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FRP handles cold in LNG heat exchangers
Applications news
FRP handles cold in LNG heat exchangers ONE MIGHT not expect heat exchangers to require a material that can operate at -160°C, but that’s just the case with fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) insulation protection for four of the 10 m diameter and 34 m high components at Shell Oil Company’s liquid natural gas (LNG) plant in Brunei, Malaysia. Nearly 12 tonnes of DSM Composite Resins’ UV-curable Palapreg P 15-01 isophthalic polyester resin was used in FiberTec sheet material for the insulation protection in the cryogenic environment. FiberTec is formed by sandwiching low-styrene polyester and glass reinforcement and fillers between two nylon films, which minimise emissions and facilitate handling and shaping. The sheet material is supplied by FiberTec Europe BV, Heerenveen, The Netherlands. This is the first LNG contract to use UV-curable polyester
resin to this extent, reports Jeroen van Bussel, DSM’s business development manager, tanks and pipes. Due to the cryogenic operating temperature, the vessels, valves, flanges, expansion joints, and steel piping have to be insulated with 100% vapour proof barriers to resist thermal shock. FiberTec provides the necessary watertight protection system, and was supplied onsite in refrigerated containers. All segments and pieces were precut out of 10 m-long rolls, each 0.95 mm wide and 2 mm thick. Over the two layers of 20 cmthick polyisocyanate foam atop the steel components, the corrosion-free, glass fibrereinforced surface layer is placed, consisting of chopped glass and polyester resin. This is followed by a top coat reinforced with a glass veil. According to van Bussel, the glass/resin ratio in the veil is 22/25%.
The LNG heat exchangers.
“In this application, the FiberTec FRP material system protects the insulation foam against moisture, since moisture can ruin the insulating properties,” he explains. “The petrochemical industry is extremely careful when it comes to experimenting with what might be considered new materials. The ‘if it ain’t steel, it ain’t real’ attitude is prevalent.
With this application, we are moving ahead in acknowledging the introduction of FRP, where it can be judged on its real performance properties.” Jeroen van Bussel, DSM Composite Resins; tel: +31-384569-497; e-mail: [email protected] FiberTec Europe BV; tel: +31-513646702; www.fibertec.net
Composites travel in style WELL-KNOWN luggage manufacturer Samsonite has launched its X’Lite collection, introducing it under its premium black label line. Claimed to be the lightest and strongest Samsonite ever, the X’Lite exploits the CURV ‘self reinforced’ composite manufactured by Propex Fabrics GmbH, Germany, to create a luxurious line of luggage. Curv is a thermoplastic composite in which highly drawn polypropylene (PP) tapes are bonded together in a matrix of the same material. The manufacture of Curv begins with
4
REINFORCEDplastics
the manufacture of the tapes from an extruded PP film. The tapes are woven into fabric. The fabric is fed into a specially designed double belt press equipped with precise control of temperature and pressure where the surface of every tape is partially melted to create a matrix to bond the tapes into a totally new structure. After cooling the consolidated sheet is slit to the required width, cut to length or rolled according to customer needs. The material can be made into parts by thermoforming.
November 2005
Samsonite X’Lite range of luggage.
The use of Curv thermoplastic is reported to give the X’Lite range the high impact strength and abrasion resistance required, combined with low weight. The X’Lite range sports a modern, aerodynamic and sleek
design and the collection includes a wide range of luggage items. Curv; www.curvonline.com Samsonite; tel: +1-646-935-4306; www.samsonite.com
FRP handles cold in LNG heat exchangers ONE MIGHT not expect heat exchangers to require a material that can operate at -160°C, but that’s just the case with fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) insulation protection for four of the 10 m diameter and 34 m high components at Shell Oil Company’s liquid natural gas (LNG) plant in Brunei, Malaysia. Nearly 12 tonnes of DSM Composite Resins’ UV-curable Palapreg P 15-01 isophthalic polyester resin was used in FiberTec sheet material for the insulation protection in the cryogenic environment. FiberTec is formed by sandwiching low-styrene polyester and glass reinforcement and fillers between two nylon films, which minimise emissions and facilitate handling and shaping. The sheet material is supplied by FiberTec Europe BV, Heerenveen, The Netherlands. This is the first LNG contract to use UV-curable polyester
resin to this extent, reports Jeroen van Bussel, DSM’s business development manager, tanks and pipes. Due to the cryogenic operating temperature, the vessels, valves, flanges, expansion joints, and steel piping have to be insulated with 100% vapour proof barriers to resist thermal shock. FiberTec provides the necessary watertight protection system, and was supplied onsite in refrigerated containers. All segments and pieces were precut out of 10 m-long rolls, each 0.95 mm wide and 2 mm thick. Over the two layers of 20 cmthick polyisocyanate foam atop the steel components, the corrosion-free, glass fibrereinforced surface layer is placed, consisting of chopped glass and polyester resin. This is followed by a top coat reinforced with a glass veil. According to van Bussel, the glass/resin ratio in the veil is 22/25%.
The LNG heat exchangers.
“In this application, the FiberTec FRP material system protects the insulation foam against moisture, since moisture can ruin the insulating properties,” he explains. “The petrochemical industry is extremely careful when it comes to experimenting with what might be considered new materials. The ‘if it ain’t steel, it ain’t real’ attitude is prevalent.
With this application, we are moving ahead in acknowledging the introduction of FRP, where it can be judged on its real performance properties.” Jeroen van Bussel, DSM Composite Resins; tel: +31-384569-497; e-mail: [email protected] FiberTec Europe BV; tel: +31-513646702; www.fibertec.net
Composites travel in style WELL-KNOWN luggage manufacturer Samsonite has launched its X’Lite collection, introducing it under its premium black label line. Claimed to be the lightest and strongest Samsonite ever, the X’Lite exploits the CURV ‘self reinforced’ composite manufactured by Propex Fabrics GmbH, Germany, to create a luxurious line of luggage. Curv is a thermoplastic composite in which highly drawn polypropylene (PP) tapes are bonded together in a matrix of the same material. The manufacture of Curv begins with
4
REINFORCEDplastics
the manufacture of the tapes from an extruded PP film. The tapes are woven into fabric. The fabric is fed into a specially designed double belt press equipped with precise control of temperature and pressure where the surface of every tape is partially melted to create a matrix to bond the tapes into a totally new structure. After cooling the consolidated sheet is slit to the required width, cut to length or rolled according to customer needs. The material can be made into parts by thermoforming.
November 2005
Samsonite X’Lite range of luggage.
The use of Curv thermoplastic is reported to give the X’Lite range the high impact strength and abrasion resistance required, combined with low weight. The X’Lite range sports a modern, aerodynamic and sleek
design and the collection includes a wide range of luggage items. Curv; www.curvonline.com Samsonite; tel: +1-646-935-4306; www.samsonite.com