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Here is your regular scheduled update from the Holly Plant Decommissioning Project Team:
The TRC, LVI, and Austin Energy team have continued to remove steel and concrete from the Holly Power Plant Building. This week’s post details, through the following series of images, the team’s removal of half of the turbine hall, and the demolition of the power plant building concrete floors that support the turbine hall.
This image highlights the power plant building in the background with the control room building in the center. Holly units 3 and 4 are on the left hand side of the image.
- Power Plant Building
The demolition team has left an opening into the turbine hall after removing the control room that was featured in the previous image. A portion of Holly 3 boiler is visible on the left.
- Power Plant Building
This image highlights the team’s progress in removing portions of the turbine hall. If you look carefully at the center of the image, you will see an opening into the concrete building at ground level where the control room used to reside. Holly 3 boiler is on the left.
- Power Plant Building
The team has completely removed half of the turbine hall. Also, part of the concrete floor has now collapsed.
- Power Plant Building
A worker is using the excavator to remove more concrete and widen the opening in the space formerly used as a control room.
- Power Plant Building
The worker uses the excavator to pound and crack the concrete floor.
- Power Plant Building
The excavator grabs the steel beam at the top on the right side of the image.
- Power Plant Building
First, the excavator yanks the beam from the right side.
- Power Plant Building
Next, the excavator brings down the beam and exposes a considerable amount of rebar that was used to reinforce the concrete.
- Power Plant Building
Finally, the excavator drags the beam which will be placed in the scrap yard.
- Power Plant Building
Inside the power plant building, you can see the opening made by the excavator on the right hand side of the image. This image highlights the subterranean floor. The demolition team will use the concrete debris to create and shape a ramp. They will then be able to maneuver the excavator into the lower floor.
- Power Plant Building
The following image is a perspective from the lower floor featuring the opening made by the excavator sitting at ground level. The ramp will be created with the featured concrete debris.
- Power Plant Building
This is another view of the area on the lower floor.
- Power Plant Building
This is the lower floor of the power plant building. The background light features the area where the demolition team will create a ramp out of the concrete debris. The team will remove all of this floor’s equipment, piping, and valves and use the future entrance ramp to lower the necessary demolition machinery.
- Power Plant Building
Lastly, more images can be found in our image gallery. Click Here.
Here is your regular scheduled update from the Holly Plant Decommissioning Project Team:
The TRC, LVI, and Austin Energy team have continued and completed the demolition of the Holly 2 boiler. The Holly 2 boiler is no longer part of the plant site. This week’s post details, through the following series of images, the latest view of the team in the final stages of the removal of Holly 2 boiler.
The following image highlights the Holly 2 Boiler in the center. The team continues to dismantle the right half of the Holly 2 boiler structure after already removing Holly 1. In the center of the photograph, a welder cuts the front beam from the bird cage.
Holly 2 Boiler
The team has removed the top beams on the right hand side and left the wind ducts on the left.
Holly 2 Boiler
The excavator and the shearer cut and pull away the last two remaining floors on the right side of the boiler 2 structure.
Holly 2 Boiler
Both machines work together to pull and remove the structural steel.
Holly 2 Boiler
The shearer approaches to cut a pipe hanging in the air. A worker sprays water over the area to keep dust particles contained.
Holly 2 Boiler
The shearer continues to cut the beams holding the floors.
Holly 2 Boiler
If you look closely in the center of the following image, a welder stepped out of the bird cage to begin cutting the back beam. Since the demolition team has removed the floors, the beam will eventually be sent to the recycling facility.
Holly 2 Boiler
This is a view looking from the west side or left side of the boiler 2 structure. The wind ducts are still laying on top of the left half of the boiler structure.
Holly 2 Boiler
The shearer makes the final cuts as well as pulls on the remaining beams and structural steel.
Holly 2 Boiler
The shearer cuts one of the beams next to the building.
Holly 2 Boiler
As you can clearly see in the image below, the demolition team has completely removed the Holly 2 Boiler structure. If you look closely in the center of the image, a welder is cutting one of the leftover beams which will be recycled.
Holly 2 Boiler
The demolition team moved the boiler wind duct into the scrap yard. The welders will cut the wind duct into smaller pieces that can be transported to the recycling facility.
Holly 2 Boiler
A welder is cutting one of the pipes into smaller sections. Currently, the scrap yard contains the remaining pieces of the Holly 2 wind duct and the boiler steel beams. The image also highlights the turbine generator building and the work that still needs to be done by the demolition team to remove the remaining pieces of the Holly 1 elevator shaft.
Holly 2 Boiler
This image highlights the demolition team’s progress illustrating the work completed in removing the Holly 1 and Holly 2 boiler structures. On the left, the team will start removing the Holly 3 boiler.
Holly 2 Boiler
This is the current view of the Holly Plant looking towards the boiler structures. From the left of the image, you can see the current state of the Holly 4 and 3 boiler structures. Also, you can see that the demolition team has completely removed the Holly 1 and Holly 2 boiler structures. The remain pieces of the Holly 2 boiler structure featured in the foreground will be cut into smaller pieces and transported to a recycling facility.
Holly 2 Boiler
Lastly, more images can be found in our image gallery. Click Here.
Here is your regular scheduled update from the Holly Plant Decommissioning Project Team:
Demolition activities continue throughout the plant. In the following series of images, you will see the joint Austin Energy, TRC, and LVI team continue to dismantle the Holly 2 Boiler structure. This week’s post brings you the latest update on what has happened to the boiler structure, including removing the steam drum.
This image shows the Holly 2 boiler structure at the beginning of the month. Notice, the steam drum enclosure is still in place at the top with the drum on the right.
Holly 2 Boiler
This is a closer view of the round steam drum sitting at the top of the boiler 2 structure. The demolition team has previously removed the end porthole.
Holly 2 Boiler
The following image highlights the length of the steam drum and the number of water pipes attached to the bottom of the drum. Additionally in the upper left corner of the photo, you can see a welder starting to cut into the drum.
Holly 2 Boiler
This is a view of the left side of the drum highlighting the cut tubes still attached to the steel drum.
Holly 2 Boiler
Inside the porthole next to the welder, you can see welding sparks inside the drum. The welder continues to cut into the drum to remove the end seen in the image.
Holly 2 Boiler
The demolition team has removed the drum end featured in the previous image. As the welder peers inside, you can notice the thickness of the metal which is 4.25 inches.
Holly 2 Boiler
Welders have cut the top half of the drum from the end on the left side. The demolition team use the crane to remove the drum to the scrap area for recycling.
Holly 2 Boiler
The demolition team is removing the cat walks between Holly boilers 1 and 2. A welder, on the left of the top cat walk, cuts the attachment to Holly 2 boiler.
Holly 2 Boiler
A welder starts cutting the steel column on the left that supports the floor above. The demolition team will remove each floor section in a similar fashion.
Holly 2 Boiler
After the cuts were made, the demolition team lifts and lowers a section of floor into the scrap yard for recycling.
Holly 2 Boiler
A welder attaches cables to the steel beams. First, the welder grabs a cable held in the air by the crane. Afterwards, he passes the cables through holes previously made into the steel columns and then attaches the cables to the eyebolts. Notice in the image below, you can see the hole made by the welder on the left side of the beam.
Holly 2 Boiler
Welders cut both ends of the columns that support this steel beam.
Holly 2 Boiler
The demolition team lifts the steel beam. The beam will be lowered into the scrap yard for chopping. The steel will be loaded onto trucks and sent to a recycling facility.
Holly 2 Boiler
The demolition team lowers the steel beam into place in the scrap yard. Behind the beam, you can see the internal side of the steam drum lying on its side.
Holly 2 Boiler
If you noticed on the left in the first image, the boiler wind ducts, the demolition team allows the ducts to drop onto this floor and smash anything in their way. Also, you have a clear perspective of the Holly 3 boiler rising behind the ducts.
Holly 2 Boiler
The demolition team cuts, lifts, and lowers another floor section into the scrap yard. A welder stands inside the bird cage on the left waiting to cut the next floor section. Additionally, the lower left of the following image highlights the wind duct.
Holly 2 Boiler
The team lowers another floor section into the scrap yard. The demolition team is removing each floor level a section at a time until the ground floor is reached and the unit is completely removed from the site.
Holly 2 Boiler
This is a current view of the front of Holly 2 boiler and highlights the demolition team’s progress. For comparison, you should compare this image to the first image of this blog.
Holly 2 Boiler
Lastly, more images can be found in our image gallery. Click Here.
Dear Blog Reader,
Since all of us at the Holly Plant are observing a winter holiday from 12/21 – 1/3/2013, we wanted to extend to you my very best wishes for a restful, relaxing, and joyous Holiday Season. May it be filled with well wishes and be a time to reflect on all you’ve accomplished in 2012. Whether this week is business as usual for you, or spent around the table with friends and family, all of us at the Holly Decommissioning Project are thinking about you and yours.
Secondly, we wanted to thank you for your readership and patience with the Holly Plant Decommissioning Project. With another year behind us, we bring you the Holly Plant 2012 wrap up! As you can see, the team has made significant progress in the past 12 months.
January – The project couldn’t achieve its current status without the Haul Road.
Haul Road Construction
As mentioned earlier, the trail has not been detoured and remains in place as is until demolition is completed. All hikers and bikers please use caution when approaching the haul road connecting Cesar Chavez and the Holly Plant.
February – The team started on the Abatement and Decontamination phase of the project.
Asbestos Removal Roll Offs
The highly trained team started the asbestos removal work and used the yellow steel containers to contain the asbestos.
March – This month’s highlight was finishing the Metz Parking lot.
Parking Lot Finishing Touches
While some of the team has been hard at work inside the plant, we would like to highlight the hard work done by some of our team members. We finished paving the Metz Recreation Center Parking Lot. This parking accommodates all the cars currently parking on Pedernales. Pedernales is strictly a haul road and entrance for team members to get to work in the morning at the Holly Plant.
April – Divers were onsite to perform an inspection of the water lines.
Intake Structure with Scuba Diver
You may have not known there are water lines that run from Holly to Ladybird Lake. As part of the decommissioning of the Holly Plant, we needed to inspect the seals. This is very important.
May – The team highlight was the removal of the 40ft traveling water screens.
Traveling Water Screen
This was a job well done by TRC, LVI, and Austin Energy. The traveling water screens were recycled.
June – The team started to remove the steel and removed most of the asbestos from Holly 1.
Steel Removal
Holly 1 is now asbestos free. The team has finally finished removing all the asbestos for this portion of the abatement and decontamination phase.
July – The crane became operational and the team began removing the boilers.
First Lift
The team began using the crane to disassemble Holly 1. On July 20, 2012, the Holly Plant Decommissioning Project team welcomed local media as well as Mike Martinez, City of Austin Council Member, for a photo opportunity of the crane.
August – The team began to remove Boiler 1 from the bottom to the top.
Holly Unit 1 Boiler
The joint Austin Energy, TRC, and LVI team dismantled and removed the bottom third of the Holly Unit 1 Boiler. First, the team cut the bottom tube panels. Next, the internals are cut and dropped out of Holly boiler #1. Lastly, the team removes the spaghetti tubing, which is the superheating and reheating section of the boiler.
September – The team is working on removing several sections of the plant at once. However, we would like to highlight the demolition team’s accomplishment in removing the Holly 2 turbine.
Holly 2 Turbine
The joint Austin Energy, TRC, and LVI team completely removed and sent to recycling the entire steam turbine composed of the low pressure, intermediate and high pressure sections.
October – The TRC, LVI, and Austin Energy team has started demolition and completed most of the asbestos abatement work on Holly Unit 3.
Holly Unit 3: Feed Water Heater Removal
The team removed the Holly Unit 3 feedwater heaters.
November – The demolition team removed the last water tank.
Water Tank
The tank held one million gallons of water.
December – The TRC, LVI, and Austin Energy team started to remove the Holly Unit 4 boiler.
Holly 4 Boiler: Demolition
The joint team initially cut the bottom of the boiler and worked upwards removing all four walls as they go to the top. The pieces that are cut are allowed to drop onto a 3 foot layer of soft soil. The soil is used to dampen the vibration that is created by the falling pieces.
We won’t be posting our regularly scheduled Friday blog post next week. Please visit us in the 2013 to read the latest news about our current project status.
Appreciatively,
Austin Energy, TRC, LVI and all of the Holly Decommissioning Team
Here is your regular scheduled update from the Holly Plant Decommissioning Project Team:
Removal of the last water tank standing at the site began and was completed this week. The tank held one million gallons of water. In the following series of images, you will see the joint Austin Energy, TRC, and LVI team demolish the water tank.
This is a view of the tank with a portion of the side cut by the demolition team and exposing the inside of the tank.
Water Tank
Inside the tank, you can see the bottom of the roof and the pillars that hold structure in place.
Water Tank
The demolition team moved the excavator into place. The excavator is used to pull the pillars shown in the previous picture.
Water Tank
The workers previously partially cut the bottom of the pillars and attached cables to each one of the pillars. The demolition team then pulls the pillars using the excavator.
Water Tank
The roof and its pillars collapse to the floor.
Water Tank
The roof is ready to be removed by the team and lies at the bottom.
Water Tank
A welder begins to cut the roof into pieces for removal.
Water Tank
Members of the demolition team use the excavator to bring the cut pieces of the roof outside to be compacted and removed.
Water Tank
The welders have removed the top sections of the water tank.
Water Tank
The welder begins cutting the bottom sections of the tank.
Water Tank
While the excavator holds a section of the tank to keep it from falling, the welder continues to make his cut through the tank section working his way down to the bottom.
Water Tank
Notice, the bottom left hand side of the photo and the sparks at the base of the tank wall. The welder begins to cut the bottom portion of the tank section going from left to right.
Water Tank
The welder finished cutting across the bottom section and the excavator pushed the tank section causing it to fall on the tank floor.
Water Tank
The excavator pushes down the last remaining section of the water tank wall.
Water Tank
The operator maneuvers the excavator and begins to roll up the tank section.
Water Tank
The excavator lifts the section of the tank to reposition it before continuing to roll the remainder.
Water Tank
The following image shows the rolled up and flattened section of the tank wall. The team is now ready to lift these pieces into a metal container. These sheets of tank wall will be removed off site and recycled.
Water Tank
The last images show the sections of the tank wall rolled up and compacted like rolls of carpet.
Water Tank
Lastly, more images can be found in our image gallery. Click Here.