Three large pressure vessels have been installed at a Texas refinery requiring a precise lift to limit disruption to the facility’s throughput.
Each of the vessels were a different size, with the first measuring in at around 16 metres long and with a 3.65 metre diameter. The second was 35 metres long and had a 4-metre diameter, while the third vessel was 56 metres long and had a 4.2 metre diameter.
The smallest vessel was delivered under hook and was tandem lifted by two hydraulic cranes with 100 tonne and 400 tonne capacity. This tailed up the vessel from its delivery trailer and set it on the foundations.
The middle-sized vessel was received in a laydown yard on site. From there, it was fitted with bolsters and transported to where it would be lifted and set into place.
It was then weighed to establish the centre of gravity and attached by a skirt ring to self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) with a 450-tonne capacity tailing frame and tailed to a vertical position and set on its foundations.
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The largest vessel was loaded onto SPMTs using a 635-tonne capacity gantry lifting system, due to its size and weight.
It was then moved and rotated by 60 degrees with chain hoists in combination with the gantry system.
A tailing frame mounted to an SPMT and a 1350 tonne capacity crawler crane with an 84-metre main boon configuration and a 560-tonne counterweight then tailed the vessel to a vertical position. The radius of all of the tailing lifts was 38 metres.
The installation allowed the refinery to continue running during the project, without the need for a shut down or rerouting of pipe racks on site.