A new service introduced in the UK from Veolia is targeting the process chemical and steel sectors which rely on catalysts for manufacturing a range of products.
According to the resource management company, manufacturing sites using its catalyst management service will benefit from increased plant efficiencies, and enhanced safety performance.
Delivered by specialist handling teams, services offered include management of catalyst change-outs for different types of petrochemical reactors, single or multibed, tubular reactors and primary reformer type units.
Catalysts are used in many processing operations and their optimised operation has a direct effect on catalyst performance, production and process lifetime. To maintain these vital parameters the service ensures that the spent catalyst materials are safely and efficiently unloaded from the reactors, and new materials reloaded using different patented technologies. Materials can be removed from site, treated or disposed of in specialised facilities.
The most important part of a catalyst change is the loading of new catalyst materials as this has a direct impact on catalyst life and reactor performance. Designed for loading of various catalyst materials Veolia use the latest technology to maximise the effectiveness of these operations through accurate control of the filling procedures. As a result, the catalyst is uniformly loaded with an increased packed density that will eliminate any potential hot spots, channelling and uneven distribution during the reactor operation, and also increase the catalyst lifetime performance.
Most types of catalysts require unloading and reloading under inert – IDLH, N2 conditions, that avoids pyrophoric ignition, catalyst damage or corrosion of reactor shell and internals. To meet the challenging requirements of operating in these conditions Veolia’s catalyst handling teams are fully trained in confined space entry, use of breathing apparatus and have the necessary Client Contractor National Safety Group (CCNSG) Safety Passport, backed by NEBOSH, IOSH Managing Safely and COSHH accreditations.
John Abraham, Chief Operating Officer – Veolia UK & Ireland – Industrial, Water & Energy from Veolia, says:
“This latest development shows our commitment to drive innovation that helps our customers maintain their production efficiency. The new service will increase the effectiveness of catalyst reloading operations and deliver real benefits to manufacturing processes using our specially trained teams. It also adds to the extensive range of services we can provide to UK industry to help them focus on their core operations”
Author
