Importance of Ordinary Maintenance
Pressure equipment regular maintenance is crucial for its operative efficiency and safety.
In fact, cleanliness helps prevent:
- Residues and deposits from setting and compromising equipment performance
- Possible malfunctioning
In this sense, a programmative maintenance should be planned, including periodical inspections as well as scheduled cleaning interventions.
Innovative Technological Solutions: Quick Opening Closures
Among different solutions being pursued to optimize cleaning operations, quick opening closures are the most significant enabler.
These devices permit pressure equipment to be opened and shut down in a quick and safe way, reducing equipment downtimes by about 80 percent.
Opening and closing can be done by a single operator in large equipment because integrated systems show residual pressure inside the device.
You can get an idea by viewing quick opening closures on the QOC solutions website.
Safety on cleaning
The cleaning must be performed following strictly precise procedures about safety.
Verify the no presence of residual pressure before any intervention with proper indicating provision on equipment.
Use adequate protection for the operator and ensure that ventilation in the working area is also good.
The personnel must, in fact, be adequately trained in the safety operating procedures.
Optimised cleaning
For an effective cleaning, it’s suggested:
•The use of detergents suitable for the type of residues to be removed •Using mechanical methods when necessary.
•Adhering to recommended contact times of chemical products.
•Rinsing thoroughly after cleaning
•Recording in writing every cleaning intervention carried out.
Time optimization of the intervention
In order to reduce the ‘time out of service’ all the tools must be previously prepared, make use of quick access systems-sectorial or jaw-type closures-and schedule cleaning interventions with the remaining maintenance activities.
Also standardize procedures to be followed regarding each type of intervention.
Monitoring and documentation
The effective management of pressure equipment requires a systematic and detailed recording system of all interventions of cleaning performed.
Every single intervention has to be duly recorded, defining date and length of the intervention, while the type of cleaning performed has to be specified in great detail, together with products used during the process.
It is also important to remark on every anomaly during operation in order for follow-up of recurrences and any eventual action to avoid potential future problems.
The documentation shall always include the name of operating personnel responsible for the intervention and the results of post-intervention controls, in order to create for each equipment a complete and consultable history.
Preventive maintenance and planning
Optimum and long-lasting performance of pressure equipment is the fruit of an effective preventive maintenance system.
A well-defined calendar of periodic inspections should be outlined, along with a detailed program for replacement of the components that are subject to wear.
Systematic and regular checks of all protection and control systems shall ensure guarantee of plant safety.
Naturally, it is also very important to continuously update operating procedures in order to incorporate the best practices developed by the industry and new safety regulations.
Great attention is to be paid to the permanent training of personnel to assure that every operator is constantly updated on new techniques and technologies in maintenance.
This scheduled preventive maintenance allows us to reduce the unwarranted stops of the equipment and to optimize its service life.
