Method for building air separating units in a remote manufacturing yard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9302798-B2
Application number	US-201414284510-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2014
Priority date	May 24, 2013
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A method for fabricating a distillation column in a remote location away from a permanent manufacturing facility is provided. In one embodiment, the method can include the steps of: forming a plurality of column sections each having a diameter D, each column section comprising a plurality of courses that have been horizontally welded together, wherein each course is comprised of two or more partial shells that have been vertically welded together, wherein each of the two or more partial shells was created by vertically rolling a rectangular plate having a length of at least
( 1 N ⁢ π · D ) ,
wherein N is the number of partial shells used to form the course; installing a distributor and packing in each column section to form a plurality of packed column sections; and stacking the plurality of packed column sections to form a column.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for fabricating cryogenic distillation columns in a remote manufacturing yard for use in an air separation unit (ASU), the method comprising the steps of:
forming a first course, wherein the step of forming a first course comprises the steps of:
(a) obtaining a first plate;
(b) rolling the first plate using a vertical plate roller such that the first plate is vertically rolled to create a first partial shell;
(c) moving the first partial shell to an assembly table that is configured to support two or more partial shells simultaneously;
(d) obtaining a second plate;
(e) rolling the second plate using the vertical plate roller such that the second plate is vertically rolled to create a second partial shell;
(f) moving the second partial shell to the assembly table that is configured to support two or more half shells simultaneously; and
(g) arranging the first partial shell with the second partial shell and welding the first partial shell to the second partial shell using a first weld machine to form the first course while both the first partial shell and the second partial shell are stationary;
installing a roundness ring about the circumference of the first course, the roundness ring configured to provide support to the first course such that the first course maintains a substantially cylindrical shape;
installing a plurality of lifting lugs to the roundness ring, the lifting lugs configured to allow the first course to be picked up by a crane in a column assembly area;
forming a second course, wherein the step of forming a second course comprises repeating steps (a)-(g) to form the second course;
forming a packed column section, wherein the step of forming the packed column section comprises the steps of:
(h) fitting and tacking the first course with the second course and welding the first course to the second course using a second weld machine to form a first column section;
(i) installing a distributor within the first column section to form a distributor column section;
(j) installing packing within the distributor column section and above the distributor to form a packed column section;
repeating steps (a)-(j) to form a plurality of packed column sections; and
combining the plurality of packed column sections to form a column.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of stacking the plurality of packed column sections to form the column is done within a column assembly area comprising a floor and an absence of an enclosure, the column assembly area configured to receive the plurality of packed column sections, wherein the floor is configured to support at least the weight of the plurality of packed column sections.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the column assembly area further comprises a crane disposed within the column assembly area, the crane operable to stack the plurality of packed column sections on each other to form a column.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the floor is substantially level.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising the step of moving a packed column section to the column assembly area using a combination of a set of rails configured to mate with a roller system of a movable platform and a means for moving the movable platform.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the means for moving the movable platform are selected from the group consisting of a winch, a forklift, and combinations thereof.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the means for moving the movable platform comprises a winch, wherein the winch is secured to the floor of the column assembly area, the winch configured to move the movable platform to the column assembly area.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising the step of leveling the column in the column assembly area using a yard leveling base.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the yard leveling base is configured to allow for a packed column section of a column to be placed on a top surface of the yard leveling base, the yard leveling base further comprising a bottom surface configured to maintain substantial contact with the ground of a remote manufacturing yard, wherein the yard leveling base is adapted to adjust the level of the top surface of the yard leveling base to account for unevenness or slope of the ground of the remote manufacturing yard.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of moving the first course to a dressing area using a course lifting device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein steps a-j are conducted in a fabrication facility having an enclosure.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein step (j) further comprises installing the packing in loose packing strips.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein step (j) further comprises installing a block of packing strips at a time, wherein the block of packing strips is comprised of at least 5 packing strips.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of creating a vaporizer shell that is configured to house a vaporizer, wherein the step of forming the vaporizer shell comprises repeating the steps of: forming the first course, forming the second course, and step (h).

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein a backing strip is used during step (h).

16. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of improving the curvature of the first course using a forming device.

17. A method for fabricating cryogenic distillation columns in a remote manufacturing yard for use in an air separation unit (ASU), the method comprising the steps of:
forming a first course, wherein the step of forming a first course comprises the steps of:
(a) obtaining a first plate;
(b) rolling the first plate using a vertical plate roller such that the first plate is vertically rolled to create a first partial shell;
(c) moving the first partial shell to an assembly table that is configured to support two or more partial shells simultaneously;
(d) obtaining a second plate;
(e) rolling the second plate using the vertical plate roller such that the second plate is vertically rolled to create a second partial shell;
(f) moving the second partial shell to the assembly table that is configured to support two or more half shells simultaneously; and
(g) arranging the first partial shell with the second partial shell and welding the first partial shell to the second partial shell using a first weld machine to form the first course while both the first partial shell and the second partial shell are stationary;
forming a second course, wherein the step of forming a second course comprises repeating steps (a)-(g) to form the second course;
forming a packed column section, wherein the step of forming the packed column section comprises the steps of:
(h) fitting and tacking the first course with the second course and welding the first course to the second course using a second weld machine to form a first column section;
(i) installing a distributor within the first column section to form a distributor column section;
(i) installing packing within the distributor column section and above the distributor to form a packed column section;
repeating steps (a)-(i) to form a plurality of packed column sections;
combining the plurality of packed column sections to form a column; and
creating packing in a packing creation area for creating packing, the packing creation area comprising:
a press module disposed on a press module skid; and
a washing system dispo

Assignees

• Air Liquide
• L Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L Étude Et L Expl Des Procedes Georges Claude

Inventors

• Granger Claude
• Hardy Yves
• Bromet Emmanuelle
• Roy Jean
• Grigoletto Philippe
• Li qun-fang
• Ferriere Herve
• Made Sylvain

Classifications

• F25J3/04896

  Details of columns, e.g. internals, inlet/outlet devices · CPC title

• Y10T29/49631

  Columnar member · CPC title

• B66C1/10

  by mechanical means · CPC title

• E04G2021/248

  Tarpaulins specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B23K2201/06

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic