Hams Hall BESS – 1800mmØ Firewater Storage Tank
237m³
Firewater Storage Capacity
30%
Reduced Footprint
100%
Watertight
Hams Hall is a 400 MW 1.4GWh Battery Energy Storage Site (BESS) project currently in construction in the West Midlands – developed, owned, and operated by BW ESS. Once energised, it will be one of the largest BESS sites in Europe. Wills Bros are working in cooperation with Energy-Io to deliver the project. This case study is provided to give insights into the firewater Storage Tank installed on site, including the challenges and subsequent solutions by Wills Bros.
Challenges
The tank was originally designed with concrete pipes and 3 x 2.4mØ manholes at each end, requiring a 9m x 33m footprint within a very constrained area.
As should be the case with all Firewater and Contaminated Water Storage Tanks on BESS developments, the tank would be subject to a Water Drop Test to BSEN 1610 Section 13.3. Due to the number of joints along each pipe run, and especially the challenge of building 6 large, interconnected manholes to a standard of ‘100% watertight’, Wills Bros sought alternative options that would readily meet the required standard and provide improvements in footprint and buildability.
Solution
Neatly installed within a 30% reduced footprint, a 3-leg tank, connected together with a high-quality flanged manifold, provided a system that was simple and quick to install.
The design incorporated 6m length pipes, reducing the number of joints for the complete tank to just 15. The end sections were air tested prior to delivery, and once connected on site, the manifold and gaskets were air tested prior to backfilling, all of which provided a high degree of confidence ahead of the planned Water Drop Test. Finally, to provide a double seal, the joints were professionally over-welded on the inside by the Aquaspira Site Services team.
Outcome
The tank installation was completed ahead of programme. Backed by Aquaspira’s Watertight Assurance Process, the tank was filled without any water loss for several days, prior to satisfactorily passing the formal BSEN 1610 Water Drop Test.
From initial design proposal, pre-installation planning, installation advice, through to final testing, the Aquaspira team provided great support. With the Watertight Assurance Process we were confident from the outset that the tank system would do the job, and we weren’t disappointed. We won’t hesitate to use the system on future projects.
Callum Brown – Senior Project Manager, Wills Bros Group
