HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/6/2002 - STAFF REPORTS (12) DATE: March 6, 2002
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TO: City Council
FROM: Director, Department of Facilities and Director, Department of Procurement &
Contracting
MUNICIPAL COGENERATION FACILITY CHILLER GENERATOR TUBE BUNDLE -
EMERGENCY REPLACEMENT
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that City Council ratify the emergency purchase of a generator tube
bundle replacement for the Municipal Cogeneration Facility at a cost of $43,055.00,
authorized on February 27, 2002 by the City Manager
SUMMARY:
During the annual maintenance inspection of the chiller at the Municipal Cogeneration
Facility a leak was discovered in the generator section causing water to mix with the
refrigerant, thus reducing the chiller's cooling capacity. The chiller is over 16 years old and
has outlasted the Sunrise Cogen chiller generator, which was replaced in 1997.
BACKGROUND:
An internal tube leak has developed in the generator section on the Carrier 16JB Hermetic
Absorption Chiller. This leak was discovered during the annual scheduled maintenance
inspection in preparation of the summer peak cooling and electrical load. Carrier conducted
an eddy current and leak test on the system and determined that water was diluting the
refrigerant, which severely diminished its cooling capacity. Carrier at this time temporarily
repaired the tube bundle by plugging 5 tubes. The eddy current test revealed thinning of
about 25% of the tube bundle, which could rupture at anytime resulting in the emergency
shutdown of the facility. Should this occur during the peak summer period it would result in
an expensive repair with a long lead time for materials and the purchase of electricity from
S.C.E. at the higher summer rates.
Two firms with the necessary technical expertise, access to factory-specified replacement
parts and ability to perform the replacement work in a timely manner were contacted to
provide quotes. The quotes received, including calculated tax and freight, were $43,055
from Carrier and $43,519 from Trane. Carrier will provide all necessary materials and labor
to replace all tubes in the generator section of the chiller and will return the unit to original
factory specifications.
An emergency Purchase Order was issued on February 27, 2002, P_O. 212045, account no.
520-5641-48700 in the amount of$43,055.00.
Carrier has been notified to proceed with this scheduled emergency replacement in order to
secure the required tubes and complete this work before the summer peak period has
arrived.
0 MIKESELL, Direct r HAROLD E. GOOD, CPPO
apartment of Facilities Director, Department of Procurement
and Contracting
ATTACHMENT: APPROVE
1. Minute Order City Manager r—
REVIEWED BY DEPT.OF FINANCE
MINUTE ORDER NO.
RATIFYING THE EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF A
GENERATOR TUBE BUNDLE REPLACEMENT FOR THE
MUNICPAL COGENERATION FACILITY IN THE AMOUNT
OF $43,055.00.
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I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Minute Order, ratifying the emergency purchase of a
generator tube bundle replacement for the Municipal Cogeneration Facility, in the amount of
$43,055,00, was adopted by the City Council of Palm Springs, California, in a meeting
thereof held on the 6th day of March, 2002.
PATRICIA A. SANDERS
City Clerk