Distillation column arrives on time for shutdown
About 17 local and regional service providers were involved in the project.
Two distillation columns arrived at the Solvents Secunda plant beginning of September 2013. The columns arrived just in time to be installed during the September 2013 Shutdown. This large undertaking is the first of its kind for Sasol Solvents, Secunda.
The Aldehyde and Benzene recovery columns are an integral part in the Carbonyl Recovery section of the Chemical Work Up East Plant in Secunda, and have been in operation since 1980. In 1995 the columns were modified to handle higher production loads and throughputs. Considering its time in operation, the carbon steel columns were found to be experiencing organic acid corrosion, and based on periodic wall thickness monitoring, needed to be replaced before March 2014.
Sirius Projects (Pty) Ltd were tasked to assist Sasol with the replacement of the two distillation columns. The two columns were designed and fabricated by Larsen & Toubro Limited, located in Vadodara, India. At the end of May this year the columns were shipped to South Africa, a long journey of approximately 8 000 kilometers.
The transport weight was a combined 80 metric tons for both vessels. Facilities of Sirius Projects, in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, were equipped and made ready to complete the dressing and fabrication work required on the columns.
Approximately 17 local and regional service providers were engaged by Sirius Projects for the heavy lifting, insulation, painting, welding and dressing of the columns. An international team of column internal experts installed the approximately 14 metric tons of internal tray decks before transporting the fully dressed columns to Secunda. Approximately sixteen “heavy lifts” saw the safe removal of the old columns from their base foundations, and the installation of the two new vessels during the week.
What is remarkable about this project is that the columns arrived in a fully dressed condition, (all cat-ladders, platforms and electrical wiring for instrumentation and lighting installed) eliminating on-site work under difficult site conditions. Another remarkable achievement is the time frame this project was executed in, a mere 13 months from the placement of the order to project completion.
“Sasol is committed to ensure long-term availability of our plants through the integrity of our equipment, in-line with our “Towards 2050 Secunda” initiative and these replacement projects are directly in line with Solvents vision to reach 97% plant availability by 2016” said Komalan Padayachee, Sasol Solvents, Project Leader.
