Power Failure Response

If there is a power failure, start the emergency generator. This provides power to close the shutter, which is the first priority. The generator will also keep the UPSs and the cryogenic compressors running, but nothing else in the dome.

1. Get a flashlight and make sure it works well.
2. Inside the teepee under the alidade find the power transfer switch to the right rear. Move the switch from the lower to the upper position, i. e., from NORMAL POWER to EMERGENCY POWER. Don't forget to close the teepee door when you leave.
3. In the UPS/electrical room under the control room, find service Panel "E". Turn off breakers numbered [2-4], [6-8], [10-12], [18-20], [7-9-11], and [13-15]. Note: DO NOT TURN OFF the three phase breaker [1-3-5].
4. Then locate manual transfer switch #1 on the mounting bracket in center of the room. Switch from the upper to the lower position, i. e., from NORMAL POWER to EMERGENCY POWER. As it passes through the center, the handle will lock. Press the latch with your thumb to release the handle while moving it down.
5. In the galley, find the keybox labeled Keys on the wall. Take the keys for the generator and the fuel shed labeled Gen Set.
6. The emergency generator is located outside in a small enclosure next to the utility building and the transformer pad. It is fueled by liquid propane from tanks located in the steel fuel shed in front of the utility building.
7. Unlock the fuel shed (push hard on the door to turn the key). Fully open (CCW) the valves on top of the four (4) propane cylinders.
8. Follow the fuel lines from the cylinders to a manifold with two (2) valves on it. Fully open (CCW) both valves.
9. Now unlock the front panel the generator, which is the narrow side toward the road. When unlocked, the key slot is horizontal. Pressing in hard on the bottom of the lock plate to open the panel.
10. Check to see that the main breaker switch on the generator is in the OFF position.
11. The starter switch is the toggle switch near the middle of the panel. It reads, bottom to top, AUTO, STOP, RUN. Push the switch up to the RUN position. The engine should start at once.
12. Allow a couple of minutes for it to warm up and check the gauges. Oil Pressure: 80 ± 20. Charge: small positive soon going to zero. Coolant Temperature: should rise rapidly because the block heater maintains a temperature of 125 to 150 degree. Voltage: about 208 ± 20 V on each phase and 60 Hz ± 3 on the frequency meter. If any of these parameters are too far out of range, shutdown.
13. During warm-up, open the other panels on the generator enclosure.
14. Now throw the MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER on the generator to ON.
15. Return to the control room, release all the stop buttons, and close the shutter manually. (Control with the UIP probably won't work.)
16. Press the close button on the control panel. The shutter hydraulics should ramp up and the shutter should begin to close. Close the shutter completely before starting the compressors.
17. Return to the UPS/electrical room. In Panel "E", turn on breaker [7-9-11] first. Then, one at a time, turn on breaker pairs [2-4], [6-8], [10-12], [18-20].
18. The CTI compressors in this room should now be running (three are currently active). Verify cold head operation by watching for pulsing of the helium pressure gauge on the CTI compressor front panel or view the cold heads directly at the receivers.
19. Now turn on breaker pair [13-15] and the UPSs should show “AC Line” and “Ready” green lights on the front panel.

1. To determine if power has been restored, check the lights in the utility building.
2. Turn off the main breaker on the generator.
3. Stop the generator.
4. Inside teepee, return the power transfer switch to NORMAL POWER.
5. In the UPS/electrical room, return the transfer switch to to NORMAL POWER.
6. Everything should be back to normal now.
7. Check the compressors are running.
8. Close and lock the generator enclosure. Close all panels.
9. Tightly close (CW) the manifold and propane tank valves in the fuel shed. Lock shed.
10. Return the keys to the keybox in the galley.

Please communicate to the CSO staff the details of the power failure and generator use: the date and time of the start and end of the power failure; the generator start and stop times; any problems encountered; etc.

Rehearsed 2011 August 18