Air compressors speed PCR plant turnaround
Client: Leading producer of plastics and chemical
Location: Corunna, Ontario
Sectors: Petrochemical and Refining
The Challenge
Fast industrial unit dry-out during turnaround at polyethylene plant
The polyethylene resins produced by the customer make their way into countless consumer products around the world – making their plant in Corunna, Ontario a key source of income.
Every four years, the polyethylene plant must prepare for a major event: a complete turnaround.
Like all refining turnarounds, these pauses in production are essential for maintenance – but, if not planned carefully, they can also cause major disruption.
The customer needed support to streamline a key part of the turnaround process: drying out six olefins units so they could be purged and undergo maintenance checks as fast as possible, so they were once again ready for production.
Key Facts
The Solution
Aggreko delivers a large-scale compressed air and drying system
The customer and Aggreko have worked hand in hand for almost a decade, with Aggreko providing compressors for day to day decoking of plant air. So, with the next turnaround on the horizon, the plant team turned to us to help them get the compressors and desiccant dryers they needed to dry out their olefins units. We responded with a solution big enough for the plant to dry out all six of their olefins units at once:
- 16 compressors for over 25.000 CFM total of oil free air
- 16x 1,550 CFM desiccant dryers
- 5x 1200 gallon fuel tanks
- 1200 ft of 3” air hoses
We also provided a team of technicians on site 24/7 to support the equipment during the entire process.
The Impact
Preventing multi-million dollar losses
With the support of Aggreko’s industrial air rental expertise, the polyethylene plant met all dry-out targets on schedule. Other than brief weather delays due to extreme heat, the process went according to plan.
By avoiding delays and achieving the required dew point, the customer successfully brought all six olefins units back online, avoiding significant revenue loss and ensuring a safe, efficient plant restart.