Straighten Stainless Steel Bubble Cap Trays in Columns

[turnaroundeng]

Good Day,

I am a maintenance engineer in a oil refinery.
We are currently repairing the fractionator column on one of the crude distillation units.
The column had undergone a majot disruption in service and many of the trays were bent/distorted and partially collapsed.
We are attempting to straighten the trays by heating and using hand tools. the trays however cannot be straightened properly and are leaking heavily and cannot pass the leak test.

Any recommendations for straightening?

 

[enmax]

You might consider laying some weld beads on the surface of the trays. There is some trial and error involved so you try it on some samples sheets first to get a "feel" for how much distortion can be removed for a given thickness of sheet/plate and the size and length of weld bead.

http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/terry-roberts/28/a9a/a10

 

[jtseng123]

You shall talk to tray supplier how to fix it. Do not arbitrarily fix the tray. You will get into more trouble if trays are not leveled. Tray supplier can supply replacemnet trays in a short poeriod of time.