Victaulic demonstrates speed and ease of installation to energise market at Power Plant Technology
Hannover Messe, 21-25 April 2008, Hall 027, F39/1
Victaulic, the world’s leading producer of mechanical pipe joining systems, is taking the opportunity to demonstrate the immense reliability and ease of installation of its power plant grooved end pipe joining solutions at Power Plant Technology this year.
Already a popular choice within the coal fired power industry, the Victaulic Style 221F and Style 220 nozzle couplings and the Victaulic Style 152A expansion joint coupling, will be on display to demonstrate the cost, installation and maintenance efficiencies that can be achieved compared to flanged and welded alternatives.
The Victaulic Style 221F and Style 220 nozzle couplings
Used to join shouldered nozzles to shouldered FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) pipe within flue gas desulfurisation scrubber vessels, the Victaulic Style 221F is highly reliable and quick to install compared to flanged connections or butt and wrapped alternatives. The Victaulic Style 220 nozzle coupling has the same installation benefits as Style 221F, but is used to join shouldered nozzles to shouldered alloy pipe.
The lower profile, lighter weight design of Style 221F and Style 220 makes field nozzle installation easier for the installer. With only one bolt to tighten and no torquing required, installation is quick and reliable and proper assembly can be checked easily by visually checking that the two pads are joined tightly. Both Style 221F and Style 220 are joined using a single alloy nut and bolt, with the housing having a hex recess on one side permitting one wrench tightening. Flanges on the other hand, require four larger size alloy nuts and bolts and these bolts must be tightened in the proper sequence and at the proper torque stages to prevent fracture of the brittle flanged ceramic nozzle.
Versatility is also built into the installation process, with both Style 221F and Style 220 allowing unlimited 360° nozzle orientation. This enables nozzle orientation to be fine tuned, based on actual spray patterns rather than theoretical and, when fully tightened, the couplings hold the nozzle in the desired orientation providing 50 lb-ft plus of rotational resistance against nozzle rotational slippage.
The Victaulic Style 221F coupling housing is constructed of a similar FRP to the pipe, providing equivalent corrosion resistance and with thicker housings than the FRP pipe, it has additional strength and erosion allowance as compared to the pipe. The Victaulic Style 220 coupling housing is constructed of the same or similar alloy as the pipe, providing comparable corrosion resistance and again, as thicker than the alloy pipe, offers additional strength and external erosion allowance as compared to Sch. 40 pipe.
Also available for stainless steel and fiberglass piping, in 64mm, 76mm and 100m diameters, and with the ability to withstand scrubber excursion temperatures of up to 250°F/ 121°C for 24 hours - with no damage to the coupling or gasket - the Victaulic nozzle couplings are now used on scrubber projects throughout out the world.
The Victaulic Style 152A expansion joint coupling
The Victaulic Style 152A is a large diameter pulverised coal coupling with four degrees of deflection capability that is ideal for compact pipe routing. Used in environments such as coal fired feed lines, where 200mm of downward expansion is a normal occurrence, the Style 152A can be used for expansion and contraction or rotation, or a combination of deflection, expansion, contraction, and rotation. For ease of maintenance, or retrofit installations, pipe ends only need to be separated 16 mm to replace seals and the low profile of the sleeve couplings makes Style 152A the ideal solution when space is at a premium.
The Style 152A is also useful in coupling pipe to ceramic lined elbows or equipment often involving differing pipe and fitting outside diameters. The coupling is designed to be used in industrial applications such as new or retrofit coal-fired electric generation facilities and bridges that require a coupling with this level of angular deflection and/or expansion/contraction capability. The Victaulic Style 152A is rated up to 50 psi and suitable to handle blow back pressures. Installation is quick and easy, no special tool is required.
Didier Vassal, managing director and vice president for Victaulic in Europe, comments: “There has been a tremendous focus recently on SO2, Mercury, NOX and SOX emissions. By properly maintaining and monitoring existing plants and selecting sustainable construction methods for the surge of new plants being built, power plants no longer need to be perceived as harmful to the environment. As a company that has been involved in the design and engineering for piping systems of coal-fired plants for over 50 years, Victaulic has had a long invested interest in sustainable building. With speed of installation, reliability, ease of maintenance and cost effectiveness built into these products, it is no wonder that our Victaulic nozzle and expansion joint couplings are fast becoming the industry standard in the coal fired power sector.”
Victaulic, a privately held company headquartered in Easton, Pa., U.S.A., has manufacturing and distribution facilities worldwide and employs approximately 3,000 people. The company, and its subsidiaries, develops products for a full range of industrial, commercial and institutional piping systems.
Press enquiries:
Laurence Bachellerie or Karine Ferchaud, Publicasity, Tel: +44 (0) 1442 261199,
Email: Victaulic@publicasity.co.uk
