Chiller hire helps ensure safe setting conditions

Following a meeting between an engineer from the chiller hire division of Andrews Sykes and the contractors, the decision was taken to equip the site with four, 100kW low-temperature heat pumps. Each is capable of providing both hot and cold water, with the capacity to reduce temperatures to -15°C. 

The advantage of this compact unit, which is now an integral part of Andrews Chillers hire fleet, is its suitability for specialist process applications where constant operational temperature is essential.  Since desired cooling conditions varied at the power station – outlet water at 15°C, external temperature of 35°C and a delta T of 5°C – it was a suitable scenario for installing the new heat pump chiller.

Site surveys enable Andrews Chiller Hire to gain a better understanding of an application’s unique demands, identifying loading requirements as well as any other site requirements. The power station's four temporary 100kW chiller units were delivered and installed within hours of the original consultation.

It was estimated that temporary equipment would be needed for three weeks, the lead time required to implement and pressurise concrete enclosures on site; the compounds enveloping the reactors in the nuclear power plant.  Throughout the plant’s life they must be regularly checked as a safety precaution. Tightness tests are therefore essential to detect any leaks that may be present in the structure, with such measures clearly set out in nuclear facility regulations.

Once the chillers were commissioned and fully operational, contractors could begin carrying out a series of stringently controlled assessments. By processing the chiller hire order quickly and supplying the right equipment first time, Andrews was able to guarantee that the contractors could complete all tests quickly and confirm their compliance with industry legislation.

The fast response and excellent level of support given by the Andrews Chiller hire team was pinpointed as a decisive factor in the project’s swift conclusion.