Moments in Manufacturing

What is Hardfacing? Hardfacing is a metalworking process of applying tougher metals, high-temperature alloys, ceramics and other overlays to base metals to enhance standard wear, corrosion, hardness and other physical and chemical characteristics of the base metal. When to Hardface? Hardfacing can be applied at during all life-cycles of a fabricated or machines part. Commonly, hardfacing is applied On new parts to increase wear On older, worn-down surface back to tolerance On functional equipment to extend the life of fabricated components as part of maintenance program How is the Hardfacing applied? There are a variety of methods to apply hardfacing. No one method is superior to others, rather the method is recommended based on the intended purpose of the hardfacing. Some of the more common welding methods include: Shield Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Oxyfuel Welding (OFW) Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) Electrical Welding (ESW) P...

Inpro/Seal Launches NEW VB45-S™ Bearing Isolator NEW  VB45-S™ Smaller, IP66 Rated (Ingress) Inpro/Seal, the leader in permanent bearing protection since 1977, recently launched their latest design the NEW VB45-S™ , ushering in a new era and standard in Bearing Isolator technology. As the inventory of the original Bearing Isolator , Inpro/Seal continues to work to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their Bearing Isolator technology. The Inpro/Seal VB45-S™ is both smaller than its predecessor while providing better protection against contamination ingress (IP66 rated) by utilizing multiple innovative design features. The VB45-S™ patented XX Interface and oversized contamination chamber block contaminants from entering the bearing housing while the enlarged D-Groove protects against oil loss by capturing oil on the shaft and returning it to the bearing housing. Ideal for application on pumps, motors, fans and other general industrial rotating equipment. ...

The Biodegradable BioSok™ Bilge Sock - Not your Fathers Bilge Sock Prevent Accidental Leaks of Oil and Gas from Boat Bilges with the Biodegradable BioSok™ Bilge Sock Despite boaters’ best efforts, motor oils, gasoline, and diesel fuel can often be found leaking in the bilge of personal pleasure craft. The accidental release of these hydrocarbons into waterways and other marine environments when the bilge is pumped is not only against the law, it is extremely hazardous to marine plants and animals.   To combat the spilled oil, boaters have been deploying common bilge socks filled with manufactured absorbent materials that absorb the oils from the bilge water. While these socks are adequate at removing the oils from the bilge water, they do not actively remediate the spill and require special disposal at the end of their useful life. BioSok™ is not your common bilge sock. Developed with technology pioneered by NASA, BioSok™ works to both absorb and remediated the sp...

Cleaner, More Efficient Gas Turbines Start with Citrikleen and Citrkleen HD As natural gas becomes a more cost-effective fuel to power America’s power needs, proper maintenance of gas turbines and their compressors is more critical than ever to ensure efficient, effective, profitable, and uninterrupted power production. The Problem During the general operation of gas turbines, large quantities of air and other particulates pass through the compressors. While this air is filtered, small quantities of dust, aerosols, and water pass through the filters and end up as deposits on the blades. Over time, these deposits decrease the air flow of the compressor resulting in decreased performance and output of the gas turbines. The Solution Citrikleen and Citrikleen HD are concentrated, biodegradable heavy-duty solvents trusted by heavy industry, aerospace, refineries/petrochemical plants and the military to degrease their hardest to clean equipment. Citrikleen and Citrikleen HD...

A Modern Approach to Spill Response & Containment While we all strive for perfection in the manufacturing process, spill response and containment are a necessary evil to deal with the unfortunate, but all too common, accidental spill or leak. Whether it’s a hydrocarbon, toxic chemical, HAZMAT liquid or other contaminants, a quick response is necessary to mitigate the damage and provide first responders the extra time they need to develop a full remediation plan. SmartVista, LLC based in Duncan, South Carolina was launched to develop uncommon solutions to existing challenges. Their first product, SpillArmor™ is a revolutionary rapid deployment spill response system engineered to quickly absorb a variety of spills in seconds. What makes SpillArmor™ so innovative is its light weight design and quick deployment capability – 100 feet of SpillArmor™ weighs in at less than 20 lbs. and can be deployed in under 30 seconds! SpillArmor™’s portable, compact size enables m...

The Messy Truth Despite best efforts, accidents happen. Every day across the world at machine and repair shops, manufacturing sites, steel mills, refineries, rail yards, chemical processing plants, power generation facilities, retail stores and domestic homes, oils and other hydrocarbons spill or leak onto driveways, gravel pits, marshes, spillways, and other sensitive areas. Big or small, these spills cause headaches and can be potentially dangerous to workplace safety and the environment, to say nothing of the cost of potential EPA violations and other assessments. For years, professionals and consumers have been turning to a variety of spill response solutions, from sorbent pads and socks to kitty litter and sand. While these solutions are quick at soaking up much of the oil, they require disposal after use and often leave the contaminated area in a state that remains in need of further remediation. One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Oil Remediation Petroleum Re...

Cottonwood Conundrum Causes Chaos at US Refineries  With warming spring temperatures come an explosion of airborne contaminants resulting in extra pressure on external fin fan banks at US refinery operations.  Cottonwood, or Poplar Seeds, are a key contaminant, deeply embedding themselves within the fin fan arrays. Several US refineries turn to innovative Citrikleen HD to clean their external fin fan arrays.  Project Considerations External fin fan systems have become obstructed with heavy Cottonwood build up Obstructed fin fan reduces the efficiency of the heat exchangers at refinery’s, reducing efficiency of systems and output of refining operations Reduced cooling capacity can prove problematic during warmer spring conditions Refineries want to keep cleaning operations to a minimum to reduce costs and downtime while keeping system operations at full capacity Application Combination of pressure washing and Citrikleen HD application removes Cottonwood...

Prevent Spills and Leaks Before They Happen Problem In today’s ever-changing landscape of environmental rules and regulations, even small leaks and spills can cost your organization tens of thousands in cleanup and remediation costs, to say nothing of potential EPA violation fees.    Solution Developed more than three decades ago for the exacting standards of a major US oil refiner, the Kelley Industrial Century 2000 Sewer Guards are a rugged drain isolation system designed specifically for industrial applications. Built to be lightweight and reusable, Kelley Industrial Century 2000 Sewer Guards are deployed before accidents happen, providing 24/7 365 drain isolation. Manufactured to be fire, chemical and puncture resistant Kelley Industrial Century 2000 Sewer Guards isolate your drain and sewage systems from contaminants, while sealing in potentially dangerous vapors from escaping into the workplace. Weld spatter catch basin reservoirs on the top of the drain gu...

Desludging the Desalter, a West Penetone Citrikleen HD Story Desalters are notoriously dirty, difficult to clean systems within any refinery. With time and money on the line, West Penetone exceeded expectations at a local Midwest refinery, completing the turnaround ahead of schedule and under budget. Project Overview Client: Midwest Petrochemical Refinery Vessels to Clean: One, Desalter Vessel Size: 30,000 gallons  Last Cleaning: 2005 Previous Cleaning: Used competitor product which yielded poor results, with sludge over top of walkway Application and Treatment Parameters First Phase: Steam Purge to ready vessel Cleaning Agent(s): Citrikleen HD (900 gallons) , Clean Add II (1000 gallons) Allotted Turnaround Time: 48 hours Results Steam purge was not available due to unexpected limitations on site Total Time to Clean: 33 hours Readings after Cleaning: 0 LEL, 0 Benzene, 0 H2S Sludge Levels: Well below walkway Despite the lack of steam, and ade...