Trace Heating & Industrial Insulation at Major Clean Water Site, UK
Jade Insulation were contracted by United Utilities to install trace heating and industrial insulation to multiple process lines at one of their major sites in the North West. This was required to prevent freezing, ensure effective thermal protection and shield important infrastructure from corrosion and mechanical damage. The project had to be completed in a particularly short timeframe, due to the commissioning of the plant during the winter period.
United Utilities is keen to provide a reliable, high-quality water supply to homes and businesses across the Northwest. This involves carrying out a continuous programme of maintenance and improvements across their water network. This £120m project is just one of many they are carrying out across the Northwest to improve their treatment works, ensuring they continue to provide high-quality water to their customers.
The site is currently undergoing a major multi-year upgrade to enhance water quality and reliability for over 1 million customers in Merseyside and Cheshire. The current phase of work is part of the AMP7 (Asset Management Plan 7) investment cycle.
Key Technical Upgrades
The upgrade focuses on modernising the facility’s treatment processes to handle iron, manganese, and biological contaminants more effectively:
- Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection: A new plant is being installed to provide advanced disinfection capabilities.
- Secondary Rapid Gravity Filters (SRGFs): Installation of cutting-edge filtering technology to improve water clarity and quality.
- Chlorine Dioxide System: The site previously pioneered a large-scale chlorine dioxide pre-oxidation system to retire old sand filter beds and improve manganese removal.
- Infrastructure Modernisation: The project includes the construction of new Clear Water Storage Tanks and on-site power generation.
Capacity, Impact And Our Solution
Once fully modernised, the plant will treat up to 210 million litres of water per day.
To ensure good thermal efficiency, mineral wool insulation was used across multiple process lines. This would offer the most cost-effective solution for the required level of thermal efficiency. This was coupled with Alu Zinc cladding, given its mechanical strength and corrosion resistance and secured using stainless steel banding.
Our Work & Conclusion
Will prevent freezing, negating unplanned outages, ensuring ongoing supply to customers in the region and non-compliance.
Will protect critical infrastructure, such as pipework and valves, from climatic conditions and mechanical damage for many years to come. Significantly reduce thermal expansion and contraction of joints, avoiding undue stress and potential outages.
Create a safer environment for personnel through the avoidance of extreme temperatures, whilst offering acoustic insulation to reduce noise levels.
By taking proactive measures, United Utilities ensured that their processes were protected, safeguarding reliable operation and long-term durability of the plant. This helps ensure their stakeholders and customers alike gain value from their investment. If you would like Jade Insulation to assist you with any current or ongoing projects, we’re here to help. From budgetary pricing and technical assistance during the design phase, through to supply, installation and commissioning, we have the experienced and solution-focused teams across the UK and Ireland to meet your requirements.
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