer installed nearby to comply with health directives on physical distancing during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Homes in the village are used as jobsite offices for Hydro‑Québec employees and contractors‑an optimal solution from the financial, environmental and social perspectives.
December 2020, house in the village of Rapide‑Blanc with a trailer installed nearby to comply with health directives on physical distancing during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Homes in the village are used as jobsite offices for Hydro‑Québec employees and contractors‑an optimal solution from the financial, environmental and social perspectives.
December 2020, parking lot near Chemin du 9 milles refurbished to ensure public and worker safety. In winter, recreational users can park their vehicles and trailers here without disrupting the jobsite in the village of Rapide‑Blanc. Recreational users are prohibited from parking in the village and along the road to Trenche and Rapide‑Blanc generating stations, especially in winter.
December 2020, temporary storage site for civil engineering and station services teams with insulated facilities to mix concrete and carry out work during the winter. Each contractor is assigned its own health and safety and environment trailers.
July 2020, demolition of the slab from the ground of the existing portion of the new building to allow for conduits and piping.
July 2020, station where tools shared by contractors are disinfected.
July 2020, crack repair and concrete injection in the inner enclosure of the log chute.
July 2020, intake deck and civil engineering contractors’ site. The crane is used to recover the submerged wood in front of the water intake trashracks of generating units 5 and 6.
July 2020, in-depth recovery operation of submerged wood using a 45-tonne crane, up to the weir of the water intake of generating unit 6. Clearing of trashracks.
July 2020, extraction of buried waste in front of the water intakes. Remains of beaver dams, mud and old logs were found.
July 2020, bucket full of submerged wood in front of the water intakes.
July 2020, site of the future Rapide-Blanc generating station switchyard. The current switchyard is located on the roof of the generating station.
July 2020, view from upstream of the water intake also showing the spillway and the log chute enclosure.
May 2020, welcome station built in front of the electric gate as part of the prevention measures to protect workers’ health and limit the spread of COVID-19.
May 2020, handwashing station at the entrance to the temporary break room building for workers.
May 2020, break room tables configured to enforce social distancing. Instructions on the tables list meal times so workers sit in a checkerboard pattern. Workers must clean the table before and after use.
May 2020, envelope of the new building that will house the workshops and offices.
May 2020, work on the roof of the new building that will house the workshops and offices, which is configured to enforce social distancing as part of the prevention measures to protect workers’ health and limit the spread of COVID-19.
Construction of a temporary building composed of prefabricated modules
A temporary building used by contractors as a dining room, changing room and offices
Inside the temporary building
A new motor for the intake gate hoisting system
The new prefab warehouse built in the village of Rapide-Blanc in 2019
Renovation of house 191 in the village of Rapide-Blanc, housing the jobsite offices for the Hydro-Québec project
House 191 in the village of Rapide-Blanc, following renovation
Preparatory work for construction of the new building to house the workshops and offices
Aerial view of the overhead crane and gensets at Rapide-Blanc generating station

March 2022 – Lowering of the stator frame onto the soleplates (yellow). The stator is moved using an overhead crane with a custom-designed lifting yoke. The lifting yoke is key to a steady and accurate lowering. It takes about an hour from when the stator is lifted at the entrance of the generating station to its positioning above the turbine pit. Space is limited and transport is slow, but safe.

Mitigation measures

The work carried out preserves the existing environmental balance:

Maintains water level management in Blanc reservoir
Maintains discharge flow management at Rapide-Blanc generating station

Measures to mitigate the environmental impact are applied throughout the work period:

Access to upstream and downstream boat ramps maintained. If any disruptions are anticipated, users will be informed and steps will be taken to minimize the frequency and duration of restrictions.
Appropriate signage installed and awareness measures implemented to inform workers and contractors of the need to adopt safe habits
Recommendation that suppliers use a shuttle bus to transport construction workers and thereby avoid increased traffic on access roads
Modifications to a section of the snowmobile trail near the worksite to make it safer for users and workers
Clearing of snow from the road between the garage and the main road in the village and from the parking area at the Chemin du 9 Miles intersection to ensure safe parking
Rollout of a website and various communication activities and platforms to maintain dialogue with the host community

During the work, the site will undergo increased surveillance:

Hydro-Québec will ensure that it complies with all environmental laws and regulations and that the work’s impact on the natural and human environments is minimized by means of the mitigation measures set out in its many environmental clauses. To that end, it will check all work methods and supervise their execution.
Hydro-Québec will monitor all machinery and stationary equipment daily to reduce any risk of accidental contaminant spills at the source. These monitoring activities will include a daily inspection of all equipment and the use of leak prevention devices.
In the event of an accidental release of contaminants, a communication protocol known to all worksite personnel (whether contractors or Hydro-Québec) will be activated immediately to ensure a prompt response and minimize the environmental impact.

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