ESI Tech Group redesigned and installed a new HVAC chilled water heat exchanger for our oil and gas client’s FPSO accommodation facility.
Project background
Our client’s main accommodation HVAC chilled water system operates with two circuits – providing a stand-by arrangement should failure occur. One of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) heat exchangers internally ruptured, with fluids transferring across the two systems, leaving one circuit to maintain the accommodation temperature.
As the OEM model was now obsolete and the proposed replacement differed slightly, a quick replacement was impractical, so a full management of change (MoC) solution was devised and implemented.
With the heightened risk of a production shutdown and full demobilisation of the facilities personnel should the remaining system fail, both the client’s and ESI Tech Group’s engineering teams collaborated to develop a solution.
Our solution
ESI Tech Group initially conducted a technical evaluation, calculating that while it would provide the desired heat load exchange, the proposed unit had variations in the chilled water piping arrangement and required several changes to install the new model.
ESI Tech Group developed and presented the constructability of the scope of works to the client, including a step-by-step work pack about how the project would be executed, technical drawings, PowerPoint presentations, materials list and expected durations and associated risks that may impact production.
The proposed solution included a hot-dipped galvanised base plate to accommodate the new footprint, vibration rubber mounting to negate dissimilar metal corrosion, and calculating height measurements to rectify the chilled water spool centreline difference.
One straight and one offset spool (60mm) with a Victaulic coupling connection was required for fabrication, and new rubber bellows with their corresponding material grades were sought to avoid future corrosion and allow for minor variations in execution.
The client’s engineering team accepted the proposed constructability review, and approved the MoC. Once materials were coordinated and quality assured against drawings, they were transported to site and ESI Tech Group’s refrigeration technicians mobilised to execute the project.
Outcome
Our team mobilised to site, located materials, set up the site for work, and executed the scope using the detailed step-by-step, approved work pack.
With the redesign and replacement performed on time without issues, the system was operational without further risk to production.
To learn more about our HVAC services and how we can help your operations, visit: https://esi-techgroup.com/hvac-mechanical-services/ or email info@esi-techservices.com.