Case Study
Switchyard Upgrade
Challenge:
A client was looking to sell its trigeneration facility and required mechanical and electrical upgrades. Due to the installation of a new upstream substation, options for electrical distribution upgrades to a facility consisting of a steam plant, a chiller plant, and three generating units were necessary. They needed a report and total installed cost (TIC) estimate to approve the project.
Solution:
Valdes executed the preliminary design work and developed the report and total installed cost estimate for the client to obtain project approval. Valdes later provided detailed engineering to modify the existing electric service substation which included the removal and installation of a new transformer, emergency diesel generator, chillers, new cooling towers and associated pumping.
Impact:
The detailed engineering provided procurement specifications for equipment and labor and allowed project to be completed on time and under budget. Ultimately, the client was able to achieve its goal of selling the facility soon thereafter.
SERVICES:
Mechanical
- Facility Design & Plant Layout
- Equipment Selection
- Material Handling & Dust Control Systems
- Rotating Equipment Sizing & Specification
- HVAC
- Fire Protection & Detection
- Plumbing
- Fluid Heat Tracing
- Blending & Mixing Systems
- Heat Exchanger Selection
- Plant Utilities
- Industrial/Hygiene Ventilation
- Equipment & Piping Specifications
- Field Walkdowns/Constructability Review
- Pressure Vessel Design
Electrical
- System Analysis (SKM Power* Tools):
- Load Flow
- Short Circuit
- Overcurrent Coordination
- Arc Flash
- Transient Stability
- Utility/Industrial & Transmission/Service Substations
- Industrial Power Distribution:
- Power Transformers
- Low/Medium Voltage Switchgear
- Motor Control Centers
- VFD Installations
- Protective Relay Settings, Generators & Distribution
- Diesel Generator and UPS Systems
- DC systems
- Grounding & Lightning Protection
- Lighting
- Equipment & Raceway Layout Drawings
- Wiring Diagrams & Schematics
- Electrical Heat Tracing
- Area Classification & Code Compliance
Cost Estimating
- Develop TIC for projects varying in size, scope, duration and complexity
- Provide cost reporting and forecasting against provided estimates
