Three Alimak Scando 650 passenger and material hoists were used in the construction of three 140m (450in) solar receivers / boiler towers at the Ivanpah Solar Generating Facility in the Mohave Desert. Ivanpah is the world’s largest solar thermal power plant currently in operation. With a payload of 3,200kg (7,100lb) and a lifting height of 140m (450in), the Alimak machines provided efficient vertical access for both workers and materials on the site.
Working with Bechtel Power and Bechtel Equipment, Alimak Hek performed an engineering evaluation and specified the Alimak Scando 650 FC 32/32 II system for this project. Travelling at 54m/min (177ft/min), the hoists have a 1.5m-wide x 3.2m-long x 2.3m-high car size and a 3,200kg (7,100lb) capacity, which was more than sufficient to transport site workers and bulky palletised materials to working height.
The Alimak machines were anchored to structural steel at approximately 12m (40ft) intervals and the mast was allowed to extend above the deck by 12m (40′) to allow for access when the modular components were hoisted. The strength of the Alimak mast made this possible.
The Alimak hoists were chosen to support the project because of their proven reliability to operate in harsh environments, removing some of the risk that Bechtel had to manage to install and start up this new technology.
World’s largest solar power facility
Ivanpah Solar Power Facility is the world’s largest solar thermal power plant currently in operation.
The project is located in Ivanpah Dry Lake, California, US, on more than 1,600ha (4,000 acres). The station will produce 390MW of electricity for more than 140,000 customers of Pacific Gas & Electric Company and Southern California Edison, by using more than 173,500 software-controlled heliostats (mirrors) that will track the sun in two dimensions and reflect sunlight to the three boilers that sit atop the almost 140m (450ft)-tall towers. The high-temperature steam will then be piped from the boilers to a turbine where electricity is generated.