Multi-discipline approach aids onsite efficiency for Electrabel
An extensive contract which includes the prefabrication and installation of all pipe-racks for energy provider Electrabel Nederland’s new coal and biomass has seen Hertel take on a multi-disciplinary approach.
Size constraints and a large number of people working simultaneously meant that onsite construction of the nitrogen and cooling water pipelines was impractical. At the recommendations of engineering consultancy, Tractebel Engineering, Hertel therefore proposed to design, fabricate and fully test the pipe-racks at its facilities in Dordrecht, Netherlands and Wijnegem, Belgium and deliver the modules ready to be installed.
As a multi-discipline services company, Hertel oversaw all prefabrication activities in-house including detailed engineering and 3D design, piping, pre-insulation, painting and electrical heat tracing. This arrangement provided the advantage of a single point of contact for Electrabel.
In addition, Hertel was able to prefabricate all pipe bridges with an accuracy of a millimetre, so even the largest pipe-racks – which are more than 30m long and weigh almost 50 tonnes – could be installed within an hour and mechanically connected in two days as they need only one field weld per line.
As well as the prefabrication and installation of pipe-racks, the project remit also involves maintenance roles including as commissioning, scaffolding, fireproofing, insulation, E&I and painting.
Hertel began prefabricating the pipe-bridges in April 2011 and completed this part of the contract in January 2012. Installation of the modules started in June 2011 and will run until April 2012.
At its peak, Hertel will have up to 50 employees at Electrabel with a further 50 employees working offsite.
Bart Gyssels, Hertel’s Project Manager at Electrabel, said: “In circumstances where activity is restricted by the movements of other contractors on site, Hertel’s extensive service offering means that we are able to deliver the project brief with minimum impact to the construction programme.
“The Electrabel project is a good demonstration of the benefits of Hertel’s broad range of expertise and flexibility.”
Friday 17th of February 2012, 11:59:13 AM GMT
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