Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/906742
18 WET NEWS DECEMBER 2017 In-service analysis for GRP laminates W ith the health and safety risks involved in the bulk storage of liq- uids, particularly hazardous chemicals such as hydrochloric acid or caustic solutions in GRP tanks, it is imperative that the end user must instigate an inspection schedule to ensure there is reduced risk of leakage or catastrophic failure during the life of the tank. Until recently inspections required entry to the tank which involved taking the tank out of commission, draining down, removing all the resid- ual contents, cleaning and dry- ing, purging the internal atmosphere ensuring there is no risk on entry due to fumes or gasses and final entry by certified confined space per- sonnel. With the high costs of following this procedure many companies are reluctant to carry out inspection. Tank Inspections is a spin- off company from the Forbes Group, a manufacturer of tanks in GRP and UltraAnalytix involves collecting data over at least 80-100 sections around a tank, depending on its size and configuration thermoplastic tanks since the early 1960s, and which has been inspecting plastic tanks for more than 55 years. Tank Inspections is the UK licensee for the innovative UltraAnalytix system of inspect- ing GRP laminates. The develop- ment of the UltraAnalytix sys- tem of inspection allows for a detailed assessment of the GRP laminate properties of the tank, including the condition of the corrosion barrier. It will also identify any leakage into the laminate through a thermoplas- tic inner shell. Based on work carried out by NASA, the UltraAnalytix system of inspection is backed up by extensive studies by leading universities, followed by more than 500 customer (blind and laboratory) tests which have demonstrated UltraAnalytix performs as well as destructive testing for GRP integrity analysis. Repeatable and reproducible quantitative information allows you to manage GRP assets with • INSIGHT Tanks & storage Repeatable and reproducible quantitative data enables GRP assets to be managed with the same discipline / scientific approach as for metal assets, says Forbes Group's Lee Forbes. the same discipline / scientific approach as for metal assets. The process involves the col- lection of data over at least 80-100 sections around a tank, depending on the size and configuration of the tank. Further data is collected around nozzles and manways, including the compensation laminates. This data is pro- cessed by computer analysis to produce a detailed report on the condition of the tank and expected life. The benefits of in-service inspections are: No Tank Process Shut Down: All data is collected Comparison between UltraAnalytix and other types of evaluation Method Equipment Operating Maintains structural integrity Internal structural material changes Safety factor updated Repeat- able Reliable Minimises confined space entry Inspect time UltraAnalytix™ 15-60 mins Visual Inspection 1-4 hours Destructive Testing 2 days Acoustic Emission 2 days+ Digital Radiography 1-4 hours Thermography 15-60 mins Ultrasonic Thickness Testing 15-60 mins Capable Possibly Capable Not Capable