CONSULTING ENGINEERS PLAY MAJOR ROLE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31341, 11 April 1967, Page 20

CONSULTING ENGINEERS PLAY MAJOR ROLE

At the start of the contact acid plant project Kempthorne Prosser and Co. engaged lan Macallan and Co. of Wellington, as consulting engineers for the considerable engineering services required. In brief, these services amounted to arranging for the company’s requirements to be supplied at the lowest cost in the required time, and to keep the company informed on all aspects of the work, including expected cost and progress.

The whole project was first programmed, dates being fixed for all principal stages to suit the required start-up date. The plant was then carefully sited, having regard to public interests as well as co-ordination with the rest <rf the works it was to serve.

For economy, the supply and construction of the plant was divided into a number of different contracts, for which the consulting engineers drew up contract documents and obtained competitive tenders. The first and largest contract was for the process design and procurement of the acid manufacturing equipment Itself. Competitive tenders for this work were obtained in less than four months. Time was saved here, and also in evaluating the tenders, by the consulting engineers and the company’s works superintendent visit-

ing the selected tenderers and inspecting some of their recent plants in Europe and Britain. Estimates Prepared At this stage estimates of cost were prepared for the many subdivisions of the project These estimates and the project programme have been kept up to date throughout

After comparing the tenders in every detail of price and quality, the most favourable was found and the contract was let accordingly to Simon-Carves, Ltd. Each tender Included an offer of a turbo-alternator which would generate electricity from surplus heat to be produced in the acid making process. In studying these sections of the tenders the consultants found that more economic machines could be selec-

ted. Separate tenders were therefore obtained from selected firms and the “most overall economic” tender accepted. The machine purchased will generate a substantial surplus of electric power for export to the public supply system.

As the main contract and the turbo-alternator contract progressed, details became available from which the consultants designed foundations, buildings, reading, and drainage. These works were incorporated in another contract timed to fit the overall programme. For convenient day to day supervision of this contract the consultants engaged the Christchurch firm of Steven and Fitzmaurlce, consulting engineers.

Power Distribution By introducing the company’s own electric power generation it became advantageous to re-arrange electric supply and distribution to the various departments of the works. A new distribution centre was therefore incorporated in the acid plant control building. A contract was let for the supply of all the electric equipment including transformers, cables, switchgear, metering and protective devices for the alternator, and distribution equipment A further contract was later arranged for the installation of this electrical equipment and of the electrical equipment in the acid plant The second largest contract on the project embraced most of the mechani-

cal engineering erection and included erecting the steel vessels; steam, gas, water and other pipelines; special brick linings and insulation for many vessels; and the

MR IL HOLLYMAN, commissioning engineer for Simon-Carves, Ltd., Stockport He has commissioned chemical plants in many parts of the world during the last 15 years, including four sulphuric acid plants in New Zealand.

assembly and commissioning of the machines, steam plant control instruments and other equipment

Other contracts were also let on the basis of competitive tendering and included an evaporative cooling tower to serve the turbine condenser, painting and certain items of mechanical plant and erection.

One of the consultants’ chief responsibilities was supervision. All equipment supplied to the project was tallied and checked and all contracts supervised in detail. This was a very extensive job and for this purpose Mr Alex Walker, the consultants’ supervising mechanical engineer, was posted to the site as resident engineer. Consultants’ Duties Programming and coordinating the site works was complicated by shipping delays on the United Kingdom waterfront and much effort went into minimising the effect of these delays. Again, as the project developed, there were many extra features and new ideas to be investigated and priced and, where suitable, put into effect These all fell within the consultants’ duties and gave the company flexibility as well as independent advice and control over all aspects of the project

Although minor items are still being completed the plant is now operating successfully, with complete removal of - the nuisance caused for years by the old plants which have now been dismantled.