Equipment turnover to the systemization team is, one might say, a mechanical process for one Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant mechanical field engineer.

Phil Aikele, nicknamed “Turnover Phil,” and the rest of the mechanical turnover team are responsible for making sure the Blue Grass plant’s mechanical systems are ready to move into the systemization, or testing phase, after their installation. This includes physically inspecting equipment; writing documentation for changes; facilitating ordering of materials for missing or damaged components; and writing turnover inspection reports. Typically, there are lots of loose ends that need to be wrapped up just before turnover of the equipment, which is why Aikele’s team’s work is so important.

“I, and the other mechanical field engineers in the group, work in close coordination with the mechanical superintendent, the piping superintendent and the millwright superintendent, among others, in order to make this a smooth process,” said Aikele. “It’s a true team effort.”

Aikele has worked in the engineering and construction field for more than 40 years, much of it in similar work, and he previously spent time on the Blue Grass plant’s sister project in Pueblo, Colorado.

“I am fortunate to have worked with people on the Blue Grass project that I have spent time with on previous jobs,” said Aikele. “We are comfortable and familiar with each other and that translates into effective teamwork.”

Mechanical systems are only one part of the systemization effort. Electrical, instrumentation and piping systems, for instance, are also undergoing the same focus as construction winds down and the project gears up for operations.

“It’s all coming together as the different teams receive and systemize the various plant systems,” said Eddie Whitworth, deputy project manager. “Each piece of this huge facility will be checked and tested to ensure its individual function before integrating the pieces and testing the facility as a whole before we even think about introducing chemical agent into it during operations.”