News
18-Oct-2011
Amazon Project, the Deal of the Year
Nine giant high tech compressors, designed and built by Flotech to operate under extreme high pressure, travelled across the world to the heart of the Amazon, ready to be used at three different power plants to convert diesel engines to natural gas.
The Amazon project was an example of international effort, strong relationships and co-operation, spanning expert designers, engineers, manufacturers and suppliers from around the globe from New Zealand to Singapore to Brazil and Finland, where Wärtsilä, the client who gave Flotech the order, is headquartered.
“The complete package of nine high pressure fuel gas booster compressors was designed at Flotech’s Auckland facility, along with fabrication of the compressor control panels and the 36 large shell and tube high pressure gas coolers,” said Sales Director, Steve Rowntree. “Tag list items were sourced through procurement teams based in both New Zealand and Singapore and then free issued to the package integrator.
Unique Challenge
Manaus, the city cut out of the Amazon jungle in Brazil, was founded in 1669 as the capital of Amazonas. Today it is a modern city of over a million people with a growing economy, based on electrical industries and eco-tourism. In line with government policy, the region is moving from hydro generation to alternative energy sources which are cleaner and better environmentally.
“This deal in the Amazon was a long time in hatching with quotations first submitted 7-8 years ago when Brazil began reducing its reliance on hydropower and introduced a new independent power producers’ system to encourage alternative power sources,” Mr Rowntree said.
Wärtsilä, a long term customer of Flotech’s, won the original power plant contracts from three independent power producers who wanted to use the proprietary engine dual fuel technology to run on the available liquid fuel source until gas pipelines serviced the area. They could then enjoy economic and environmental benefits from switching between gas and HFO (heavy fuel oil) when both fuels were accessible.
Flotech was awarded the contract to supply compressors for the conversion of the three power plants which provide 350 bar fuel gas to multiple engines to replace diesel or high polluting HFO. The conversion benefits are multiple and include substantial savings in fuel costs, a relatively quick return on investment, cleaner burning natural gas and reduced emissions.
Unique Solution
“We have developed a proprietary control system that manages multiple engines and can schedule operations,” Mr Rowntree says. “We beat competitors on price and also innovation. We have a proven compression business, systems that work at scale and pressure, and world-class processes so we reach all milestones. We also have a long and highly valued relationship with Wärtsilä. We’ve worked together for over 15 years on developing unique solutions for their gas/diesel engine conversions as well as our own special control, engine interfacing and load sharing systems.”