Process Equipment Update


3D mobile milling machine


B


olting and engineering solutions company Hydratight has saved major chemicals and manufacturing company, Huntsman, a of time and money by using


the computer-controlled, high-accuracy tool to repair a large reactor vessel flange in-situ. Hydratight Singapore was performing bolt tensioning and


ultrasonic measurement on a reactor at the Huntsman facility on Jurong Island. Testing identified an issue with 3.5in studs on a special 20in flange on the reactors. The bolt failed to reach its required 40,000psi stress level because of damaged threads.


Huntsman engineers confirmed earlier findings through


further pressure testing performed on the reactor. Hydratight engineers were asked to assess repair


solutions. A proposal was made to use the GeniSYS to bore out the damaged threads to 4in, then use reducers to restore the threads to 3.5in. “Though simple in theory, such a job could have been


very difficult in practice,” said Hydratight’s Mark Foggin. “The repair had to be extremely accurate – not really possible with conventional equipment, especially under site conditions and on such large bores. To get it wrong would have meant an even greater, and more dangerous, potential for failure. But we have seen the GeniSYS do some amazing


work in worse circumstances in the past, so we knew we could complete the operation safely and efficiently and meet the level of accuracy set by Huntsman.” The machine and Hydratight specialist Rick Betteley were


flown out to the plant and machined five new holes in the space of a few hours – during one shift – with the help of local colleagues and Huntsman staff. The stepped-down studs were fitted and bolt tensioned and


the repair tested ultrasonically a short time later. “The vessel passed all the company’s tests and is now


back in full operation,” said Mark Foggin. The cost of repair was only a third of that of a new reactor


– not including the massive associated costs of shutdown and replacement. “Huntsman staff were so pleased they immediately asked


us to re-cut threads on two more reactors within the next six months – saving a huge amount of money and time in the process,” Foggin added. “The machine has obviously found a large number of new


friends. It always does – when people see what it can do.” l For more information, visit www.hydratight.com


As a world leader in centrifuge technology, Broadbent has an enviable reputation for the development of robust, high quality machines you can trust and rely on - combining innovative design with optimum dewatering/separation performance and low maintenance.


Broadbent centrifuges can be found throughout the International process industries on a diversity of applications, including the production of fine chemicals,


pharmaceuticals and minerals.


For products you can trust and rely on, contact:-


Tel: +44 (0) 1484 477200 Fax: +44 (0) 1484 428041 Web: www.broadbent.co.uk E-mail: ipd@broadbent.co.uk


Industrial Process Division, Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd. Huddersfield HD1 3EA England.


Circle 15 or ✔ at www.engineerlive.com/asia


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36