Inspecting constant hangers and rigid holders in power stations has so far involved high personnel expenses. Technip, a globally operating plant manufacturer, uses HBK measurement technology to automate permanent load monitoring and thus ensure an increased level of safety and efficiency.
Piping in power stations needs to withstand considerable loads. Extreme temperatures and high pressure are not uncommon - conditions causing huge thermal strain and likely to overload the pipes. For this reason, so-called constant hangers are used for installing the pipes; they compensate for thermally induced movements. However, force measurements on rigid holders are even more important. They permit integral evaluation of the load transfer by comparing the force differential between the cold and the hot state with preset values determined through system analyses carried out during the dimensioning of the plant.
Deviations indicate imperfect load transfer (restricted movement due to the running of pipes, inadmissible hanger friction, distortion, etc.). Furthermore, force measurements on primary rigid supports enable the piping's current relaxation state to be assessed which is considered prerequisite to the required service life calculations on high-pressure piping. Checking constant hangers and rigid holders in sensitive areas of a power station at regular intervals is already very complex and can only be carried out by well-trained specialists. Of course, the remaining risk resulting from visual inspection must not be underestimated: A false assessment might have far-reaching consequences.
It is relatively easy to eliminate the risk of a false assessment: just use HBK measurement technology. HBK offers two solutions for permanently monitoring the constant hangers and verifying the load transfer concept on the rigid supports (joint struts), i.e. for protecting the piping from overload:
Technip is a global leader in plant engineering for the power generation industry and uses both solutions for monitoring high-pressure piping in power stations.
The second method provides even more accurate measurement results. The U10M is a rotationally symmetric, low-profile force transducer that guarantees high endurance strength even in the event of an extreme oscillation width of 200 percent. Due to its excellent linearity, it measures the forces acting on the constant hanger with high precision, even in the partial load range.
The force transducers stand out for their ruggedness which is required for use in power stations and they are easily installed.
Dr. Ulrich Reiners, project manager at Technip
A further advantage when using the U10M is the integrated TEDS, the Transducer Electronic Data Sheet, which, in comparison to manual setup, makes configuring the complete measurement chain very easy and ensures minimum time expenditure and increased safety.
With both solutions, the MP30 carrier-frequency amplifier transmits the 4 to 20 mA signals common in power stations to a control station - over long distances and without quality loss. The MP30 belongs to HBM'sPME product family that stands for smart signal conditioning in industrial measurement technology. Using the MP30 has proven successful with both solutions.
The MP30 amplifier stands out for easy and fast programming and high accuracy. Another advantage is the fact that measured values are visualized in physical units directly on the instrument which has proven beneficial to maintenance and configuration.
Dr. Ulrich Reiners
Technip is represented with 23,000 employees in 46 countries worldwide. The company with headquarters in Paris/France is a global leader in plant engineering for the oil and gas industry.
The force transducers stand out for their ruggedness which is required for use in power stations and they are easily installed.
Y series foil strain gauges (SG) can be used in many areas, for static or dynamic stress analysis. They measure highly precisely, are robust, extremely flexible and can be installed on different materials due to seven different types of temperature response matching.
HBK Force Sensors and Force Transducers with strain gauge or piezo technology measure static and dynamic tensile and compressive loads - with virtually no displacement.
Whether your application, is mobile or stationary, on a test cell or under extreme environmental conditions, HBK has the right measurement data acquisition system for your needs. Benefit from the unique "made by HBK" precision and reliability while enjoying the best possible price-to-performance ratio.
The multi-channel data acquisition system measures and controls in real time and is ideal for production processes and quality. It is particularly suitable for measuring and monitoring tasks in test benches, machines and plants used for quality control. An easy-to-use web interface is provided via the TCP/IP interface for diagnosis and setup.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.