N E W S R E L E A S E from FURMANITE AUSTRALIA
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Costly Downtime minimised by Furmanite expertise
Trevitesting of some 15 safety and relief valves for Pilbara Iron has enabled downtime to be minimised by testing on-line, recertifying valves in-situ, and enabling only those requiring attention to be removed from the line for overhaul.
Furmanite, the technical services company geared to maximising asset uptime, tested the valves (pressures ranging from 4700kpa to 8000kpa) on five power house boilers spread across two remote sites at the Dampier and Cape Lambert power stations, as part of a periodic maintenance contract using its Trevitest technology.
Of the valves tested on-line, while plant operation continued uninterrupted, more than half were recertified on-line. All 15 valves were completed within three working days, and where adjustments were necessary there were completed on-line.
“Being able to test the valves in advance of shutdown at normal operating pressures and temperatures and identifying those that need attention, helps to minimise time pressures during the outage, and avoid delays in the schedule,” Furmanite WA business manager Martin Hurst said. “This in turn represents cost savings. This is one of our portfolio of services geared to helping operators maximise asset uptime.”
Trevitest enables the set pressure of a valve to be computed from data obtained by applying a force to the valve spindle to overcome the spring tension of the valve, using a hydraulic power pack and set of mechanics mounted on the valve, and an electronic force transducer, which is linked to a portable computer to trace the force applied. This recorded data is coupled with a knowledge of the valve seat area and line pressure of the valve to establish the set pressure. A dated certified print-out of the valve performance is produced, showing valve set pressure and line pressure at the valve.
Spring adjustment and displacement of the valve can also be determined from the recorded information, as well as gaining an indication of the effect of the nozzle ring, guide ring, and reseating pressure. The print-outs provide an auditable history trail and comprehensive valve test diagnostic record. Trevitesting is undertaken by Furmanite’s qualified and experienced technicians, with experience in applying the technology to the breadth of different safety and relief valves that exists, and in interpreting the results with an extensive database of valve data to draw on.
For further press information please contact:
Sarah Manwaring-White, Keep in Touch Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)1451 844 488 Email: sarah_mw@keepintouch.co.uk