Giant paper producer Sappi last year appointed B&W to undertake the electrical works on its GoCell Project at Sappi’s Ngodwana mill, about 50km west of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga.
Project GoCell aims to install a new production line that produces dissolving wood pulp (DWP) or specialised cellulose (SC), a feedstock for the viscose staple fibre industry. This will increase Sappi’s SC production by 210 000 t/y when the expansion comes on line.
Another of Sappi’s objectives is to improve the mill’s environmental performance. To accomplish this, Sappi made certain changes to the mill, which included the creation of the new fiber line to facilitate the production of specialised cellulose.
B&W’s electrical scope of works comprises, among other things, the installation of equipment in substations including the transformers, the supply and installation of cable racking, plus the supply and installation of power and control cables – including terminations – in accordance with the electrical scope.
The crew used on the project to carry out these activities amounted to 250. The quality and safety levels were of an exceptional standard as would be expected from B&W. The project achieved in excess of 4 000 000 man-hours without a lost-time injury. This excellent achievement includes all hours worked by the various disciplines.
The installation consists of connections to the 1200kW chipper motor and air-cooled transformers, motor control centres (MCCs), medium voltage switchgear and the outgoing currents from the MCCs to the various drives.
