Fall and winter can expose unique vulnerabilities in your process equipment and at a time when regular plant staff may be absent more than usual due to the holidays. Follow these tips to prep your plant and staff to ward off potential problems.
Have you walked your process line lately to determine if any external pipework, pumps or exposed sensors may be at risk due to freezing temperatures? Cold temperatures can also affect fluid viscosity and risk of condensation. Insulation may be required to protect tanks, lines and exterior process units.
Your process may need to be adjusted to account for the changes that come with these effects from colder ambient temperatures. Contact us for a system review and recommendations.
Inspect gaskets, seals and valves, which may be prone to shrinking and/or leakage as temperatures fall. Do you have the appropriate spare parts on-hand? Assess membrane systems for fouling/scaling risks from colder feedwater. Ensure that moisture is cleared from around process equipment, especially during periods of downtime or freeze events.
Just as you should fill gaps and address other areas where heat can escape from your home, you should do a thorough inspection of your facility as well. Check ventilation, heating systems and door seals to prevent outside air from infiltrating your facility. Verify that sump pumps and drains are ready to clear away any water that might freeze.
A training refresher is in order if your plant will see significant staffing changes around the holidays. Contact us to arrange a session.
Caloris can assist with prepping process equipment for the cold season. Contact us for support with any process changes, supply of spare parts, training, troubleshooting and optimizations. Call 410-822-6900 or send email to problem.solved@caloris.com to be connected with an engineer.
