After one year of implementation, the work on implementing five major energy efficiency measures at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden has made huge progress in the last month particularly at the Central Heating Plant.
After the completion of asbestos and structural reinforcements, Borden’s Energy Performance Contract achieved some heavy lifting. With the mezzanine of the Central Heating Plant reinforced, the Heat Recovery Unit lifting by Western Mechanical Millwrights was orchestrated with grace with the use of a 100,000 lbs capacity forklift and custom handling platform.
The 9,000 lbs Heat Recovery Unit consists of three individual air-to-water heat exchangers, also known as reheat coils. Those coils will extract energy from the boilers combustion gas to heat three separate processes. Reheat coil one will increase the temperature of the water just before feeding the boiler, allowing for less input energy for the phase change from water to steam. Reheat coil two will also increase the boilers feedwater temperature earlier in the heating process. Reheat coil three will extract the last viable source of energy and transfer this heat to the make-up water and preheat the combustion air thanks to a bank of coils. All these energy transfer functions will be conscientiously controlled and monitored, all in an effort to gain higher efficiency of the Central Heating Plant (CHP).
Immediately after the Heat Recovery Unit found its permanent position, all persons involved with Borden’s energy performance project were thrilled to see the safe arrival of Boiler one. Using two 100,000 lbs capacity forklifts, Western Mechanical Millwrights lifted the 33,600 lbs boiler off the lowboy trailer and positioned the boiler in front of the purpose-built garage door. With only inches to spare, the boiler rolled inside the door with use of one inch thick steel road plates and machinery skates capable of gliding 25 tons into place.
Once inside, Western Millwrights rigged the boiler to allow for an elegant 180 degree pirouette onto the new boiler pad.
With the arrival of the major equipment, Borden’s Central Heating Plant will see a continuous mobilization of skilled trades until the plant is back in operation in October.
By: Chris Mably
