Inspection, Evaluation, and Upgrade Design of Electrical Distribution System
Inspection, Evaluation, and Upgrade Design of Electrical Distribution System
Client: Army Corps of Engineers, Marine Corps Air Station
Location: Yuma, AZ
The Army Corps of Engineers engaged Lopez Engineering, Inc. (LEI) to inspect and recommend upgrades to the electrical distribution system at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona. LEI acted as Prime Consultant, Project Manager, and as Chief Electrical Engineer responsible for the design.
The evaluation report included recommendations for removal and replacement of PCB contaminated transformers and upgrade of electrical distribution lines to the local utility standard.
The project, Phase VIII, followed four previous phases all designed by LEI and implemented over a period of 3 years. Design included removal of all PCB contaminated transformers with PCB levels greater than 50 PPM, upgrade to 12.47 KV APS clean overhead electrical distribution system in some areas with some conversion to underground electrical distribution system in most areas.
PCB contaminated and other pole-mounted transformers were converted to padmount transformers. Utilization of termination cabinets to serve padmount transformers and branch circuits facilitated conversion of above ground distribution to underground distribution. Handholes were used in lieu of manholes to reduce costs. Current codes were incorporated into the upgrade design.