MechTech June 2016 Final

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⎪ Sustainable energy and energy management ⎪
project, Zest WEG Group’s Generator Set
Division was contracted to supply, install
and test an 800 kVA generator set into a
purpose-built plant room at the Melomed
Private Hospital in Tokai, which is cur-
rently under construction by Murray &
Roberts Western Cape.
“The generator set measured 4.0 m
by 1.6 m and 2.3 m high and weighed
almost 9.0 t. Inlet and outlet acoustic
louvres were required to ensure that the
noise level remains under 65 db(A) at
7.0 m. We also supplied a purpose-built
changeover electric panel for remote
mounting,” says Bouwer.
Key to Zest WEG Group’s Generator
Set Division’s success on such special-
ised projects is its ability to devise in-
novative solutions. A prime example of
this is the contract to supply a standby
power supply for worker accommodation
at the DRA Minerals Firestone Diamonds
Liqhobong Diamond Mine in Lesotho.
A major challenge encountered by
the Generator Set Division team was the
location of the mine, which is 2 000 m
above sea level in the Maluti Mountains.
Not only did special consideration have
to be given to the logistics of transport-
ing all components to the site, but the
presence of significant amounts of snow
during May to September called for an
innovative solution to the housing of the
generator sets. The Liqhobong Diamond
Mine access road had to be widened
and its load-bearing capacity increased
to accommodate the low-bed trucks
transporting the solution.
Zest WEG Group’s Generator Set
Division designed, supplied and installed
three 12 m high purpose-built containers
that incorporate a special ‘snow roof’
structure to prevent snow build-up on
top of the generator sets, and subsequent
blocking of the louvres. Particular atten-
tion was paid to the design and engineer-
ing of these ‘snow roofs’ to enable them
to be collapsed when the containerised
units are transported.
The three 630 kVA generator sets
needed to be synchronised via Woodward
Easygen controllers and were subject to
a soundproofing requirement of 65 db(A)
at 7.0 m. This stringent standard is nor-
mally applied to residential areas but was
deemed necessary, since the application
was for worker accommodation. Further
requirements were for a 1 000 litre fuel
tank with gauge and level indicators
and a fusible fire link on the generator
sets and inlet dust filters. Furthermore,
a 6.0 m load distribution container, with
a self-contained fire suppression system,
was also provided.
Generator Set Division offers 20 to
250 kVA units as off-the-shelf products,
while 300 to 2 000 kVA individual cus-
tomised units can also be supplied as
well as multiple sets to achieve turnkey
solutions in excess of 12 MVA for large-
scale applications or projects. All gensets
are sold with a standard 12-month war-
ranty, and maintenance contracts are
available for all applications. A notable
differentiator is that the company offers a
24/7 breakdown support service.
“Zest WEG Group’s Generator Set
Division has an extensive reference base
of customised solutions for challenging
and arduous applications. Leveraging
the experience gained by our technical
team on an impressive number and va-
riety of projects in both the commercial
and industrial markets, we are able to
mitigate any power supply problems for
the medium and long term,” Bouwer
concludes. q