This project
involved the demolition and asset recovery of a 265’ tall hot gas
cleanup structure located at an active state-of–the-art integrated coal
gasification power plant.
Extensive planning
was required due to the close proximity to the operational gasification
structure. Personnel were specially trained in the use of gas monitoring
equipment, facility alarms and emergency evacuation procedures.
The first phase
involved the identification and removal of all assets associated with
the structure including, piping, valves, actuators, complete electrical
system, heat exchangers, tanks, hoists and specialized equipment. Items
were carefully removed to ensure that they would bring the highest
return on our investment.
Demolition of the
structure and items to large for removal during phase one were removed
in the next phase. During demolition, pick plans were submitted to our
customer for review and approval. Several tanks including some weighing
up to 70,000 pounds were cut using torches, plasmas and burning rods to
ensure their weights were within the prescribed lifting capacities. Once
removed, all items were taken to the lay down yard for further
processing and sorting.
During the course
of the project over 2.1 million pounds of steel and in excess of 330,000
pounds of non-ferrous metals including 304/310/321/316 stainless steel,
aluminum, copper and inconel were removed. Around 99% of all materials
were recycled or reused. The last phase of the project is the removal of
the concrete pads to grade and the replacement/repair of the concrete
which will enable our customer to reuse the structure site for future
expansion.