Spring
Creek Dam Upgrade
Client: Donnelly Mining and Civil
As part of the upgrade to strengthen the existing dam wall, the pump station had to be relocated. As the existing pump station was old and well past its use by date a new pump station was to be built. The project was a design and construct arrangement with the emphasis being placed back on the electrical contractor to develop a functional system. This system had to satisfy the client’s requirements and at the same time work within the contractor’s own budget allotment.
The first stage required the decommissioning of the existing pump station, which contained the following:
- A combined main switchboard, motor control centre and distribution board. A telemetry cabinet was also contained in the main switchboard.
-
Two 75Kw electric pump motors and associated controls. - Chlorine dosing plant room.
- Powdered activated carbon plant (PAC Dosing).
- Miscellaneous light and power.
As part of AJS scope of works, a complete design package was developed. Little information was available on the wiring arrangement of the existing main switchboard. A new main switchboard was developed to provide the following:
- A new 500amp 3 phase metered mains supply to the pump house.
- Two 75Kw control cabinets for the existing pump motors. Sufficient capacity to allow the pump motors to be upgraded to 132Kw in the future had to be allowed for. With this in mind 132Kw soft starters were chosen to start the pump motors.
- Telemetry cabinet capable
of providing sufficient information to the Orange City Council’s
staff to allow automatic control of the pumps based on the city’s
water requirements.
The existing telemetry RTU was re-installed
with a new antenna linked to the councils existing tel emetry network. - Supply of power to the pump station water booster pump.
- Supply of power and re-commissioning of the pump station PAC D osing plant.
- Lights and power for the pump station building.
- Power for the overhead gantry system.
The design of the main switchboard along with an underground conduit system was submitted prior to commencing work. This after some modifications was approved by Orange City Council and work commenced. The whole project was completed over a 12-week construction phase. Pre-commissioning and commissioning was completed within the given time frame.
The telemetry system has been operational since December 2007.The pumps were run at full load in July 2007 when sufficient water levels had been reached in the dam.
