November 23 - South African heavylift, transport and plant installation specialist Vanguard has completed a project for Eskom's Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in Cape Town, Africa's only nuclear power station.
The company was contracted to provide the required rigging and transportation support during Outage 118.
A self-propelled modular trailer (SPMT) and three modular axles were selected to transport three existing 170 tonne LP rotors, three 20 tonne LP rotor covers and a 200 tonne generator from the turbine hall to a temporary storage facility. "The SPMT was particularly suited to this application due to the short transport distance and on-site work," said Dennis Scholfield, Vanguard's Cape Town branch manager.
The entire project extended over a period of two months and the old rotors were removed one a time, as new ones arrived on site. At the storage area, a 400 tonne hydraulic gantry system and four 50 tonne slings were utilised to lift each rotor off the SPMT and lower it to the ground, eliminating the need for mobile cranes.
All staff had to undergo a week of induction and police clearance prior to the commencement of the project.
