At an Alabama coal fired power plant, the need was to replace two heat exchangers that were located in a part of the main building that was only accessible by a narrow alley. The alley would not allow for a suitable crane to swing into and around the multiple obstructions. In addition, the feedwater heaters were located on an operating deck that was 65' above grade. Moreover, the opening to the alley was a small "window" measuring 18' high by 11'8" wide. This opening was figuratively the "eye of the needle" through which all of the equipment needed to remove the feedwater heaters would have to pass.

It was in this limited area that Barnhart proposed to erect its versatile Modular Lift Tower (MLT). The MLT would enable the customer to remove the precariously placed heaters using custom designed rigging equipment that would allow the heaters to be transferred into the alleyway, lowered to the ground, and removed from the site. All of this while maintaining a very tight turnaround schedule.

Barnhart's plan worked perfectly. The existing heaters were removed, the supporting steel modified, and the new units installed ahead of schedule and without a single incident. The Barnhart team worked to successfully coordinate a very tricky rigging project by using (in the words of the Southern Company engineer) a very "elegant solution."

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Equipment Used in this Project

• Hydraulic Gantry
• Hydraulic Slide System