NEWS RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE
HIGH TECH CATALYST STANDPIPE EXPANSION JOINT BUILT FOR KELLOGG (B.P. OIL)
When the BP Oil Refinery at Toledo, Ohio upgraded their
FCC to include the latest technology, M.W. Kellogg was
selected to perform the detail engineering and Senior
Flexonics Pathway was selected to build the expansion
joints. The expansion joints included many of the construction features that were developed by Senior Flexonics
Pathway for critical FCC applications in recent years.
The bellows were built on expanded pipe sections so
that the cold shell refractory lining was allowed to be full
thickness throughout the length of the bellows area. The
bellows-liner cavity was packed with ceramic fiber and
sealed with Senior Flexonics Pathway’s standard knitted wire mesh liner seal material to eliminate catalyst
intrusion into the bellows convolutions. The oversize pipe
sections were built by expanding the line pipe instead of
using welded conic sections. This manufacturing method
used by Senior Flexonics Pathway reduces stress in
the transition area while providing a very good looking
finished assembly.
The features included in the expansion joint design have
a proven field record that insures the life of the expansion joint to be as long as the FCC itself. However, several backup safety features were also included to insure
the reliability of production in the event the bellows developed a leak due to some unanticipated process condition in the future.
The bellows were made with ply testable design to allow
continued safe operations in the event of a leak in the
bellows membrane. And the bellows attachment welds
were covered with an alloy seal strip fitted with a pressure tap so that any leakage in the attachment weld
area could be monitored just like the inner ply of the ply
testable bellows. The ply testable bellows design and
the seal strips to monitor the attachment welds were
introduced to the FCC expansion joint market by Senior
Flexonics Pathway in recent years.
The covers were designed to withstand the operating
pressure of the system. The telescoping covers were to
be easily seal welded in the even of a bellows failure.
Flexible insulation was installed over the bellows inside
the covers to make sure the alloy 625 bellows operated
at a temperature above the dew point of corrosion products contained in the media. To inquire about expansion joints for FCC service or other critical
application,contact Senior Flexonics Pathway.
View showing AR400
vibracast refractory lining.
48” diameter double hinged regenerated catalyst standpipe expansion joint
designed for 1400 deg. F. Notice expanded pipe sections near bellows.
2400 Longhorn Industrial Drive, New Braunfels, Texas 78130
Ph: (830)629-8080 Fax: (830)629-6899 email: [email protected]
Copyright
© 2001 Senior Flexonics Pathway.
NR 50
(Continued)
Detail of pressure taps leading from the ply testable bellows and the attachment weld
seal strips. The valve allows operations to isolate each system to accurately determine
the location of any leak.
Motion indicator showing angular movement during operation.