Significant feat to replace 35-year-old oil-fired boiler at MPS
To make way for the new deaerator vessel, a key part of the boiler system, the existing redundant deaerator had to be removed by crane from its 25-metre-high location inside the old Mines Power Station (MPS) coal bins.
The deaerator vessel conditions the boiler feedwater by removing entrained gases from the boiler, as well as pre-heating the water using superheated steam at 400 degrees Celsius.
It is one of only a few pieces of equipment at the MPS that is not heritage listed, despite having a notable history itself.
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The redundant deaerator was removed by crane from its location inside the old MPS coal bins.
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The vessel was approximately 7 tonnes, and the vertical cylinder chamber was approximately 2.5 tonnes and was successfully removed by crane.
Installed in 1988, the old deaerator was once used in the lead smelting process for the Lead IsaSmelt, which has since been demolished.
To function effectively, the deaerator has to be in an elevated position, the location making it challenging to remove and replace.
The complex task to remove the deaerator required over six months of planning, safety and risk mitigation, and involved a 160-tonne crane to enable the lift to take place around the currently operational plant.
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The redundant vessel was placed onto a semi-trailer to make way for its replacement.
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The new gas-fired boiler will help provide back-up power generation and to maintain the current plant.
This included the removal of the roof of the building that housed the deaerator.
One of the key hazards the team had to control was lifting and cranage. The lifting and drop zone included areas beneath where the plant was still operating, and the mitigation strategy included rigorous dropped object protection.
The 7-tonne vessel, and 2.5-tonne vertical cylinder chamber, were successfully removed and the new deaerator installed.