A Qualified Solution to Erosion

June 3, 2009 - PRLog -- Belzona Polymerics, the world leader in the design and manufacture of polymer repair composites and industrial protective coatings, is working closely with a number of super majors in the Oil and Gas industry to adapt existing Belzona solutions to meet clients’ unique needs.

One such client recently approached Belzona with a view to switching an offshore asset from oil to gas production and needed to protect nozzles from the resulting accelerated erosion rates.

Initially, the client and their engineering support partner had planned to weld overlay the nozzles with Duplex steel but due to the location and accessibility were unable to do so. They then contacted Belzona in order to seek out an alternative solution.

Belzona proposed a solution but advised validation from a third party to ensure the erosion rates were as the client required. The innovative solution involved the use of Belzona® 1391 nozzle inserts adapted to cope with the geometry and operating conditions of the equipment in question. The Belzona® 1391 provides protection not only against the erosion but also against galvanic corrosion between the carbon steel nozzles and the Duplex flow lines.

Erosion testing was carried out by the clients’ in house laboratory and an independent third party, The Institute of Engineering Thermofluids, Surfaces and Interfaces (iETSI), Leeds University, headed up by Professor Anne Neville. The results demonstrated that the proposed solution met the client’s needs.

Dr Xinming (Simon) Hu, Corrosion researcher from iETSI says: “Contrary to conventional wisdom, polymers can offer a cost-effective and efficient solution to erosion-corrosion in specific applications.”

With the client’s involvement, Belzona developed a method statement for the installation of the nozzles, ensuring that the innovative solution was versatile so that it could be adapted to on-site conditions and set up a specific training programme for the application personnel from D&F Group who would be installing the solution.

In addition, through CAN Technology AS, Belzona’s Norwegian distributor, Belzona provided on-site supervision and guidance, ensuring that the job was completed within the agreed timescales during the scheduled shutdown.

The Belzona® 1391 nozzles inserts were successfully installed in July 2007 and to date remain in excellent condition, protecting the nozzles as designed.

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Belzona Polymerics Limited is a world leader in the design and manufacture of industrial protective coatings and polymer repair composites for the repair, protection and improvement of machinery, equipment, buildings and structures.

Based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and with further corporate offices based in the USA, Thailand and China, Belzona has more than 150 Distributors covering over 120 countries worldwide.

At its UK centre, the full Belzona product range is manufactured to stringent quality and environmental control guidelines complying with the internationally recognised requirements of ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004.