CS Energy’s Callide Power Station in Central Queensland has taken a leap forward with the introduction of new pultruded cooling towers, representing a change in construction methodology for the power station.
Related article: Callide C4 incident “could not have been anticipated” frp pultrusion machine
IWC Australasia was awarded a contract to design and construct two new pultruded cooling towers with the support of its sub-contractor UGL.
These cooling towers mark an important development for Callide, which is a major generator of electricity for the sunshine state.
The project initiated a transformative phase, demolishing the existing wooden cooling towers and erecting new mechanical draught counter flow cooling towers with a Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) structure. The two IWC cooling towers each comprise 18 cells and stretch over 200m.
Designed in accordance with standards CTI STD-137 and CTI STD-152, these towers offer a host of advantages. Pultruded GRP has emerged as the material of choice for large, field-erected cooling towers due to its extended service life, rapid deployment capabilities, and reduced construction durations. Moreover, these towers exhibit chemical and corrosion resistance, high impact strength, and a remarkable combination of rigidity and lightweight design.
The decision to embrace pultruded technology is not just a leap forward; it’s a strategic move towards sustainability and efficiency. Unlike their wooden counterparts, pultruded cooling towers promise not only long-term reliability but also shorter construction timelines.
After months of hard work and extraordinary effort from the IWC Australasia team and sub-contractors, one of the units at Callide is back in operation and, as the project nears completion, the anticipation for the full restoration of the units has the industry excited.
Related article: AER begins action over Callide C performance standards
With the integration of pultruded cooling towers, the power station is redefining the standards for power infrastructure that will resonate in Australia’s energy landscape for years to come.
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