THE PROJECT
Guarantee Electrical Company served as the prime contractor overseeing the mechanical additions to the Metropolitan Sewer District’s Missouri River Wastewater
Treatment Facility. These additions provided installation of a new gas detection system with relay and monitor panels at the facility. Methane and CO2, as common by-products of wastewater processing are potentially hazardous, with the additional danger from fire and explosion associated with accumulating methane in closed spaces. The equipment consisted of gas detection system, sensors and control panels as well as the necessary alarm system (horns and beacons) coupled with a powered roof ventilation apparatus with exhaust fans and controls.
OUR APPROACH
The addition of the gas detection and alarm system to MSD’s Missouri River treatment plant provided an upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant and its processes that routinely generate gas byproducts in the ordinary course of processing wastewater. These gases (among them Methane and CO2) can present a hazard to operating personnel and nearby communities. Hence the importance of timely installation. Modifications of this kind are necessary from time to time as new technologies become available or when existing equipment becomes worn or otherwise needs replacement.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Procured, wired and installed Gas detection sensors and control system panels covering closed-in areas of the plant, such as the Primary Sludge Pump Building, Digester Control and Secondary Treatment areas and the tunnels connecting them together with the Power Generation tunnel.
- Supplied, wired and installed alarm horns and beacons.
- Supplied and installed a powered roof ventilation equipment tied in to the gas detection/alarm system, supplying near real time mitigation of gas contamination in the event of an emergency gas release scenario.
OUR WORK
Since gas detection affects sludge processing and disinfection, as well as processes in the Blower Building and the WAS Thickening and Solids Dewatering buildings, scheduled outages and rigorous construction process management defined the project throughout. GECO directed the installation schedule and testing to minimize impacts on the plant’s ongoing storm water and conventional wastewater processing operations.
SUCCESS
Initiated in April 2017 and completed by November 1st without incident or injury, GECO made effective use of its project management practices including utilization of look-ahead planning to make the gas detection/alarm system project another successful engagement on behalf of MSD.