Horizontal pulling of Plate Heat Exchanger 1

[Muhammad Ijaz]

Problem Description:
A plate heat exchanger (PHE)(dimensions are length 3150 mm x width 850 mm x height 2540 mm) is placed at 2nd platform of steel structure. Steel structure consists of 04 platforms and equipment are placed on all the platforms.

Now we have to move out the PHE from 2nd platform and it is not possible to lift PHE upwards due to already installed equipment on the upper platforms. Only way to bring PHE out from multistory steel structure is the pulling of PHE horizontally in direction aligned with width. Pulling shall be done by applying the slings on the both cover ends (i.e. fixed cover and movable cover) separately but simultaneously.

Questions:
1. Is horizontal pulling of PHE standard practice?
2. May it cause any deformation/misalignment in plates which may lead to leakage during operation?

Please share valuable inputs on the above questions ASAP.

Regards,
Ijaz

 

[MJCronin]

Jazz..

You state:

..it is not possible to lift PHE upwards due to already installed equipment on the upper platforms.

Thank goodness that the engineers that came before you considered normal and customary maintenance when the PHE was located up into your structure !!

It is really, really difficult to locate pull-spaces, lifting beams and lift points at the time of equipment design
and plant layout.


Your Questions:

1. Is horizontal pulling of PHE standard practice?

....... NO, but it is impossible to say if you can or cannot do this without more information. Do any of the phones there take pictures ? Can You share pictures ?

Do you have any outline drawings/data sheets/reference information for the PHE unit or were those all discarded by the previous owners of the plant when it was sold ?..... Do the outline drawings show lifting points and weights ??

What did the Vendor of the original equipment tell you about rigging when you contacted them ?

You may have to consider a system where the PHE is jacked up slightly, placed on a slider system and moved horizontally. How far horizontally must it move ???

2. May it cause any deformation/misalignment in plates which may lead to leakage during operation?

Yes, certainly ...

Consider the costs and advantages of hiring a rigging specialist...

Develop a preliminary rigging plan (sketch drawn to scale) showing the load, rigging points and distances of movement.

Give us more information and keep us in the loop .... Take pictures of the operation and post them here ...

Regards




MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer

 

[Muhammad Ijaz]

One thing is missed. Exchanger shall be placed on Dolleys (Rollers) which help them to slide on beams.
Pulling arrangement is attached.

 

[EdStainless]

ijaz, I would go a step further. Build a rigid steel skid for it and jack it up enough to put the skid under it, bolt it to the skid, then put you dolley under the skid. This will prevent you from twisting the PHE.
While it is out you may even consider building rails into the structure so that this can be easier in the future.

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P.E. Metallurgy

 

[MJCronin]

Agree with EdStainless...

The purpose built skid is the right way to go... "Sandwich" the PHE and bolt it to the skid ...

But where is that dimensioned sketch with nearby obstructions ??.... Where is the rigging plan ???

But I would like to again point out that ignoring equipment maintenance is a failure of previous management.

C'mon people, we have been working with PHEs for at least 70 years !!!

MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer