Coal-Fired Power Plant Demolition

Canadys, SC Demolition ProjectEnvirocon was selected to plan and execute the decommissioning and demolition of a coal-fired power plant in Canadys, SC based on our exemplary safety record, strong financials, and depth of experience. The Canadys Station facility consisted of three coal-fired steam electric generating units with a 450MW capacity.

Envirocon participated in a complex planning phase and worked closely with our client to obtain a comprehensive understanding of project objectives. Relying on our extensive experience handling hazardous materials on remediation projects, Envirocon completed the abatement of ACM and other hazardous materials. Equipment from Envirocon’s vast fleet was used, and included large excavators with multiple attachments: shears, hammers, grapple and magnet, and pulverizers.

Field work was initiated by performing pre-demolition activities including removal of universal wastes. Hazmat and engineering surveys were conducted to identify potential hazards and determine the safety of working around buildings and equipment. Next, support buildings (two-story, 75,000 sf) were demolished simultaneously with the preparation for abatement of the boilers and other plant structures.

Demolition of the power plant facility included dismantlement of turbines (two 125MW and one 200MW) and generators using overhead cranes. Three of the taller structures demolished included two cooling towers (35.5-feet tall, 23,760 sf footprint) which were wood structures built over a concrete reservoir and a third tower (39.5 feet tall, 35,840 sf footprint) constructed of precast concrete. Associated turbine halls (two, 60-feet tall, 23,600 sf and one, 69-feet, 18,600 sf) were also demolished. Engineered controlled drop plans were developed for the coal bunkers (two, 60-feet tall and one, 77-feet tall), boilers (two, 100-feet tall and one, 110-feet tall), stacks (three, 200-feet tall), and baghouse (steel, 92.5-feet tall). Hinge cuts and pulling cables were used to safely fell the bunkers, boilers, and baghouse all according to the engineered drop plans. The 200-foot tall stacks were felled using explosives. When the explosive charge was applied, the stacks rotated in the desired direction before ground impact.

Asset recovery included salvaging, selling, re-use of materials, and recycling. The safe execution of the work was achieved through careful planning and coordination with the client, our subcontractors, and crew members.