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News
HPE demonstrates power generating structures for California Energy Commission
August 28, 2008
From June 15 through June 22, 2008, 10 – ten foot diameter helium balloons were flown in position at the Encina Power Plant in Carlsbad, California. The demonstration was designed and directed by the Engineering Division of Hofman Planning and Engineering.
At the request of the California Energy Commission, NRG Energy contracted with HPE to demonstrate the height and mass of two proposed power generating structures located on the NRG property on the west side of Interstate-5 south of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
The height of the proposed structures is eighty-eight feet with exhaust stacks rising to one hundred and thirty-eight feet. The combination of height and location (proposed structure location is currently occupied by a fuel storage tank) made the demonstration a unique challenge.
The four corners and single stack for each of the two proposed structures were represented by one – ten foot diameter balloon. Each of the balloons had to by moored by multiple guy ropes to keep them in a relatively fixed position despite coastal wind conditions.
HPE contracted with Big Events of Oceanside, California to provide the balloons and support in raising and lowering of them. There are only a handful of companies in the country that provide such services. Big Events supervisor stated that this was the first such structure demonstration with which they had been involved.
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