Ineos Chlor - Delagging, Inspection, NDT, Descaling, Painting and Insulation on VDC 4 Plant 300 Unit, C341 Distillation column
Ineos Chlor manufacture chlorine and ethylene based chemicals. VDC 4 plant has 2 distillation columns of which C341 ‘still’ is the highest at 35m from ground level.
The Brief 
As part of the planned maintenance programme the following work was necessary:
• The removal of all existing insulation.
• Carry out extensive NDT checks on the vessel shell and associated pipe-work.
• De-scale and paint the column.
• Reinstate the new insulation and galvanise the steel cladding.
The Delta Difference
As the tower was working, it was expanding up and down; this caused a safety concern. Delta proposed using specialist access methods to carry out the essential maintenance. This was because alternative methods, such as using full scaffold tied to the structure, would have created technical difficulties with increased wind loading. This would have taken much longer to erect and dismantle and also have been considerably more expensive for the client.
Delta’s personnel are trained to the highest standards enabling them to erect powered cradles, co-ordinate the abseiling and utilise special temporary works access equipment. The aim here was encouraging operation flexibility enabling the team to reach the entire surface area of the structure; platforms and pipe-work.
The insulation was then carefully removed and lowered to ground level for a detailed engineering inspection and disposal. The structure was then ready for the Delta team’s application of heat resistant epoxy paint and waterproof mineral wool. The new plastic coated metal cladding was then fixed to the column.
Ineos Chlor have very stringent safety, health and environmental standards, and these, together with our own rigorous safety requirements for working at height ensured that this project was safely completed in a very restricted area whilst a major two month long plant overhaul was in progress below.
Back to Delta International Steeplejacks Home Page
Delta International
Delta House
Wrigley Street
Lancashire
Oldham
OL4 1SL
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 161 785 4940
Fax: +44 (0) 161 785 4941
click here for our email address