Vale Canada Limited
Vale's Electrowinning plant was facing significant challenges due to its aging HVAC infrastructure, which was original to the plant and had many units beyond their service life.
The difficulty in obtaining spare parts and maintaining these outdated units was impacting the operational efficiency and comfort within the facility. BESTECH conducted a Front-End Loading (FEL) 3 study which provided Vale with preliminary engineering and a construction estimate for replacing the old HVAC units. Based on the study, Vale decided to proceed with replacing two old units (H&V #16 & 19) with one new, more efficient HVAC unit.
SCOPE
BESTECH was tasked with the detailed engineering for the removal of the old units and the installation of the new system, which included a remote condenser, economizer, and a Variable Air Volume (VAV) temperature and ventilation control system. Additionally, BESTECH designed and engineered the installation of a temporary HVAC system to ensure continued operations of critical areas like the control room, lunch rooms, offices, and lab during the construction phase.
OUTCOME
The replacement of the old HVAC units with a new modern system designed by BESTECH will significantly enhance the operational environment at Vale’s Electrowinning plant. The new HVAC system will provide improved comfort, increased efficiency, and reduced maintenance requirements. This upgrade ensures that the plant can operate more effectively, with better temperature and ventilation control, contributing to a more comfortable and productive workplace for all personnel.