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
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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