Fast and efficient method to cool down refinery reactor

Antwerp, Belgium – June 22, 2015: Every few months Mourik, an international specialist in cleaning technologies for petrochemical sites, is asked to remove catalyst in a reactor of a large refinery in Antwerp (production capacity: 360.000 barrels per day). To cool down the reactor, they count on Atlas Copco Rental.

22 June, 2015

Mourik uses a high pressure drill rig to remove catalyst from the reactor. To remove the remaining coked catalyst, Mourik’s workmen need to go inside the reactor and remove it manually with a pneumatic hammer. However, a temperature of around 45°C inside the reactor makes it impossible for the men to enter, so Mourik needed to find a way to cool down the reactor. That’s where they contacted Atlas Copco Rental. Cool down to even negative temperatures We proposed to inject cool, dry, 100% oil-free air into the reactor. This air is generated on site by our equipment and monitored by our operator 24/24. We use a set-up of a PTS1600, CDE47 dryer, HD95 aftercooler, chiller and generator. The chiller allows us to cool down the dry air to 3°C. Even negative temperatures are possible when using glycol as coolant. Create improved working environment The cold, dry compressed air of 3°C is blown into the reactor, cooling the ambient temperature to around 30°C and creating a dry environment. A significant improvement for the workmen who have to clean the reactor. New concept puts safety first and less time needed

Atlas Copco Rental has lived up to its name of being a reliable, innovative company that always puts safety first. They came up with a completely new solution: using compressed air instead of nitrogen to cool down a reactor ... By injecting cool, dry, 100% oil-free compressed air we are able to create improved working conditions for our workmen. This new method allows us to respect health and safety regulations while entering a reactor. In addition, the allowed working times inside the reactor are significantly longer, resulting in faster transit times.

Tom Verheyen , Project Manager at Mourik

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Atlas Copco is a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions. The Group serves customers with innovative compressors, vacuum solutions and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems. Atlas Copco develops products and service focused on productivity, energy efficiency, safety and ergonomics. The company was founded in 1873, is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has a global reach spanning more than 180 countries. In 2015, Atlas Copco had revenues of BSEK 102 (BEUR 11) and more than 43 000 employees.

Specialty Rental is a division within Atlas Copco’s Construction Technique business area. It serves customers in the industry segments around the world with temporary air, nitrogen, steam and power rental solutions. The specialty rental services are offered under several brands. The divisional headquarters is located in Houston, USA.