Autodesk Hong Kong BIM Awards 2017 Award Winners

COMPANY
Water Supplies Department,
HKSAR Government
Water Treatment
Works Expansion
PROJECT
Chlorine generation at Tai Po Water Treatment
Works (TPWTW). The chlorine generation is part of
the Works under the overall expansion of TPWTW

Fast-tracked with BIM

from 400 Million Liters per Day (MLD) to 800 MLD
LOCATION
Tai Po, New Territories
TYPE
Water Treatment Works
SCHEDULED TIME OF COMPLETION
2018

“We could see that with

changes made on a
continual basis, the
model really, really
helped” & “Changes
could be made over
night, and appeared on
all drawings - it was
quite amazing.”
——Kelvin Leung Siu-kau
Senior Engineer/Consultants
Management, Water Supplies
Department

BIM PARTNERS
Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited
China State / ATAL Joint-Venture Chlorine Store at Entrance of Tai Po Water Treatment Works
Image courtesy of Water Supplies Department, HKSAR Government
Electrolytic Technologies
3D model helps design and build Hong eliminating the risk of chlorine gas leakage
Kong’s largest on-site chlorine generation associated with the transportation and
plant storage of liquid chlorine, resulting
in enhancement of the safety of the
In 2013, Hong Kong’s Water Supplies disinfection operation.
Department (WSD) has launched a project
to expand Tai Po Water Treatment Works, The chlorine genreation process produces
which will supply 30% of the fresh water chlorine gas by electrolysing brine
supply to Tai Po, West and Central Kowloon, (saturated salt water) through electrodes
and Central and Western Districts of Hong that are separated by membranes. The
Kong Island. The plant uses chlorine for production process is safe and reliable.
disinfection of drinking water. The treated Chlorine gas will be generated according
water meets the Guidelines for Drinking- to the demand and consumed immediately
water Quality recommended by the World upon production. These are the first large
Health Organisation. Since there are no scale chlorine generation facilities to be
chlorine gas suppliers in Hong Kong, WSD installed at the major water treatment
has been importing liquid chlorine from works in Hong Kong.
Guangdong Province, which is transported
to the water treatment works for storage
and use.

With advancement of technology, chlorine

generation facilities have become more
mature and reliable. The ever-improving
membrane technology in recent years has
rendered a chlorine generation plant to
be accommodated in more compact space.
WSD revealed in 2016 that the chlorine
generation facilities are suitable to be
installed in the major water treatment
works of Hong Kong to do away with On-site Chlorine Generation Skids with Walkways for Operation
transportation and storage arising from and Maintenance Access Fitted within Chlorine Store using
BIM Model to Optimize Space Utilization
importation of liquid chlorine, and thus Image courtesy of Water Supplies Department, HKSAR Government

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Autodesk Hong Kong BIM Awards 2017 Award Winners

Need for speed and safety

The WSD adopted a strategy for using
BIM in 2014, and after some pilot projects
they decided to employ BIM for the Tai
Po Water Treatment Works expansion
as there is a tight time frame - aiming
to commence operation in mid 2018.
The project is complex, involving safety
concerns, tight space constraints, and
a need to quickly provide engineering
solutions, so instructions can be sent to
equipment manufacturers on time.

“The BIM model was developed by and

for all stakeholders,” says Stephen Ting,
Senior Resident Engineer (Process), Black BIM Facilitated Interdisciplinary Coordination involving Mechanical and Electrical Equipment, Piping,
Utilities for Building Services, Civil and Structural Design
& Veatch. “They added tanks, pipelines, Image courtesy of Water Supplies Department, HKSAR Government
and details into the BIM models -
including sub-models from critical Enhanced hazard review which would be especially challenging in
equipment suppliers.” this fast-tracked project.
The team had to perform a Hazard and
Operability (HAZOP) assessment for the But for the first time, a BIM model
There were initial doubts within the team chlorine generation facilities, to review
over whether the BIM model would work; was used to carry out the HAZOP. This
the design and help identify any issues. proved far more effective than the 2D
but there were also champions, saying “All stakeholders discuss these
this was the way forward to milestones plans for visualising the equipment
issues in a round table meeting room, and space around the equipment, and
and key decisions. Soon, BIM was proving traditionally using 2D layouts to look
its worth. simulating abnormal conditions. There
at potential hazards,” says Ir. Ting. The was less guess work and more focuses
required detailed drawings would take on solutions. All parties had an overall
considerable time and effort to produce - better experience and time savings. “The

Two Dimensional Layout Plan of Equipment and Piping inside Chlorine Store (Automatically updated with changes from the BIM model)
Image courtesy of Water Supplies Department, HKSAR Government

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Autodesk Hong Kong BIM Awards 2017 Award Winners

- it was quite decisions on construction in the tight

amazing.” space.”

David Jackson, Now, thoughts are turning towards

Resident Engineer asset management, and the WSD is
(Process), Black & paving the way by building up the as-
Veatch, says the constructed BIM model and COBie data
model was a great worksheets with essential operation
help in coordination and maintenance information following
meetings: “Some completion of the project.
who attended are
not familiar with the “We’re moving in a direction of using BIM
new plant, but said, for asset management,” says Ir. Leung.
‘Oh, I actually know “In the long term, it would be critical
what this looks for us, as the water treatment industry
like!’” is very asset-intensive. BIM would be
Visualization of the Access Provided for Operation and Maintenance
of Salt Loading Facilities and Brine Tanks
very contributive for the design and
Image courtesy of Water Supplies Department, HKSAR GovernmentThis in turn enabled construction of new water treatment
BIM model really speed up the HAZOP maintenance works.”
considerably,” says Ir. Ting. and operation staff to more readily
participate in the design process, and
The BIM model also helped with more find issues such as adding an access
typical aspects of design, such as ladder that would impede the access to
checking for clashes. A change in the another piece of equipment. Similarly,
location of a pump could have a major staff from the Environmental Protection
impact on piping, leading to not just Department was given a walkthrough of
clashes but also issues such as operation the model, visualising how the new plant
and maintenance, and could take a long would operate. While for Fire Services
time to assess using a traditional 2D Department staff who was less familiar to
layout. The BIM model slashed the time assessing 3D images, the model was used
required from over a week to a few man- to produce 2D drawings. The flexibility of
hours. the BIM model assisted the project team
in obtaining permits from government
“We could see that with changes made departments.
on a continual basis, the model really,
really helped,” says Kelvin Leung Siu- The project team has also used the
kau, Senior Engineer/Consultants model for planning how to install major
Management, Water Supplies items such as membrane electrolysis
Department. “Changes could be made equipment that will be delivered on skid
over night, and appeared on all drawings mounts - ensuring there will be sufficient
space.

Towards BIM for asset

management
The BIM model has helped project team
members from various disciplines come
together, and deliver the fast-tracked
project on schedule for commissioning
early next year. The team estimated that
using the BIM model reduced the time
needed by at least two months.

“Another benefit was the seamless

transition from design to construction.
The process/mechanical BIM model was
handed over to the Contractor for fitting
out the balance of plant auxiliaries such
as ventilation, lighting, etc.” says Ir.
Visualization of the Elevated Maintenance Access of
Hypochlorite Storage Tanks and Dosing facilities
Ting. “The model helps us make prompt
Image courtesy of Water Supplies Department, HKSAR Government

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Autodesk Hong Kong BIM Awards 2017 Award Winners

Tai Po Water Treatment Works Located on a Hilltop Overlooking Tai Po Urban and Rural Developments
Image courtesy of Water Supplies Department, HKSAR Government

About Water Supplies Department, HKSAR Government

Water Supplies Department (WSD) is responsible for supplying fresh water and seawater (for flushing) for consumption by Hong
Kong’s population of 7.3 million for domestic and non-domestic use. In 2015/16, the WSD supplied 982 million cubic metres (Mm3) of
fresh water. In the same year, WSD supplied 268 Mm3 of seawater for flushing. As of 1 April 2016, WSD administered 2.91 million water
accounts.

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