Circulating Water Plant Intake Pipeline – Diving the Depth

Underwater Construction Corporation has been providing specialized commercial diving and marine construction services for over 50 years. Multiple industries turn to UCC’s experience and expertise in power plant intake pipeline inspection and maintenance when difficult tasks arise. Recently, UCC completed another challenging project that showcased the company’s innovation, project planning, equipment, procedures and most importantly, safety.

Midwest Power Plant Intake Pipeline Project Overview

UCC completed a long tunnel inspection utilizing remote operated vehicles (ROV) and a dive team during a scheduled inspection at a Midwest power plant. Comprehensive condition assessments and other preventative maintenance task items were performed.

Review of real time inspection video footage, including review of cross-sectional sonar measurements, showed a significant amount of debris located within the 96” circulating water plant intake pipeline system. Immediately following these inspection results, UCC began project planning, budget development, and dive profiling to mobilize a deep water dive team for the debris removal process.

Debris Removal in a Circulating Water Plant Intake System

The plant intake system consisted of a 140’ vertical riser from ground level to the 90-degree elbow of the pipeline. From there the pipeline extended 3500’ to the surface water intake structure.

Deep water dive specialists and safety oversight personnel worked together to plan and proceduralize the diving activities and profiles. The scope of work outlined multiple divers to remove accumulated debris from the internal pipeline from the elbow working their way to the surface water intake.

Approximately 500 cubic yards of debris were removed via diver assisted dredging operations using a variety of custom dredge pumps, transferring material to the processing area over a half mile away.  Of the 346 total dives performed, 131 deep water recompression dives were completed to remove the accumulated debris and restore the intake’s operational capacity.

Zero equipment failures and zero safety incidents marked another UCC water power plant intake maintenance success.

Regular inspection and maintenance can prevent common problems that affect cooling water intake systems:

• Sediment and debris buildup restricting water flow
• Corrosion or damage to intake tunnels and risers
• Blockages reducing cooling system efficiency
• Compliance challenges with EPA 316(b) fish protection regulations

Keeping your plant intake pipeline in optimal condition ensures maximum performance and reduces operational risk. Additional benefits include:

• Extended equipment lifespan: Early identification and correction of issues prevents costly repairs and replacements
• Debris removal and processing: Restores full flow capacity and efficiency
• Structural integrity maintenance: Prevents small defects from becoming major problems
• Fish protection: Installation, repair and/or maintenance of cooling water intake systems to meet or exceed EPA 316b regulation for fish impingement and entrainment

With more than 50 years of plant intake services experience, our team can execute all aspects of plant intake inspection and maintenance using the latest technology and proven diving expertise.

As the largest inland commercial diving services company in the United States, Underwater Construction Corporation and its staff of over 200 divers, supervisors and project managers operate from multiple regional locations in Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Texas, South Carolina and the United Kingdom.

Through our global network of offices and associates, UCC has performed projects in over 25 countries. Every job, no matter the size, receives the professionalism customers expect from UCC.

If you have questions regarding plant intake pipeline inspection, debris removal, or preventative maintenance, contact us at one of our regional locations or fill out the form on this page. Our experts will work with you to ensure your plant intake system operates safely, efficiently, and in compliance with all applicable regulations.