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By Ing. Francisco Sáinz I. “FRP WINS THE RESPECT OF THE ENGINEERS, CONTRACTORS AND OPERATORS AT MEXICO’S ALTAMIRA COMPLEX”
By Ing. Francisco Sáinz I.
“FRP WINS THE RESPECT OF THE ENGINEERS, CONTRACTORS AND
OPERATORS AT MEXICO’S ALTAMIRA COMPLEX”
Altamira´s Complex is formed by The Shell LNG terminal and Altamira 3,4 and 5 Power plants.
BASIC OPERATION
• Tanker Ship arrives with liquid gas at - 160 °C.
• Storage of the LNG in double wall tanks.
• Change from LNG to NG at the ORVs using seawater as aheat source.
• Supply to the Mexico´s NG transmission where the 2 new PowerPlants are connected.
• At the Power Plant the Seawater is used to condensateexhausted steam from Turbines.
These are believed to be the largest LNG storage tanks in the world of it´s kind.
A view of the storage tanks and the ORV´s in process of construction
“Drags working to prepare the new dock
for the first LNG terminal in Mexico”
MAIN VARIABLES
• Internal Pressure: 5.4 bar (80 psi).
• External Pressure: Soil load, Traffic load, Flooded soil.Rock, Tides, Full Vacuum.
• Abrasion Particles up to 3 mm.
• Design Temperature 35 °C.
• Soil Traction.
• Settlements.
• Field Adjustments.
A model of the intake pumps using 54” dia. FRP pipe
“Stress analysis of the intake pumps and concrete block to
hold pipe in place”
54” dia. mitered elbows being installed in the pump station
Valves, pipe reducers,supports,controls under hydro test.
26” FRP risers modeled for ORV building
Complete ORV building with 72”
diam. underground line connected to the
26” diam. risers
Ribs modeled to produce traction between pipe and soil(no loads allowed against ORVs)
“Spring water coming from the trench”
“Soil being compacted to give proper
support to the pipe”
ORV´s risers under hydro test(8 bars)
“The 3 amigos”
“70 mils Abrasion Protection using Aluminum oxide “
“Concrete box to reduce fluid velocity and sea
diffuser on the outfall area”.
“Scale model to analize fluid behavior”
“Finite element analysis of The special “T”
structure under different plant flows”
“Stress concentration because of low flow(cascade) on concrete box”
“Scale Model of Outfall Diffuser”
“Rock Blocks to hold pipe in place for 72”diameter diffuser”
“Diffuser under Hydro-test”
“FRP pipe with ribs to stand 1600 kgs/m2 of rock”
42” headers covered with rock and concrete box with sleeve at the bottom”
“Altamira V Power plant (72” Pumps Deck)”
“ Site Adjustments “
“View of Cooling tower
pipe risers”
“Pumps and Cooling Tower”
“Obra de Toma (Make Up Water) stress analysis”
“Obra de Toma (Make Up Water) pipe in operation (5.4 bar)”
“Concrete Block to hold thrust displacements”
“Condensator Pipes under hydro test”
“Condensator pipe in operation”
WHY FRP GAINED RESPECT.....
• Carbon Steel Not at option because of chlorides.
• High End SS High Cost.
• Concrete - Allows marine growth- Heavy increasing installation cost- Cracks at very low levels of strain
• Polyethylene - Low strength and low Modulus- Not practical to stiffen- Pipe must be Thick to withstand external loads- Field modifications and repairs really difficult
WHY FRP GAINED RESPECT.....
• Can be reinforced against abrasion at located points with aminimun extra cost.
• Minimun marine growth• Lighter in weight than concrete or PE in this application
• Stronger and stiffer than PE
• Very easy to add hoop ring stiffeners for external loads or vacuum• Very easy to repair or modify in the field
• Correction for design errors and construction mistakes are easily accomplished.• Tolerates more deflection than concrete or high thickness PE
