Chemical Engineering May 2017 - 83

Gulf Coast 2017 Special Advertising Section
Optimizing critical fired heaters is now easier than ever
Quest Integrity provides industry expertise and engineering optimization planning and
management to increase the life cycle value of fired heater assets
U
nexpected asset failures present a
number of complications to a facility,
including costly repair and production
interruptions. Historically, asset reliability
and management methodologies have
been reactive - only adjusting practices
once a costly failure has already occurred.
However, today's modern technologies
allow operators to proactively manage
their assets, mitigating many of the risks
associated with premature asset failure.
Significant improvements in technology innovation
and reliability practices provide
operators with life extension opportunities
that were not available just a decade ago.
Quest Integrity understands that unique
assets require unique solutions. Due to
specific operator and individual asset requirements,
a general model for asset
integrity optimization is not an effective
long-term solution. A powerful optimization
management strategy should be specifically
designed to address the current and
future condition of the asset, achieving a
higher level of performance and reliabilUltrasonic
inspection data
indicating areas of severe wall
thinning in fired heater tubing
ity, while decreasing the risk of unplanned
shutdowns. Customized for the life-cycle
of each individual fired heater asset, Quest
Integrity's Fired Heater Optimization program
consists of a multi-disciplinary inspection
and engineering approach that includes
tube creep and corrosion damage measurement
and assessment, infrared thermometry
(IR) data management, ultrasonic
in-line inspection and remote digital visual
inspection (RDVI). A variety of engineering
assessments, including fitness-for-service,
remaining life, risk assessment and failure
analysis are utilized to significantly extend
asset life, effectively managing cost and
preventing catastrophic failures.
Depending on the condition of an asset,
Quest Integrity's team of dedicated technical
experts assist operators in determining
the appropriate strategic action plan to ensure
optimal performance and reliability of
fired heaters.
Quest Integrity is a global leader in the
development and delivery of asset integrity
and reliability management services and solutions.
The company's solutions consist of
technology-enabled, advanced inspection
and engineering assessment services and
products that help organizations improve
operational planning, increase profitability,
and reduce operational and safety risks.
www.questintegrity.com
What you need to know about blast protection
The most dangerous time at a refinery isn't when it's operational, it's when it's in transition,
notes blast safety specialist RedGuard
ome of the deadliest refinery explosions
have occurred during turnarounds and
when maintenance was being performed,
not when the facility was operating routinely.
During a turnaround, tens of thousands of
separate procedures are performed, including
moving volatile contents into position to
take equipment offline or online. There are
additional workers in place, many performing
non-routine tasks. It is during these exercises
that most blast events occur.
Blast overpressure, which happens instantaneously
after an explosion, is a key
component of the damage that results from
a blast event. The bigger the blast event,
the more damaging the blast overpressure,
which causes most primary injuries. These
deaths and injuries are generally a result of
building collapse.
RedGuard has been manufacturing
S
blast-resistant buildings, designed to protect
the lives of those working in hazardous
areas, since 1998. While there is no official
set of regulations that guides the use of
blast-resistant buildings, the company sugNot
all blast-rated buildings are
created equal, RedGuard points out
gests adhering to the recommended practices
set out by the American Petroleum
Industry (API RP 752/753). These cover the
use of blast-rated buildings (BRBs), both
permanent and portable, to protect occupants
against potential hazards.
A building's blast pressure rating is far
from the only important factor when looking
for a BRB. While blast pressure is a key
component of the BRB design formula, the
duration of the blast and a building's overall
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM MAY 2017
response level rating are what tell the real
story of how a BRB will hold up to a blast.
A blast pressure rating is meaningless if
the BRB cannot sustain its rating throughout
the blast event. A 5- or 8-psi rating may
sound good, but if the building has a high
response level rating, that means that during
a blast event the building could suffer
a high level of damage and those inside
will have a high risk of casualties. A BRB
from RedGuard will have a low- or mediumresponse
level rating, along with the close,
sturdy wall stud spacing that protects lives.
Interior components, such as cabinetry,
lighting, electrical/plumbing design and furniture
are all designed and chosen specifically
to handle a blast event.
Today, BRBs run the gamut from basic
rental units like RedGuard's LeaseFleet, to
understated comfort or top-of-the-line luxury,
available in the company's SafetySuites.
Virtually all the amenities found in a traditional
building can be combined with the
safest blast resistance in the industry.
redguard.com
83

http://www.questintegrity.com http://www.redguard.com http://WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM

Chemical Engineering May 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering May 2017