OCEAN TERMINAL
UTTING cut into
Hong Kong
J' Harbour from the Kowloon
peninsular. the Ocean Terminal is probably the most complete facility of its kind in the world and certainly the most advanced in the Far East.
From a design standpoint its sheer size. 1,580 ft. long. including the vehicular ramps and approaches, by 250 ft. wide at the deck, has posed some interesting problems. Many descriptions have been applied to this building but the most graphically descriptive is a comparison to the Empire State building lying on its side.
In order to maintain an orderly approach to the services on the ter- minal, these were divided into the following groups:
1. Sea water facilities
-
This in-
volves the filtration, treatment, and pumping of sea water for the air-conditioning on the ter- minal complex. flush water for the lavatories on the terminal. fire fighting on the terminal, and the export of sea water to other buildings.
2. Air-conditioning
This is the air-conditioning of the arcades. concourses. shops, and man- agerial and operational offices on the complex.
3. Electrical
This relates to the high tension distribution. low tension distribution, motor con- trol centres, lighting, light fitting design, emergency lighting. and cargo working lighting.
4. Lifts and escalators. 5. Plumbing This includes all sanitary and water distribution for the various lavatories, re- staurants, etc.
6. Fire services
A co-ordinated
fire alarm and fire fighting system for areas varying in usage ranging from cargo godowns to car parks.
Sea Water Facility
The pump room is one of the most unusual in Hong Kong as it is a structure 80 ft. long. 28 ft. wide and 181⁄2 ft. deep under the deck 550 ft. from shore, and submerged under water. The following equipment has been installed in this room which we have nicknamed "the submarine".
* Mr.
Berger is resident partner of Thomas Anderson & Partners, Hong Kong, the mechanical and electrical consultants for the Ocean Terminal.
52
The mechanical and electrical services
By Morton R. Berger,*
ASHRAE, ASME, SAME, B Sc, EA & ME
Sea water intake travelling screens
1. Sea water pumps for the Ocean Terminal air-conditioning system, consisting of one main plus one standby pump. each capable of pumping 3.750 ImpGPM against 150 ft. total head.
2. Fire fighting pumps for the
terminal consisting of two 625 ImpGPM at 300 ft. total head
pumps.
3. Export sea water Facility for three pumps to pump a total of 12,000 ImpGPM of sea water to the meter room.
4. Miscellaneous equipment includ- ing intake screen reverse washing pump, air handling unit, motor control centre, etc.
Due to the extreme corrosiveness of the water in the harbour very special materials and techniques were used to reduce expensive maintenance to a minimum. All piping is either asphalted cast iron in heavy cross section or high pressure PVC. The pumps are entirely of a very high grade zinc free bronze with stainless steel shafts. Valves above 6 in.
diameter are cast iron with aluminium bronze spindles and trim. Below 6 in. diameter the valves are entirely of aluminium bronze.
As the "Fragrant Harbour" has been rather severely fouled by civilization. all of the sea water pumped has to be screened. On the Ocean Terminal there are two tra- velling screens each capable of handling 12,500 ImpGPM. These screens have specially treated steel work, zinc free bronze gears, nylon bushings, and stainless steel baskets.
A very substantial part of the sea water pumping plant capacity is for export to other users. The piping for this export sea water posed special problems due to the structural design of the building.
The structure of the terminal al- lows for considerable movement between the deck and the superstruc- ture. Since the 18 in. diameter export sea water line is in contact with both the
the deck and
superstructure. special corrosion resistant expansion joints were designed and installed.
Far East Architect & Builder March, 1966