PLANT MANAGEMENT
corrosion, there are various assets within an ethylene plant that can become fouled, causing partial or complete blockages that result in millions of lost revenue.
EFFECTIVE FOULING REMOVAL SOLUTIONS Leading fabrication specialist Manoir Industries, in conjunction with HZ Consulting, contributed new research to the white paper on heat loss due to fouling. T eir calculations identifi ed the signifi cant cumulative savings that could be achieved following Tube Tech International’s robotic cleaning of a fouled convection bank. For a plant with fi ve furnaces in operation, it is estimated that in the three-year period after a robotic clean, a saving of US$5.44 million is possible. Over the past two years, Tube
Tech International has experienced unprecedented demand for its robotic fi red heater cleaning technology, which is remotely operated for optimum safety and accessibility and removes at least 90% of fouling – considerably outperforming some other fouling removal technology or equipment. “We commissioned this white paper to
really highlight and provide an insightful understanding of the huge cost-saving
and environmental benefi ts of eff ective fouling removal,” explains Mike Watson, CEO. T e fi rm was granted a total of €5 million in 2018 for two projects as part of the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 funding. “Our clients frequently comment on the quick return on investment after our team have been in; not only are they able to instantly increase their profi t, but the reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions are also crucial to environmental responsibility.” In acknowledging that plant operators are restrained by budget, the company is calling for a top-down management strategy that enables operators to choose a plant cleaning method that ensures no additional plant slowdown, shutdown or loss of yield, attributable to fouling occurred. In shifting the strategy from a siloed approach constrained by maintenance budgets, there is opportunity to invest in overall plant economics for much greater fi nancial performance.
Nikki Logan is with Tube Tech International.
www.tubetech.com
LEFT & RIGHT: Tube Tech International’s
remotely operated robotic technology removes 90%+ fouling
To put the signifi cance of these fi gures into context, virtually every industry contributing to gross domestic product (GDP) growth relies on products derived from an ethylene-based chemical. It serves as a key feedstock for several high revenue chemicals. In identifying that these calculations are based on a conservative ethylene price, with prices per ton having risen to US$1,500 in the USA within the past decade, this research further validates the argument that “an ethylene plant’s output amounts to millions of dollars of product every day and it is of paramount importance to avoid erosion of margins due to process ineffi ciencies.” Hindered by fouling processes such as chemical reactions, coke formation, biological processes, crystallisation and
www.engineerlive.com 31
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 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
