UPS Replacement

Project Overview

RAAF Base Williamtown is home to No.3 Control and Reporting Unit (3CRU) who operate the Vigilare air defence system form the Eastern Region Operations Centre (EastROC).  This system was installed in 2008 and fully operational by 2010. However, the main UPS system suffered from heat related reliability issues. As a result UPS2 (of 3) failed totally in 2015.

• Kennelly Constructions submitted a proposal to BGIS for Eaton UPS, Hitachi (CSE) batteries and Liebert (Vertiv) precision cooling equipment
• Power On Australia and Vertiv were key suppliers and integral to the successful delivery of the project
• The project also required a power system monitoring system to announce alarms in the Regional Control Centre. The RCC was recently reclassified to SCEC level 5 and no issues in achieving this certification resulted from the Kennelly Construction works

Challenges

• Operating within a high-security environment
• Working within the operational constraints of 3CRU and other units within EastROC
• Complex stakeholder requirements on outages
• Difficult physical access issues requiring partial dismantling of equipment
• Co-ordination with other contractors on site (major HVAC Upgrade)
• SCEC level 5 requirements for cabling into the RCC
• Safe working with stored energy systems
• Safe manual handling of 240 45kg batteries
• Balancing requirements to achieve cooling of installed equipment and correct ventilation of batteries
• Implementing an insulated ceiling to improve cooling outcomes

Successes

• All technical requirements (including MIEE Section 20) achieved or exceeded
• No security incidents
• Achieved SCEC Level 5 Compliance for RCC installation work
• No safety incidents and all hazards managed effectively
• All estate data provided and accepted in a timely manner under the new GDL process
• Choice of supply partners with market leading solutions and in-depth technical support