Blog Category: PIPE SUPPORT FIELD SERVICES | Piping Technology & Products, Inc.

PT&P Aids in the Creation of the "Chemical Island"

February 4, 2001

Piping Technology & Products, Inc. supplied more than 3,000 cold shoes, 400 slide plates and numerous more spring hangers, constants and fabricated pipe supports for the construction of a refinery plant on Jurong Island, Singapore. U.S. Bellows, Inc., also supplied many of the expansion joints used in the creation of this refinery.
Jurong Island is a man-made island consisting of four petroleum refineries, 30 petrochemical firms, and many more industrial firms to support its existence.

Tips on Corrosion Protection
There are four methods of protecting carbon steel pipe support components from corrosion; painting, zinc coatings, hot dip galvanizing, and combinations of these. Painting has an advantage when appearance and choice of color are important. Modern painting systems may be appropriate protection in certain environments. Paint provides a barrier protection to a metal surface. The ability of zinc to provide cathodic protection for carbon steel in addition to barrier protection is a fundamental advantage. In most cases the reduction in life-cycle costs justifies the small additional cost of galvanizing. Indeed painting and galvanizing together can provide a synergistic benefit which may be justified in some cases. For more information on corrosion, refer to https://pipingtech.com/resources/technical-bulletins/corrosion-protection/

PT&P’s Diverse Product Testing
Piping Technology & Products, Inc. is a recognized leader in pipe supports, pre-insulated pipe supports, miscellaneous fabrication and expansion joints and has extensive experience with several different types of product testing. This includes :

* Load Testing : The objective of the load test is to determine the maximum load for pipe supports and other products. Load tests are done on an assortment of pipe supports.

* Snubber Testing : The objective of the snubber cycle test is to (1) display the normal wear and tear for a snubber over an extended period of time, and (2) display the resistance to an abrupt disturbance.

* Burst Testing : The objective of the burst test is to determine the ultimate pressure resistance. Primarily conducted on bellows.

See more about testing on our site: Product Testing

PT&P Facts

July 10, 1996

“Like a Rock” Polyurethane Blocks
Chevrolet uses the phrase “Like a Rock” to advertise their pick-up trucks. PT&P recently produced some polyurethane blocks for a major E&C customer to their specification of 2,000 pound compressive strength as measured by ASTM D1621 tests. Our supplier produced a special chemical blend for a nominal density of 38 pounds/cubic foot and PT&P built special molds to satisfy this “Like a Rock” requirement for the Gulf Coast ethylene plant.

PT&P Technical Team Goes to Algeria
In March, PT&P sent a technical team to a LNG facility near Skikda, Algeria to provide assistance on pipe support replacement for the GL1K project. This large facility has several units that have operated for more than twenty years. Our team examined the units and recommended replacement of cryogenic and spring supports. Since travel in Algeria is subject to heavy restriction, our team had to fly from Tarbarka, Tunisia by helicopter to and from the job site. The trip lasted about two weeks.

PT&P Supplies Pipe Supports for Clean Coal Projects

June 3, 1996

he U.S. Department of Energy, major E&C firms and electric utilities are building commercial-size power plants to evaluate new technologies and equipment to produce electricity from coal without harmful emissions. These plants are expected to produce operating data which will be used to design many of the power plants required in the twenty-first century.

Coal is an abundant fuel source in North America and the price is not as subject to political and economic changes around the world as most other fuels are. But coal’s toxic elements make it one of the most polluting fuels. The U.S. Department of Energy has supported research programs for a number of years leading to these current projects. They are pioneering better ways to burn coal or to convert it to gas. The processes must be both efficient and clean.

PT&P has been a major supplier to three of these projects: the Southern Company Services plant in Wilsonville, Alabama, the Tampa Electric project in Polk County, Florida, and the Sierra Pacific project in Nevada. PT&P along with its customers are helping to insure a stable energy supply for our nation.

Corrosion Problems? Fight Back with Hot Dip Galvanizing

August 21, 1995

Many piping groups in E&C firms are reviewing their strategies for combating corrosion in piping components. The history of Piping Technology & Products, Inc. has been strongly influenced by industry efforts to combat corrosion, which has always been a major problem at Gulf Coast U.S.A. petrochemical plants. The bolted design we developed for variable springs was originally justified as a quality improvement for hot dipped galvanized finish. This approach allows the spring to be assembled and calibrated with no welding after galvanizing. Prior to this PT&P innovation, the heat from welding could damage both the finish of the welded component and the neoprene coating of the spring coil inside the can. The thousands of springs we have supplied with hot dipped galvanized finish and neoprene-coated coils have proven the validity of this approach as the most cost-effective way to prevent corrosion.

Hot dip galvanizing is a unique process which develops a metallurgical bond of zinc-iron alloy between the zinc coating and the steel product it protects. It provides a continuous layer barrier which physically isolates the steel from the environment. Painting, on the other hand, is a barrier coating which is subject to damage from contact (scratching). Hot dip galvanizing provides a much longer life than painting in corrosive environments partly because zinc forms protective oxide and carbonate films which reduce the rate of corrosion dramatically. Steel exposed to the same environment will corrode at a rate of about twenty-five times the rate of zinc. Zinc also resists accelerated local corrosion even when its outer film has been broken or scratched. The actual rate varies with the electrolyte at the surface.

We provide various types of finishes for corrosion. Contact us for the right finish for your application.