[Escoordminutes] ES Coordination Minutes- Aug 2010

[Lew Serna]

Minutes for the ES Division Coordination Meeting held on Tuesday, August 
31, 2010, at 10:30 am, in the LL CB conference room. Attending were Lew 
Serna, Ramon Gutierrez, Guy Stanzione, Brent Avery, and Bob Broilo.

BUDGET —RFQ orders for FY 2010 are no longer being accepted. September 
22 is the cutoff date for FY2010 purchase orders <$3K. VSQ demolition is 
ordered and must be committed by November. Use ARRA account numbers for 
labor and materials for all VSQ demolition work. VLBA foundation work is 
funded and a trip to HN and NL are scheduled for September. Money for 
the MK el bearing change is still not available nor is there money for 
the SC TT visit that was tentatively scheduled for October as yet. Track 
Equipment spares are on order from ARRA funds.

VLBA –MK Elevation bearing grease samples for the “EL synchro side” 
bearing still show metal particles. Fewer metal flakes showing in the 
monthly samples reported thus far probably due to flushing out of the 
bearing with grease.

HN suffered a catastrophic azimuth wheel axle failure. The TT trip to HN 
that was scheduled for this year was combined with the wheel repair. The 
maintenance visit to FD is complete. The BR visit is complete.

FY 2011 TT Visits are to NL, OV, SC and PT.

NL foundation repairs were conducted in July. The Rail joints were found 
to be cracking. Bob replaced most of the joints at NL. More are on order 
for the HN foundation in the event they have cracks too. The HN 
foundation repair is scheduled for 9/20/10-9/27/10 and a visit to NL 
will follow to complete repairs on 9/28/10-10/01/10. Use Account 
#533610.XXXX.VLBA for material and travel.

KP will require one each wheel assembly to be replaced. A short shaft 
should be used on the spare wheel since it will fit assemblies at all 
sites.

Repair of the St. Croix Subreflector is in progress.

MK dish panels that were damaged will need to be repaired for spares.

The new dichroic panel material is acceptable and will be used to make 
future dichroic panels.

SC TT Bin will need an inspection and certification before it can be 
shipped to SC.

AZ BEARINGS – The purchase requisition for 6 new bearings has been 
submitted with delivery in October. We have one spare bearing on hand 
usable as the emergency spare. Older grease samples show that antennas 
25, 10 and 20, are candidates for scheduled bearing changes. Antenna 25 
has the worst sample. An estimated three weeks in the AAB are required 
before a bearing change can occur. Parts from the bearings removed from 
antennas are needed for measuring and fitting of new parts and should be 
stored until they are scheduled to be shipped for repair. Fourteen 
bearings have been replaced to date. It may be desirable to refurbish 
bearings as well.
PROJECTS:
CONTROL BUILDING STAIRWAYS—The CB balcony stairways will be replaced 
with an improved design conforming to ADA. A new concrete landing will 
have to be poured at the base of the eastern stairway and the steps 
replaced. The “western” stairway repairs are complete. The eastern 
stairway is barricaded to prevent its use. Work on the eastern stairway 
will continue as the workload and funds permit. It will cost 
approximately $7K- $10K to complete.

ST Croix PAINT MAINTENANCE VISIT—a crew was sent to St. Croix in April 
to continue brush painting the areas where bleed through is evident. All 
new paint Is holding up well. A follow up painting program at SC would 
cost around $17K per visit. The site techs are doing some painting spot 
repairs until enough yearly funds are made available for regular follow 
up painting trips.

VLA ANTENNA FOUNDATION MOVEMENT— A problem with north arm antenna 
foundation movement needs to be investigated. It appears that the two 
rearward station pillars have been slowly separating over the years at 
CN5, CN6, CN7 and BN5 with BN5 being the worst. They have separated far 
enough in about 33 years that 1 bolt (one on a reward pad) can no longer 
be used to secure the antenna pad to the foundation pillar. Modification 
of the CN5, CN6, CN7and BN5 plates are complete and the plates are 
reinstalled. This will solve the immediate problem of setting down 
antennas on these foundations.

If the pillars are moving apart it is felt that there may be no 
practical way of preventing the movement. It is believed that if this is 
the case it would be more desirable/practical to build an additional 
foundation next to the bad ones. Another option is that if the pillar 
movement is very slow it may be adequate to modify/redesign the mounting 
plates in order to make up and correct for the movement. In any case it 
would be desirable to get inspection of the foundations and a 
recommendation for action. A cost estimate for an inspection has been 
requested to an outside firm.

Markers have been set for taking measurements to try and see which 
pillars are actually moving and at what rate. No change has been 
observed between loaded and unloaded measurements thus far. Recent 
Measurements taken continue to show no movement.

GENERATOR REPAIRS— Minor leaks were noticed at the engine rear seals and 
it is desirable to install a better fuel filtering system. This work 
would cost around $12K and has been put on the funding wish list.

HOT WATER LOOP. A project is submitted to install a hot water loop using 
Correlator waste heat: The difference between the summer load and winter 
load is mostly due to heating (at least 300kW). However, even during the 
coldest mornings the cooling tower is ventilating correlator waste heat 
into the atmosphere. We already use some of the heat in the Control 
Building, but by extending the hot water loop to other buildings, we may 
be able to reduce our power demand. The WIDAR correlator will have an 
even higher heat output to work with.

This project mainly consists of burying a hot water loop and using heat 
exchangers similar to what many complexes of buildings use. Payback on 
this project could be as quick as 1 year. Bob Broilo will investigate 
and provide further information. This project has the potential to save 
$250K/year on our power bill.

VLA AZ GEARBOX’s -- Antenna 6 and 7 gearboxes’ have been replaced. The 
spare will need to be repaired. A plan to change oil on around 10 
antennas per year is underway

VSQ’s- A decision to raze VSQ buildings has been made. Demolition 
efforts are underway. The fire alarms can be disconnected. Special 
abatement plan to remove the asbestos flooring will have to be followed. 
A plan to schedule training and removal of the asbestos is necessary. 
Stimulus funds should be committed by November. Use account # 110.XXXX.AR110

Diesel Tank /Gasoline Dike- Gasoline Dike repairs have been completed by 
ES Div personnel. A report is due from the NACE certified inspector.

The diesel tank containment also needs upgrading and will not meet state 
regulations after 2011. A double-walled tank will replace the tank now 
in place. The upgrade will include pressurized fuel dispenser. Work will 
begin on September 20. Fuel will be burned down by September 17 so no 
standby generators will be available from September 17 to September 23. 
The tank replacement will be performed by a contractor.


EVLA;
Civil— VLA site Utility Transformer and Generator Transformers will be 
marginal once the EVLA full load is on line. SEC has ordered a new 3MW 
utility Transformer and delivery is expected in September. Installation 
would take place in October. A Hatch PM will likely be coordinated with 
the installation of the Utility Transformer. Bob has ordered a 3MW 
Generator transformer which should be shipped on 28 September.

EVLA Antennas—Antennas will remain in the D array until 9/13/10.

SAFETY REPORT: Safety Officer not present.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
8/27/2010 – Last day to submit approved Purchase Reqs. requiring RFP

9/15/2010—Last day to submit receipts for clothing allowance reimbursements.

9/22/2010—Last day to submit approved Purchase Reqs. Under $3K for FY2010.

9/16/2010—End of summer party.

PEPs: ES Division PEP’s are complete and delivered to HR.