The 10 MGD lime softening unit No. 1 at Fort Pierce Utility Authority’s (FPUA) water treatment plant was nearly 50 years old and in need of significant rehabilitation to place it back in operation. The plant was in a vulnerable position: with Softener No. 1 out of service, they could not shut down their only other lime softening unit for maintenance. Globaltech was chosen as a design-build company to refurbish the softener, based on our unique ability to self-perform all project engineering and construction.
Lime Softener No. 1 consists of steel rake-based Accelator internals located in a pre-stressed concrete tank. The project consisted of replacing the following Accelator components:
- Roller Track and Bearings
- Rotor Impeller Drive and Shaft
- Scraper Drive
- Gear Tooth Rack w/ Pinion Shaft, Bearings and Coupling
- Radial Launders
- Bridge and Bridge Support Structure
- New electrical and controls
The tank’s internal rehabilitation work consisted of repairing deteriorated portions of the steel skirt, flumes and support beams. The concrete tank was also repaired. The steel internals and concrete tank were both abrasive blasted and coated.
In addition to the softener rehabilitation work, Globaltech replaced the sludge blowdown piping, valves and pump station; modified the large diameter piping into and out of the softener; and installed new aluminum handrails and stairs around the filters and the recarbonation basin.
Project Achievements / Benefits
- Time was of the essence. Globaltech responded by meeting FPUA’s critical schedule for completing the permitting, design, construction and commissioning in 12 months.
- Once Lime Softener No. 1 was completely refurbished and back online, FPUA retained Globaltech to rehabilitate the 10 MGD Softener No. 2. Following that project, FPUA had the operational reliability and flexibility they needed.
