Autoclave Piping Complex Renovation

More than $1.5 million in total energy incentive rebates, in addition to energy savings of 650,000 therms of gas and 96,000 kWh of electricity per year.

SSOE was instrumental in completing a highly successful manufacturing complex renovation for worldwide energy leader General Electric in Schenectady, New York. Work on the 40,000 SF autoclave piping area involved the renovation and redesign of steam/asphalt co-axial piping, vacuum, nitrogen, steam and condensate systems. SSOE provided comprehensive design and construction management services for the project.

The project included redesign of a largely undocumented complex industrial system and development of a construction schedule to minimize manufacturing operation downtime. SSOE addressed suboptimal routing in the complex using intensive as-builts to compensate for lack of documentation. Prefabricating many of the piping spools off-site helped minimize manufacturing downtime and streamline the construction process.

Hailed as a tremendous success, this project netted approximately $1.5 million in total energy incentive rebates from National Grid, an electricity and gas company that delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. SSOE’s work helped GE achieve efficiency upgrades that will save more than 650,000 therms of gas and more than 96,000 kWh of electricity per year.

“The project savings are substantial. SSOE did an excellent job managing construction. They picked up the design very quickly and drove the project to completion. Our autoclave operators are very happy with the upgrades, especially in the areas of safety and functionality.”

Michael J. McGowan, P.E.
Facilities Mechanical Engineer
GE Power & Water