MEP Means Coordination

Jason Richards

Peter Martin

MEP Means Coordination

Western Link, Hunterston & Flintshire Bridge

£1 billion project bringing renewable energy from Scotland to England and Wales. Project will play a key role in helping the UK meet its renewable energy targets. Project includes DC subsea and underground cables, incorporating a converter station at each end.

Marine Cable

Marine cable is 385km long.

Longest 2,200MW capacity high voltage direct current cable in the world.

First subsea link to use a DC voltage level of 600,000 volts.

Sufficient electricity to meet the needs of around 2,000,000 people.

Converter Stations

Stations convert DC electricity to AC to allow use in existing National grid system.

Equipment had to be located internally to protect from the coastal salt damaging environment.

Design for the converter stations was undertaken using Revit.

Federated Model

Multi-discipline design involving Architects, Structural, MEP and client appointed specialist engineers.

Multiple buildings were spread across two sites so shared coordinates had to be agreed and published to maintain alignment.

Electrical equipment has very high heat gains.

Natural ventilation was preferred but unachievable due to extreme external design conditions.

Thermal Modelling – Internal Environment

Project Large Residential regeneration

project – First development site; 6 blocks consisting high-rise, maisonettes and extra care facility.

Engineering Challenges Site wide electrical demand could not

exceed existing. Emphasis placed on passive design

features to reduce the need for cooling; hence lower electrical demand.

Lessons Learnt/Benefits CIBSE TM52 criteria used to assess

overheating risk. External solar shading devices

modelled in IES to mitigate use of cooling.

Thermal Modelling – Occupant Comfort

Subsequent to thermal modelling natural ventilation was ruled out.

All air mechanical ventilation system

Large ducts to coordinate in small plant space.

Revit enables detailed solution that would be impossible in 2D.

Plantrooms

Air Handling Units

Very large Air handling units had to be accommodated.

4no. units 9.3m (L) x 6.5m (W) x 3m (H), 33 tonnes each supplying 42m3/s.

Early collaboration with Structures in order to accommodate air handling units in model.

Coordination of services with sensitive electrical equipment clearance zones.

Any outages are business critical and would have serious implications.

Clearance requirements based on record 2D sectional drawings.

2D Problem

Created 3D Spheres in order to provide a visual aid and a means of clash detection.

Real time model fly through presented to other disciplines to demonstrate coordination.

3D Solution

Valve Hall – Ductwork drops coordinated around clearance zones, ductwork sizes,

AHU plantroom duct external – had to get all fresh air intakes to one side and exhaust on other side to prevent cross contamination of air.

AHU plant room internal – provide internal 3D view of plantroom, any visible space left is retained for maintenance and access requirements of the air handling units.

MEP Model Demo

MEP Means CoordinationMEP Means CoordinationWestern Link, Hunterston & Flintshire BridgeMarine CableConverter StationsFederated ModelThermal Modelling – Internal EnvironmentThermal Modelling – Occupant ComfortPlantroomsAir Handling Units2D Problem3D SolutionMEP Model Demo