192MW Combined Cycle Power Plant in Amandi, Takoradi, Ghana

ZARIFOPOULOS S.A, partner of the large construction company MYTILINEOS S.A. for many years, has undertaken to supply, install and commission the Fire Protection systems (fire detection, gas detection, public address / voice alarm and FM200 fire-suppression systems), Security systems, as well as Management and control of Ventilation and HVAC (BMS) systems in the new Power Plant in the Amandi region, Takoradi, Ghana. This plant is of combined cycle and supplies the local grid of the region with a total power output of 192MW.

THE SYSTEMS

The remote location of the project – several hours away from the capital city Accra – in conjunction with the special climatic conditions in the region, but also the industrial character of the project, set the requirements for the supply of the equipment, which had to be extremely durable and heavy duty, and of a high quality level both in terms of design and operational features.

BEMS system: According to project specifications and client requirements, a central management and control system for the ventilation and the HVAC (BΕMS) was installed.

This system was installed throughout the complex, in the office and in the production areas. Its purpose is the supervision and management of air conditioning and ventilation systems. The appropriate temperature and humidity conditions, as also the manual and the automatic operation of the system, are ensured through the central management, achieving in this way the comfort of the users of the building and energy saving.

In addition, for safety reasons, the BEMS is linked to the fire detection system, so that in the event of fire, the operation of the air conditioning and ventilation systems will stop automatically in the area where the fire alarm was triggered.

Fire detection: The plant is fully covered by fire detection, explosive and toxic gas detection, fire-suppression and public address / voice alarm systems in all indoor and hazardous outdoor areas of the unit.

In accordance with the specifications of the project, the fire detection system must be manufactured according to the American standard NFPA 72. For this reason the central control panels of the firm NOTIFIER USA was used, made in the USA and certified by UL/FM, which covers the entire unit. Specialised fire-detection equipment (flame detectors, linear heat detection cable and outdoor heat detectors) is used at critical points, such as fuel tanks, underground routes – cable tunnels, etc., offering great resistance and complete fire detection coverage of smoke, heat or flame.

Fire-suppression: For the protection of the substation areas (Transformers, Medium Voltage Field Areas, Low Voltage Field Areas, and other weak current areas), fire detection and automatic extinguishing systems with FM200 gas were installed. These systems were designed in accordance with the American standard NFPA using equipment certified by UL/FM, as set out in the project specifications. The fire-suppression systems are fully controlled from the central fire detection system and upon their activation give feedback to it confirming its operational status, so that there is an overall picture of the situation at the Control Center.

Public Address / Voice Alarm system: The life safety is supplemented by an extensive Mass Notification system (loudspeaker) with horn speakers installed in all areas of the plant, for the timely warning and the provision of evacuation instructions to the staff in any case of emergency (fire, earthquake, etc.).

The system has a central call unit with a microphone, and interconnection with the telephone center, so that an authorised person can make an announcement in real time, either from the central call unit, or from any internal telephone. The speakers are sized so as to ensure full coverage of the plant, especially in indoor areas with a high noise level, but also in wide and remote outdoor areas.

The power adequacy is ensured by large amplifiers, featuring excess power compared to the required power, in order for the system to operate within a satisfactory margin of tolerance in relation to its full potential. Also, the main equipment is supported by high-capacity batteries, so as to guarantee its uninterrupted operation even in case its main power supply fails.

Security systems: The systems protect the plant from unauthorized entry (security – access control), and verify and record incidents within the plant, in important areas through closed-circuit television (CCTV) system.

The perimeter is covered with a special optical fiber on the fence, supplemented by monitoring via security cameras. At the main gate, an Access Control system ensures the control of the personnel entering the premises, using a personal credential (RFID card). In the event of an accident within the plant, such as fire or earthquake or another incident, this system allows to record and seek people who have remained inside the unit, thus helping for their rescue.

The interior of the plant is monitored by cameras, giving emphasis on critical points, some of which have pan and tilt capabilities via remote control with a high level and detailed zoom option, in order to achieve the best possible viewing of key equipment.

The three systems (Security – Access Control – CCTV) are integrated through a common server, offering excellent usability to the security staff, since any incident of breach, orauthorized entry is matched with the corresponding image from the CCTV system, to timely and accurately assess the risk, and the immediate actions to be taken to address it.

WITH A VIEW TO THE MAXIMUM LIFE SAFETY AND PROPERTY PROTECTION

The implementation of these systems had to meet all the safety requirements specified in an industrial project, and to be adapted to the specific climatic, weather and operational conditions of the region. Furthermore, an important factor for the successful completion of the project was the fast installation and commissioning of the systems, due to the strong need for additional power supply in the area.

RELIABILITY AND SAFETY

With decades of proven reliability, the main goal of ZARIFOPOULOS steadily remains to supply and install certified systems that provide user friendliness and ease of use for the owner. The priority is to enhance the sense of security in protected areas, so that the end customer will be able to focus their efforts uneventfully on their daily workflow and tasks.