Temporary steam boiler solution to support during testing

Our customer, a leading biopharma company approached Aggreko to discuss temporary steam boiler solutions with their gas units being taken offline for crucial testing. They were due to be left at a deficit of 15 T/H with 1 already out of action and others due to follow, meaning it was essential to find a swift solution to avoid downtime and production loss.

Consistent steam production is key to the company’s operations, so we devised a solution that would be in place for several months until their permanent equipment could be reinstalled.

As we utilised the customers’ existing infrastructure, specialist contractors were tasked with purging the gas network ready for connection. Following site and equipment surveys, we arranged the installation of 3 containerised 5.5 T/H steam boilers, running at full load with the customer supplying the electrical connections.

With space being very limited, this required careful planning to tailor the solution to the customer’s site and utilities. Despite these challenges, we successfully deployed the equipment by keeping the containers on trailers, replacing the need for lifting certifications or machinery.

We also had to consider the customers’ water supply pressure, as this needed to be reduced to be compatible with the application. A 10.6 bar PRV (Pressure Release Valve) was implemented to allow for the installation of our equipment, alongside pipework adapters to finalise the connection.

We helped the customer resume their normal operations with a seamless and efficient steam solution, keeping downtime to a minimum. By hiring our 5.5 T/H units, the customer avoided the alternative of sourcing a traditional fire-tube boiler which would result in high fuel costs and a lack of space.

By delivering a gas-powered solution that integrated with the company’s infrastructure, we helped the plant avoid millions of pounds in lost production of a vital API in antibiotics, where a shortfall could have potentially resulted in a worldwide shortage and significant damage to the customer’s reputation.