Lf
CHAPTER V, SECTION 1
Figure
No. 5-5. Overhead Crane Installation,
Vehicle Repair Shop — Elmer.
limited to the repair of pavement at the turning
points and parkingareas.
UTILITY SYSTEMS.
Pipelines were subject to breakage, leaks,
and stoppages, and electrical lines were exposed
to breakage and deterioration. Maintenance
repairs on pipelines and theelectrical lines were
effected as quickly as possible in order to main-
tain continuous operations. Breaks in the salt
water system were immediately repaired, since
they endangered water distillation production
and fire-fighting capabilities. One maintenance
function peculiar to the EPG wasthe occasional
washing of overhead electric cables, insulators,
and
transformers to
eliminate accumulations
of salt. Washing was done with fresh water
sprayed under pressure from a truck equipped
with an adjustable boom.
The biggest problem area in the salt water
system was the maintenance of the diesel-pump
assemblies at the intake portion of the system;
pumps were operated 24 hours a day, and main-
tenance personnel were on “stand-by” at all
times.
Maintenance
services
were
required
almost daily to free the salt water intake screens
of debris, which collected there during almost
every low-tide condition.
A night “call-out” system was invoked for
the maintenance or repair of electrical and
water systems, as well as for refrigeration equipment, whereby maintenance personnel notified
the telephone operator of their location at all
times. The necessity for utilities maintenance
and repairs in barracks, warehouses, and Administrative Buildings was due largely to routine
breakage or corrosion. Use of salt water in the
Jatrine facilities increased the corrosion factor
and the deterioration of the plumbing lines.
Brass and copper components in electrical fix-
(Neg. No. W-789)
tures are highly vulnerable to the effects of saltair moisture, resulting in a high replacement
figure. Efforts were made to reduce exposure
to moisture by closing electrical fixture openings
with grease.
POWER AND DISTILLATION.
Power
and
distillation
personnel
were
charged with the maintenance of ali component
parts of distillation plants, except electrical
parts, and all mechanical components of power
plants. During the operational period of HARD-
TACK, power and distillation mechanics were
assigned to four off-atoll sites to operate and
maintain the units and also to act as senior
members of H&N personnel assigned to. these
sites.
The main effort during the early periods
of the Operation was directed toward final major
repairs on equipment at permanent camps to
minimize lost operating time during the operational peak. Later, the main effort was shifted
to the installation of power and distillation
equipment on the various off-island and off-atoll
sites.
Continuous periodic inspections and preventive maintenance were carried out at all sites,
with the exception of the off-atoll stations, which
were serviced only on request. With a few ex-
ceptions, all units installed on a temporary basis
were removed after the Operation and were returned to Elmer for overhaul, maintenance, and
storage, as required.
Poweranddistillation equipment performed
very satisfactorily throughout Operation HARDTACK. The most critical problem encountered
was the rapid erosion of tube walls in the heat
exchangers for the generator units installed in
the Yvonne powerplant.
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