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Graphite Slide Plate for Boiler Supplier in Canadian Plant
July 13, 2022
10 Feet Long Graphite Slide Plates for a Plant in Alberta
10 Feet Long Graphite Slide Plates for a Plant in Alberta

The top sheet of graphite measures 1/2″ x 11 1/2″ x 115 1/2″. This particular design also includes a bottom sheet of graphite with the same dimensions, but only 1/4″ thick. Each individual graphite sheet is bonded to a hot dipped galvanized backing plate with a 1/2″ lip all around for full welding. In an application where the pipe has large amount of movement due to thermal expansion, slide plates can be utilized to eliminate friction between the pipe support and the supporting member. Graphite is used when the slide plate must function at high temperatures. These particular graphite slide plates are designed for 1000ºF.

Want to learn more about slides plates? View a recording of a past slide plate webinar today!
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Big Ton Spring Supports with Stainless Steel Rollers
June 28, 2022

Big Ton Springs Designed with Stainless Steel Rollers for a Chemical Plant

PT&P custom-designed big ton spring supports with stainless steel rollers for a chemical plant in Brazil. The frame is fabricated from carbon steel and the shim plates are 2205 duplex stainless steel. The design specified that these big tons are placed in a large “oil pan” that was fabricated from AR400 steel. AR400 steel is abrasion resistant and has a minimum hardness of 360 on the Brinell scale and a nominal hardness of 400. The stainless steel rollers are designed to fit inside the “oil pan” and the big tons are placed on top of the rollers. Oil is then placed inside the pan providing continuous lubrication for the assembly while accommodating the axial or lateral movement of the structure. These big ton spring assemblies include special coils and neoprene drip shields to protect the coils and oil in the pan from debris. The big tons are 26-1/2″ x 33″ x 26-1/2″ with a movement of 0.499″ down and a spring rate of 13,450 lb./in. They are designed for an operating load up to 78,318 lb. and underwent load testing prior to shipment. PT&P, along with our team of engineers and designers, specializes in making the impossible, possible. Over the years, there are many instances where our clients have come to us with unique and unusual applications requiring a product not yet developed or requiring the modification of an existing product.

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Variable Springs for a High-Temperature Furnace Application
June 13, 2022

PT&P Custom Designed Furnace Spring Support Cans For Chemical Plant
PT&P custom-designed and fabricated variable spring supports for a furnace application at a chemical plant in California. The furnace cans are manufactured from carbon steel and painted with red oxide primer because they are exposed to high temperatures where hot-dipped galvanizing is not feasible. The springs are designed for an operating load of 1,261 lb., with movement of 9″ and dimensions of 6″ x 52″ in length. Load tests were performed prior to a 12-14 week shipment.

Within a Reformer, heat-resistant cast alloy tubes are used to produce hydrogen during the process of desulfurization in refining plants, ammonia, methanol, and fertilizer plants. These catalyst tubes (also called reformer tubes) are periodically changed within the units after years of operating under high pressure and temperatures. The new or replacement tubes are manufactured from alloy material that can be lighter or heavier than the previous tubes installed. As a result of this weight change, new furnace springs may also need to be replaced.

Most recently we completed a project for a key client for the largest refinery in Central America with a specialized design using our nano-constant, the world’s smallest constant spring hanger. It supports 765 pounds of load and 7″ of travel in a 0.89 cubic foot envelope (7″ x 10″ x 22″). This particular furnace application required very stringent requirements of load deviation of less than 3% and all supports were made from stainless steel to meet furnace requirements. So, for these particular units, no coating was required since they were manufactured from stainless steel. In order to accomplish this special requirement, our engineering team designed and manufactured a new constant load test machine in-house.

We have manufactured various types of furnace springs and constants for a variety of EPC firms over the past few decades. Our experience and knowledge of the different designs and configurations have helped us to become one of the leading manufacturers of springs and pipe supports for furnace applications.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 07232018

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Constant Supports Custom-Designed for an Ethane Cracker
May 24, 2022

Constant Spring Supports Custom-Designed with Brush Strip on Horizontal Travelers for an Ethane Cracker

These constant spring supports for an ethane cracker for one of our largest and oldest customers who we worked with almost daily for years. As a matter of fact, a majority of the hangers in this plant are supplied by PT&P dating back to 1971. Today, the new cracker project was designed to take advantage of cheap shale-derived ethane feedstock.

The constant supports were supplied with horizontal travelers with a special “brush strip” help limit the entry of foreign objects. The constants are designed to support an 8” diameter pipeline leading into a furnace. Each spring coil is neoprene coated and the spring can housing is hot-dipped galvanized to protect against corrosion. This type of rigid spring hanger uses a coil or series of coils to accommodate pipe movement throughout the piping system. These particular constant assemblies are designed for horizontal movements ranging from 1” to 6.6” and loads up to 1320 lb. We can customize any material, finish, dimension, load, load adjustment, travel, and travel stops, as well as provide sensors for remote monitoring.

This project was unique in design and testing requirements requested by the client and their customer. Every constant support we build is load-tested by our quality and production teams. In some cases, the customer will ask to witness the testing of a single unit which we do on a regular basis. However, for this project, every constant spring was witness tested with the client’s inspection and engineering teams located at our manufacturing facility utilizing our custom in-house designed test machine.

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Heavy-Duty Pipe Clamps for Service at a Coal-Fired Power Plant
April 26, 2022

Heavy-Duty Pipe Clamps for Service at a Coal-Fired Power Plant

These clamps were installed in a coal-fired power plant on the Ohio River and this plant features one of the largest smokestacks in the world at 1038 feet. For this plant, sub-bituminous coal is used in conjunction with steam turbine technology to generate thermal power with over 10k Gigawatts of output annually.

Heavy-duty pipe clamps are bolted around the pipe and connect to the remainder of the pipe hanger assembly. This assembly included a Fig. 30 Forged Turnbuckle, which is also available on Amazon as a stocked item. PT&P maintains an extensive inventory of pipe clamps required for pipe hangers and support assemblies. These Fig. 80 Three-Bolt Pipe Clamps are fabricated from carbon steel and for this project, the pipe clamps were painted with a red oxide primer. These pipe clamps are designed for 36” diameter pipelines and are recommended for suspension of cold pipelines or hotlines where little or no insulation is required and are capable of supporting both horizontal and vertical piping. A visual inspection test along with “sample pipe” dimensional checks were conducted prior to shipment.

Such clamps can be used in any type of piping system for various industries such as chemical, biofuel, food processing, and refining plants. We have the ability to get such products at your jobsite overnight given our pipe hanger hardware inventory of over 1 million pounds, our quick order system through Amazon, and 24/7 manufacturing and engineering support provided by our teams around the clock.

Do you need this exact pipe support? Skip the line and order our Standard Pipe Support Components on Amazon. From forged carbon steel turnbuckles and light or heavy 2-bolt, 3-bolt pipe clamps, riser clamps to long tangent u-bolts, we stock standard sizes for your quick-turn orders.

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Sway Braces Designed to Absorb Pipeline Vibrations Leading into a Containment Shelter
April 19, 2022

Sway Braces Designed to Absorb Pipeline Vibrations Leading into a Containment Shelter

PT&P manufactured Fig. 550B Sway Braces for preventing excessive loading on 12″ diameter flanged expansion joints leading into a containment shelter. The sway braces include our Fig. 30 Forged Turnbuckles, spring casing. and size 3 spring coils along with other internal components. They are fabricated from carbon steel, hot-dipped galvanized, and designed for a spring rate of 450 lb./in. These sway braces measure 91-3/8″ pin-to-pin and are suitable for full deflection forces from 200 to 1,800 lb. Initial pre-compressed spring forces are from 50 lb. to 450 lb. to dampen vibrations, oppose pipe sway and absorb shock forces.

Fig.550b sway braces

Sway braces are recommended for controlling vibration, absorbing shock loadings; guiding or restraining the movement of the pipe resulting from thermal expansion; bracing a pipeline against sway. The vibration control and sway brace is shipped and ready for installation. The rod coupling rotates with slight resistance and the tension test collar can be rotated by hand while holding the rod stationary.

The sway brace should be in the neutral position when the system is hot and operating, at which time the tension test collar should be hand tight. If it is not, the sway brace should be adjusted to the neutral position by use of the load coupling. The screws in the tension test collar need not be loosened, since they serve only to secure it to the load coupling.

 

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Constant Supports Designed with Bronzphite® Slide Plates for Oil Refinery in China
April 4, 2022

These big-ton constant spring supports with Bronzphite® slide plates were designed for a 400 KTA light oil processing and utilization unit in Southeast Asia. The constants are designed for high loads and utilize self-lubricating bearing plates consisting of high-quality bronze and graphite-filled grooves. Bronzphite® can be used where temperatures are up to 1100°F and for high loads, low-velocity applications, and in places where the use of oil or grease is undesirable or unfeasible.

Big Ton Constant Supports Designed with Bronzphite® Slide Plates for Oil Refinery in China

PT&P custom-designed and manufactured a total of four big ton constant spring supports w/ Brozphite® slide plates for a 400 KTA light oil for a processing and utilization unit at one of the largest of largest oil refineries in China. In US refineries, crude oil still makes up a majority of what is produced today: Us energy info admin petroleum supply

These constant assemblies were fabricated from carbon steel and hot-dipped galvanized for extra protection against corrosion. The bronze plate acts as the bearing surface, supporting heavy loads, while the graphite inserts provide a solid, oil-free sliding surface. They are designed for operating temperatures up to 1100°F and an operating load of 187,393 lb., with 1-1/2″ total travel.  It is through the combination of high-strength bearings and impregnated graphite that it is an ideal environment for maintaining excellent wear resistance and durability under severe operating conditions.  Load and travel testing was performed prior to shipment.

Bronzphite slide plate

For this particular crude oil production and mining facility, we also supplied other key products from our portfolio, including variables, snubbers, sway braces, and sway struts. Petroleum refineries change crude oil into products such as jet fuel, gasoline, polypropylene, polyethylene, propane, sulfur, carbon black feed, and diesel that can be used for transportation, heating, feedstocks for making other chemicals, generating electricity, renewable energy, and paving roads.

As an industry leader in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries for over 47 years, we specialize in designing pipe supports, expansion joints, and insulated supports for unique applications involving both products readily available and products not readily available. Our products are used in the CDU (crude distillation units), hydrocracking units, RFCC (residual fluid catalytic cracking), naphtha hydrotreater, hydrodesulfurization units (also known as alkylation units), and sulphuric acid regeneration (SAR) units in refineries.

 

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 09252017

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Screen Guides for a Cooling Tower at a Chemical Plant
March 21, 2022

These screen guides were custom fabricated for a cooling tower at a chemical plant in Texas. These anchor bars are used to secure the screen guides to the concrete. These screen guides are 10″ in width and are 42″ in length. All components were completely fabricated from A36 carbon steel with a galvanized finish. Standard quality control inspections were performed before shipment.

Ptp screen guides 144058

Many plants, such as power, petroleum refineries, metal processing, and other industrial facilities are designed to use open recirculating systems utilizing cooling towers for heat transfer from condensers and other heat exchangers through a process called “latent heat of vaporization.”

Industrial process cooling towersWithin these cooling towers, screen guides are used in a gravity-flow distribution system where supply water flows or cascades down over successive offset levels of horizontal screens or splash bars into a basin. These guides provide a means by which screens or splash bars are supported from a concrete structure. The screens are intended to lower the temperature of water by causing the water to spread over large areas to promote maximum exposure to airflow as it cascades from the top of the tower into the lower basin. One side of the guide provides a “slot” by which screens or other types of “surfaces” can be installed. The other side of the guides are fitted with bent “strip anchor bars” similar to those used for embed plates. As a manufacturer of embed plates, we also supply these for mining facilities, semiconductor plants, wastewater treatment plants, or any construction site where there is steel attached to a concrete panel or slab.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 04102017

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152 Variable Spring Supports for a Furnace Application at an Ammonia Plant
March 7, 2022

Ptp variable furnace springs 151617

PT&P custom-designed and manufactured over 150 variable spring supports for a furnace application at an ammonia plant. The ammonia plant was the largest single train plant of its kind in the world for the leader in mineral-based commodity and specialized fertilizer production. As an important base to material for fertilizers, ammonia helps put food on the table as the engine of plant growth. Over 85% of anhydrous ammonia is used as fertilizer for the three primary nutrients of fertilizer: nitrogen, phosphates, and potash. The plant and the EPC for which these were designed and manufactured were in Europe highlighting Piping Technology and Products’ robust international footprint in the marketplace for over 47 years. We serve over 90% of the countries in the world covering almost all continents. Outside of use in the fertilizer industry, ammonia is positioned to have a key role in our renewable-based, lower carbon footprint hydrogen economy supporting on-board hydrogen carrier for fuel cell activities given its high capacity for hydrogen storage based on its molecular structure.

These furnace springs are fabricated from carbon steel and painted with a red-oxide primer to help prevent corrosion. We also designed and manufactured 304 stainless steel pipe clamps to attach the furnace springs to catalysis tubes within the furnace. They are designed to support a cold load of almost 3,000 lb./in. while operating in an area where temperatures are higher than ambient. There were a total of 173 assemblies fabricated for this project, 152 variable hangers, 3 constant spring supports, 6 ball joint rigid struts, and 12 rigid rod hangers. Special load tests were performed before shipping.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 08072017

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Variable Spring Supports for a Major Pipeline Expansion Project
February 1, 2022

Ptp variable spring 182218

PT&P supplied F-type variable spring supports for pipeline 1150km long carrying various kinds of crude and refined products including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. The expansion tripled the capacity of the current line allowing for it to carry 85% of what is transported through British Columbia increasing oil tanker capacity at the terminal seven times.

The spring supports are designed for small movements and operating loads ranging from 15,679 lb. to 19,688 lb. The housing is fabricated from A-36 carbon steel, hot-dipped galvanized, and then painted with 3 different coats (primer, intermediate, and topcoat) of paint to protect against the harsh Canadian winters while providing long term protection against corrosion. These variables will include PTFE, 25% glass filled, slide plates welded to the top of the load flange to allow for translational movement. Each spring is load tested and then preset to the specified installed load and inspected for quality assurance before shipment.

Why PT&P?
For this particular project, the PT&P team worked with the client through the client’s six-month bidding process on the project. Our unique combination of experience, engineering expertise, and production knowledge enabled customers to secure the project. PTP addressed coating considerations, technical queries, and met the demanding delivery needs of the project. PT&P’s turnaround time from PO receipt to the material on-site was 10 weeks.

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