Using Vacuum Pumps For Moisture Removal

Contracts & Projects Tracker: July 2011

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BP Amoco Chemical Co. has awarded KBR a three-year contract by to execute maintenance and small capital construction projects at BP’s Decatur, Alabama, and Cooper River, South Carolina, plants. The original contract for these sites has been in place since 1998.

Alabama Power has started capturing CO2 at its coal-fired Plant Barry power plant. The carbon capture and storage facility at the plant is claimed to be the world’s largest for a coal-fired generating power plant. It will capture around 150ktpa of CO2, for storage in a deep saline geologic formation. The unit employs Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ KM-CDR amine solvent technology, which captures CO2 from the plant’s flue gas. The CO2 be supplied to the SECARB for transport by pipeline and injection 9,500ft underground at a site within the Citronelle Oil Field.

Wood Group has reported a strong engineering order book, at H1/11, with rising upstream volumes – despite some project deferrals – and strong subsea, pipeline markets. Downstream, process and engineering industrial markets remain soft, though. Wood Group PSN noted “reasonable” North Sea activity, including a five-year TAQA Bratani extension. The group noted “strong” US demand for services in shale regions, and “steady” demand in the Gulf of Mexico. Some Australia contracts and one in Oman are being delayed. In power, oil & gas maintenance work is being hit by test cell downtime and overhaul delays. The group has suspended engineering work for a $25m Libyan offshore contract.

Haldor Topsøe is supplying a wet gas sulphuric acid (WSA) plant at a new Río Seco industrial operation in Peru. The multi-flexible unit will both clean the H2S off-gases from an MnSO4 leaching process and burn elemental sulphur to make industrial grade sulphuric acid. The WSA plant can operate on 100 % H2S gas, 100 % elemental sulphur and any combination hereof. Topsøe’s scope covers all the basic and detailed engineering and equipment and materials required inside battery limits, license, catalysts and supervision during construction, commissioning and start-up in 2012.

Amec has won two definitive feasibility studies on uranium projects in Namibia.

Educator Reveals Tips for Fighting Industry's Epidemic of HVACR ...

"An epidemic of moisture-related problems are causing more system failures today than ever before in the history of air conditioning and refrigeration," said Paul Appler a technical speaker at the State of Alabama's mandated Continuing Education Program for HVAC/R Contractors.

Appler, director of research, Cliplight Mfg., Toronto, Ont., presented the state-approved "Repair and Servicing R-410A/POE and R-22/Mineral Oil-Related Systems" last April to full-capacity classes of HVAC/R service techs at the Alabama Johnstone Supply branches of Birmingham and Huntsville, respectively.

"I think service techs are finally understanding that moisture is now public enemy number one based on the many moisture-related questions they asked during the four-hour class," said Larry Brudi, the program's host and owner of five Johnstone branches in north central Alabama and middle Tennessee.

While R-410A/POE systems readily react with water or "hydrolyze" to form acids and alcohol that lead to accelerated system corrosion, Appler also said R-22/mineral oil systems can also develop similar problems such as waxing particulates that restrict thermostatic expansion valves (TEV). "Moisture is an old adversary regardless of the system, but now it's even more threatening because of the efficiency advancements of today's systems," said Appler, who also presented the same topic to Johnstone Supply in Fresno and Visalia, Calif.; The Training College of the Sequoias, Visalia; HVAC contractor, Arctic Mechanical, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; and Refrigeration Supply Distributors branches in Buena Park, Pomona, Anaheim, and Monterey Park, Calif.. 

However, the good news is chemical-based drying agent additives, triple e vacuations, liquid line drier replacements and other technology can help remove and prevent and greatly reduce system moisture. When combined with ac/r repair fundamentals outlined by organizations such as the Air-Conditioning Refrigeration Institute (ARI), Arlington, Va., and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Atlanta, Ga., moisture-related problems can be virtually eliminated or at least minimized.

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