SCI Steam Tube and Bundle System Replacement

Location: Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center, San Antonio, TX
Client: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

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Semper Fidelis Construction & Development completed the replacement of two SCI steam tube and bundle domestic hot water systems to improve the reliability and performance of the facility’s hot water infrastructure. The project involved the removal of aging U-tube heat exchangers and circulation pumps and the installation of two new skid-mounted steam tube and bundle heat exchanger systems along with new vertical inline circulation pumps designed to support the building’s domestic hot water distribution system. 

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Our team furnished and installed the new packaged heat exchanger systems, including copper-lined pressure vessels, steam heating coils, temperature control systems, steam control valves, and associated instrumentation required to regulate steam flow and maintain proper domestic hot water temperatures throughout the facility. The work also required modifications to the existing steam supply, condensate return, and domestic hot water piping systems, along with installation of new valves, strainers, gauges, safety devices, and insulation components to ensure full system integration and code-compliant operation. 

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Due to the critical nature of the building’s hot water system, the project required careful sequencing and coordination to maintain continuous facility operations. The contractor installed temporary containment systems and implemented dust and debris control measures while existing equipment was removed. New equipment was installed in phases to minimize downtime, followed by hydrostatic pressure testing, system flow testing, and full startup and commissioning procedures. The completed installation ensures improved system efficiency, reliability, and long-term performance of the facility’s domestic hot water system.