Purging issues with large-scale equipment
Thread Content
As various devices become larger in size, the volume of individual equipment also increases. This applies to towers, vessels, heat exchangers, as well as long-distance pipelines with large diameters. When it is necessary to purge such equipment, it is often difficult to do so thoroughly. Traditional methods based on past experience are sometimes not very effective, especially when it comes to tower-type equipment in large-scale installations. Please share your experiences and lessons learned regarding the purging of equipment in large-scale installations, so that we can better adapt to new challenges in our future work.
During the purging process, a part from the demister of one tank was blown off and ended up stuck in an anti-surge valve; the valve could not be closed. Upon further inspection, a large lump of metal was found, which revealed the cause of the accident. Being too large is indeed a problem: if the capacity is too small, it’s difficult to clean thoroughly; if it’s too large, there’s a risk of damaging items. Therefore, extra care is needed for items that might fall out in large towers or containers. If that’s not possible, it’s better to first perform purging, then install the components, and finally carry out manual cleaning – this is still better than risking damage to the items
Each individual unit is equipped with a purging line and an oily waste recovery line; it is purged one by one before the entire system is connected, which also facilitates the disconnection of individual units for maintenance.