17-17: Project Neptune: International Collaboration for High Wind Load Cooling

The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is an owner and operator of geothermal power plants in the Philippines. The Southeast Asian region is prone to typhoons and the Philippines encounters an average of 20 typhoons each year. In 2013, the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Haiyan, which was the strongest storm ever recorded. The country sustained over 6,300 deaths, and heavily destroyed the power plants. This paper will focus on how the cooling towers were rebuilt and strengthened, and how a unique solution was implemented to reinforce the fan cylinders to enable them to sustain 300 kph wind loads.