When we talk about planning for a shutdown at a refinery, one of the most critical elements on the checklist is inventory management. To get the very most out of the time you have during the shutdown itself, you need to properly identify the parts needed well in advance. In fact, for some fittings and valves, we recommend as much as an 18-month head start.
First, we need to understand what equipment is being worked on during the shutdown. From there, simple correlation can go a long way. For example, the number of valves scheduled to be repaired during the shutdown will dictate how many fittings will be needed. Additionally, the type of unit comes into play. A crude unit will have more piping and components. This is simply an example but just know that there are specific requirements that must be met depending on the type of equipment as well as the volume.
During this time, it’s nice to have a vendor that views your business as a partnership as opposed to just a transactional relationship. A supportive vendor will want to discuss how the plant intends to support its maintenance personnel with the product in question. This will affect recommendations in terms of where the plant is going to physically store the parts.
Finally, by engaging a good inventory management specialist during the planning period, you can achieve that peace of mind from a safety perspective. Some equipment doesn’t play well with others, and you need to know that. A good vendor can help you mitigate this risk.
Valves are their own animal. The cycle can be similar to fittings, but it is far more complex. Current performance needs to be compared to the expected performance and the proper tuning should be scheduled. Alternatively, perhaps simple tuning isn’t the answer. Were the valves sized incorrectly to begin with? Then we get into the notion of cavitation and noise abatement. If cavitation is present, the valve will eventually fail. Determining what the cause is of that cavitation is the only way to put together an effective game plan to solve it. Undersized actuators are another leading culprit for valve issues as they can lead to their premature failure.
The main takeaway is that there are many elements that need to be addressed during a shutdown for it to be deemed successful. The only way to effectively address these elements is through strong communication and meticulous planning. The team here at Valin has been assisting plants in planning their turnarounds for years, and we hope that if you have one on the books, you’ll reach out and see how we can help. If you’d like to read more detail about some of the concepts I’ve presented here, be sure to read the full article I had published in Hydrocarbon Processing Magazine last year.
Learn more about Valin's Inventory Management Services.
Contact our Refining Knowledge Center at (855) 797-6388, or email us at refining@valin.com to learn more.