Showing posts with label power plant maintenance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label power plant maintenance. Show all posts

Valves: DO you know these..???


  •  Valve is a Mechanical or electromechanical device which is used to control the flow, pressure & temperature of fluid.
  • Generally Globe valve, Gate valves, Butterfly valve, diaphragm valve, needle valve, Non return valves etc used in power plant various applications.
  • The materials which are directly in contact with high pressure & temperature fluid are called trim materials.
  • IBR Valves materials are manufactured according to the ASME class 16.34 B
  • “Y” type globe valves have minimum pressure drop as compared to normal globe valves
  • WCB indicates cast carbon steel, includes the standard A 216 . Used for fluid temperature up to 425 deg C
  • WC-6 indicates Chromium Molybdenum steel, includes the standard A 217. Used for fluid temperature up to 575 deg C
  • WC-9 indicates Cast alloy steel, includes the standard A 217. Used for fluid temperature up to 593 deg C
  • SA 105 indicates forged & SA 182 indicates forged alloy steels

Equivalent grades of valves:
  1. SA 216 WCB/WCC: SA 105N
  2. SA 217 WC6: SA 182 F11
  3. SA 217 WC9: SA 182 F22
  4. SA 217 C12A : SA 182 F91

  • The MOC of Stud & nut materials of high pressure valves are SA 194 Gr.B7 & SA 194-2H
  • Stem nuts of all high pressure valves is of Aluminium bronze materials
  • The yoke of all high pressure valves are made up of material A-216 WCB
  • Hand wheel of all HP valves are made up of SG iron 400/12
  • Stems of all HP valves are made up of A 479-410-2
IBR acts, regulations & forms used

Comparison between Gate valve & Gate valve
  • For a same size of valves, the size & weight of gate valves is more as compared to globe valves
  • Time required for operating the gate valve is more as compared to globe valve
  • Effort required to operate the gate valve is less as compared to globe valve
  • Complicated maintenance procedure for larger size gate valves & simple maintenance procedure for globe valves
  • In gate valve pressure drop of fluid is very less as compared to globe valve
  • Gate valves cannot be used for flow regulating valves whereas globe valves can be used
  • Very less or no turbulence of fluid in gate valves whereas there is much turbulence in globe valves
  • Upon prolonged exposure of cast carbon steel or forged carbon steel valves to temperatures above 425°C, the carbide phase of steel may be converted to graphite. Permissible but not recommended for prolonged use above 425°C.
Basics of safety valves


Selected Questions & Answers on Rigging guidelines





1. What is rigging technology?
Rigging is the process of using hoists, ropes, pulley, slings, jacks and cranes for lifting, lowering or shifting the heavy objects.
2. Who is rigger?
A person who leads or carries out the rigging process.
3. What are the various rigging elements used in power plant?
  • Synthetic and wire ropes
  • Slings
  • Chain hoist/chain block
  • Pulley block
  • Screw and hydraulic jacks
  • Crane
  • Winch machine
  • EOT cranes
  • Derricks…etc.

4. Write a short note on rigging plan.
In order to ensure the safety of workers and the equipment involved, any operation involving the use of a lifting item to lift items must be planned thoroughly before being carried out.
Rigging Plan Involves:
1. Determination of Task and Job Site Requirements:
a. What is to be lifted?
b. Who is the in charge person?
c. What are the job site requirements?
d. What type of lift?
Ordinary Lift: Involve the use of basic hoisting equipment directly above the load. The load must also have certified lifting points to relatively easy to sling. It is repetitive in nature.
Critical Lift: Involves lifting objects in congested space, heavy objects, high susceptibility to damage and precision.
Pre-Engineered Lift: Involves use of tooling, fixtures, sketches, analyses, and written procedures for handling.
2. Characterization of Load:
It involves weight and center of gravity judgment of an object to be lifted
There are mainly two types of loads that are generally handled:
Symmetrical Load: Spare, square and rectangular type loads. These have center of gravity (C.G) at their center, so it will be very easy to handle such objects.
Asymmetrical Load: An object with an off-center C.G due to the object’s irregular shape and/or composition. These objects are difficult to handle as their C.G lies out of center.
3. Selecting the Proper Rigging Element:
After characterizing the load, proper rigging elements are selected.
Examples:
  • For lifting only, chain blocks and slings are selected.
  • For lifting and shifting: Cranes.
  • For lifting precision objects, lifting belts are selected instead of wire ropes and slings.


5. What is the safe working load of 25 mm Nylon rope?
Safe working load (SWL) of Nylon rope = D X D = 25 X 25 = 625 kgs.
Where D is the diameter of rope in mm.
6. What is the smallest size of nylon rope used for lifting?
Smallest size of nylon rope used for lifting is 12 mm.
7. What is the material of composition of wire ropes and slings?
MOC of wire ropes and sling is Steel of grade 80.
8. What is the smallest size of wire rope used for lifting?
Minimum size of steel wire rope for handling loads is 5 mm.
9. How do you calculate the safe working load of steel wire ropes and slings?
SWL of wire ropes slings = 8 X D X D, Where D is the diameter of sling in inches.
10. What are the different hitches of slings/ropes? And what is the relation between sling angle & angle factor?



Vertical Hitch:
In vertical hitch SWL = Capacity of the rope/sling.
Choker Hitch:
In choker hitch, SWL = Sling capacity X 80%. i.e. sling lifting capacity will reduce by 20% of its rated capacity.
Basket Hitch:
In basket hitch, SWL of Sling = Sling capacity X 140%, i.e. sling lifting capacity increases by 40% of its rated capacity.
Relation between sling angle & its angle factor
As the sling angle decreases to the horizontal then the angle factor increases.That is for lower sling angles to the horizontal the capacity of the slings reduces.
it is maximum at 90 degree angle & minimum at 30 degree angle.Hence it is recommended that slings are not loaded at ange below < 30 degree

11. What are the different slings used in power plant rigging?
Types of Slings:
  • Eye/Eye type
  • Eye thimble
  • Thimble/Thimble
12. What are the pre-use checks to be done on Nylon and wire ropes?
  • Check its manufacturer name plate details and ensure lifting load capacity.
  • Check for strand damages; discard if more than 10% of strands are damaged.
  • Check for strand frying.
  • Check for rope knotting.
  • Check for overloaded rope (Rope which was overloaded in previous lifts should not be used for lifting at its rated SWL).
  • Check for reduction in rope diameter, wear out should be less than 10%.
  • Should not have exposed temperature more than 65 and 95 °C for synthetic and wire ropes respectively for long time.
  • Check for corrosion/rusting of wire rope.
  • Check for any scoring or abrasion marks on wire rope.
  • Check for wire end attachments damages.
13. How do you calculate the SWL of Chain block?
SWL = 80 X 0.4 X D2
Where D is diameter of load chain link.
14. What are the safe checks carried out on chain block?
Following are the inspection checks carried out on chain blocks:
  • Check tightness of block’s nut bolts.
  • Check gearing system is well operating and its lubrication.
  • Check hook of block as per hook check list.
  • Check load chain links for elongation and wear out.
  • Link 10% size less than its original diameter is discarded.
  • Check for unauthorized welding and cutting marks on chain hoist.
  • Check whether chain is in contact with acid or alkali for long time.
15. What are the safe checks carried out on hooks used for lifting?
Inspection checks of hooks:
  • Check for manufacturer identification numbers.
  • Check for cracks, nicks etc.
  • Check for unauthorized welding and grinding.
  • Check for increase in throat area (not to exceed more than 5%).
  • Check for wear out (not to exceed more than 10%).
  • Check twist from plane of un bent hook.
16. What are the different types of eye bolts used in lifting?
Straight and shoulder type eye bolts are generally used for lifting applications.
17. What is the function of turn buckle?
Turn buckles are used for leveling and distributing the loads.
18. List down the safe checks carried out before moving/shifting heavy jobs.
Following are the check points for moving/shifting heavy jobs by cranes, forklifts or Hydras:
Trained operator
  • Weight to be lifted
  • CG of load
  • Lift points
  • Crane capacity
  • Crane length, speed and boom maximum height
  • Environmental parameter’s like wind velocity, visibility and temperature
  • Travel route clearance
  • Travel floor capacity
19. What is the allowable wind speed during rigging?
It should be less than 9 meter per second
20. What do you mean by tandem lifting?
Rigging plan where two cranes are used for lifting a single object
21. What are the different types of cranes used in rigging?
  • Mobile crane
  • Tower crane
  • Gantry crane
22. What is the allowable speed of wind while working at height?
It is around 10.3 meter per second
23. What are the different synthetic web slings?
Synthetic web slings are made of Nylons & Polyesters
24. How do you decide the capacity of the web sling?
It can be decided by its width
25. What are the advantages of Synthetic web slings over other slings?
  • Flexible & can adjust as per required shape.
  • Minimize twisting and spinning.
  • Do not rust and are non-sparking.
  • Are elastic and stretch. Nylon has 6% & Polyester  has 3% stretching capacity

Read articles related to power plant maintenance

Also read Tools & Tackles used in power plant






Basic things you must know about nut bolts & spanners


A Bolt is a mechanical device which has head on one end of a body and a thread on the other end designed for fastening of two parts.
Bolt is inserted into holes in assembly parts, it is mated with a tapped nut. Tension is normally induced in the bolt to compress the assembly by rotating the nut. This may also be done by rotation of the bolt head.
A Screw is a headed and threaded bolt used without a nut. It is inserted into an internally tapped hole and tension is induced by rotation of the screw head.
A Stud is a fastener with no head but it has threads at both ends of the shank. It, like a screw, has one end those screws into a tapped hole. A nut is used on the other end to create tension.

Major diameter – largest diameter of thread (D)

Minor diameter – smallest diameter of thread
Pitch – distance between adjacent threads.
     




Types of nut bolts & Washers


Sl No.
Fastener Type
A
BOLTS
1
Hex head bolt
a
Full threaded
b
Half threaded bolts
2
Machine screws
3
Carriage bolts
4
Shoulder bolts
5
Square head bolts
6
Allen bolts (Half threaded & full threaded)
7
Eye bolts
8
J bolts
9
U bolts
B
Screws
1
Deck screw
2
Hex lag screw
3
Self drilling screw
4
Wood screw
5
Sheet metal screw
C
Nuts
1
Hexagonal nut
2
Cap nut
3
Castle nut
4
Flange end nut
5
Hexagonal lock nut
6
Hexagonal machine nuts
7
Keps-K lock nuts
8
Knurled thumb nuts
9
Nylon hex. Nuts
10
Slotted Hexagonal nuts
11
Square headed nuts
12
Tee nuts
13
Wing nuts
D
Washers
1
Flat washer (Normal)
2
Flat washer (Extra thick)
3
Lock washer
4
Lock washer external tooth
5
Lock washer internal tooth
6
Square washer
7
Structural washer

















































Types of Threads:
1. British Standard Whit Worth (B.S.W.) Threads: It is a symmetrical V thread in which the angle between the flanks is 55°.
2. British Association (B.A.) Thread: It is the B.S.W. thread with fine pitches having thread angle 47.5°.
3. American Standard Threads: Included angle is 60°.
4. Unified Standard Thread: This thread has rounded roots and crests with included angle 60°.
5. Square Thread: Used in power transmission, spindles of valves etc.
6. Acme Thread: It is a modified square thread. It is much stronger than square thread.
7. Buttress Thread: Used for transmission of power in one direction only.
8. Metric Thread: It is an Indian standard thread similar to B.S.W, but has included angle 60°.
Generally in all industries Metric & BSW threads are used
Designation of Metric size bolts:
Metric size bolts are designated based on Major diameter & Minor diameter, pitch & thread length (Bolt length)
For Example:
M12-1.25 x 50
M = Metric thread designation
12 = Major diameter, in millimeters
1.25 = Pitch (distance from thread to thread), in millimeters
50 = Length, in millimeters 
OR sometimes directly written as M12 X 50 mm
Designation of Inches size bolts:
Example: ¼” X 1”
Here ¼” is the major diameter of the bolt & 1” is the length of the bolt
Note: While measuring the bolt length, head thickness is not considered

Do you know these about valves...???

How do you identify the Metric & Inches size bolts visually??
Sl No.
Metric thread
Inches thread
1
Threads included angle is 600
Threads included angle is 550
2
Thread crests are sharped edge
Threads crests are curved (small radius is given)
3
Metric threads are of fine having lesser pitch & measured in mm
Inches threads are of coarse & measured in TPI
4
Head size is smaller as compared to inches bolts
Head size is larger
5
Diameter of Metric size bolts is smaller for the same size of bolts
Diameter of Inches size bolts is larger the same size of bolts

Calculation of spanner size for Metric size nut bolts
Sl.No.
Bolt size
Calculation
Spanner size (No.)
Standard spanner size (Flat both end open & Ring)
1
M3
3 + 1 +1 = 5 (Half of 3 =1.5 1st digit of this is to be added with 3
5
4 X 5
2
M4
4 X 1.5 + 1 =7 mm
7
6 X 7
3
M5
5 + 2 +1 =8 mm
8
8 X 9 
4
M6
6 X 1.5 + 1 = 10 mm
10
10 X 11
5
M7
7 + 3 + 1 = 10 mm
10
10 X 11 
6
M8
8 X 1.5 + 1 =13 mm
13
12 X 13
7
M10
10 X 1.5 + 2 = 17 mm
17
16 X 17
8
M12
12 X 1.5 + 1 =19 mm
19
18 X 19
9
M14
14 X 1.5 + 1 = 22 mm
22
20 X 21
10
M16
16 X 1.5 =24 mm
24
24 X 27
11
M18
18 X 1.5 = 27 mm
27
24 X 27
12
M20
20 X 1.5 = 30 mm
30
30 X 32

Calculation of spanner size for Inches size nut bolts
Sl.No.
Bolt size
Calculation
Spanner size (No.)
Standard spanner size (Flat both end open & Ring)
1
2 soot  or 1/4”
2 X 5 + 1 =11 mm
11
10 X 11
2
3 soot or 3/8”
3 X 5  = 15 mm
15
14 X 15
3
4 Soot or 1/2”
4 X 5 =20 mm
20
20 X 21
4
5 soot or 5/8”
5 X 5  + 1 =27 mm
27
24 X 27
5
6 soot or ¾”
6 X 5 = 30 mm
30
30 X 32
6
7 soot 7/8”
7 X 5 + 1 =36 mm
36
36 X 41
7
8 soot 1”
8 X 5 + 1 = 41 mm
41
36 X 41 or 41 X 46

Allen bolt key size (Metric)
Allen bolt size
Allen key size mm
M3
2.5
M4
3
M5
4
M6
5
M8
6
M10
8
M12
10
M14
12
M16
14
M18
14
M20
17
M22
17
M24
19

Bolts manufacturing process
Bolts manufacturing process involves following sub processes
A-Wire: A long coiled steel rods of required grades are first uncoiled & cut into required length
B-Cold forging:
C-Manufacturing of bolt head by pressing the steel into required die
D-Heat treatment
E-Threading: Generally formed by rolling & cutting
Other general methods employed for manufacturing of nut bolts are Machining & Forming
What heat treatment processes are carried out on nut bolts?
  • Annealing
  • Stress relieving
  • Case hardening
  • Quenching & Tempering

What properties of materials are considered while designing the nut bolts???
  • Tensile strength
  • Ultimate strength
  • Yield strength
  • Hardness
  • What are the different materials used for manufacturing of nut bolts?
Nut bolts are manufactured by different materials based on applications, some of them are
  • Carbon steel
  • Stainless steel
  • Alloy steel
  • Brass
  • Silicon Bronze
  • Gun metals
Practical QnA on power plant Maintenance
Do you know these?
  • Half threaded bolts threading length = 2D + 6 mm for bolts length < 150 mm
  • Half threaded bolts threading length = 2D + 12 mm for bolts length >150 mm
  • Nut thickness t = 0.9 X D
  • Bolt head thickness = 0.8 X D
  • Plain washer internal diameter = D+1
  • Plain washer outer diameter = 2D+3
  • Plain washer thickness t =D/8
  • Where D is the major diameter of bolt
  • Spanners are made by Chromium & Vanadium alloy steel by the process forging
  • The angle of chamfer for nuts & bolts head is 300
  • Aluminium & stainless steels should not be mixed while fastening. This leads to galvanic corrosion by transfer of electrons.
  • Lubricant/or grease should be lapped on SS bolts before inserting into threaded holes to avoid initial friction & damages of the threads, as SS bolts are coated with thin invisible coating to prevent oxidation
  • Salt water has tendency to cause fast oxidation/rusting even on SS nut bolts
  • Do not mate galvanized fasteners with other (carbon steel, SS etc) to avoid thread damage as galvanized iron fasteners have thick anti-rust coatings.

Nut bolts grades:

A-Imperial standard grades:2,5,8 etc
  • Grade 2 bolts is of low carbon steel having no any marks on its head
  • Grade 5 bolts have 3 marks on its head
  • Grade 8 bolts have 6 marks on its head








B-Metric standards grades:
Generally used carbon steel nut bolts of grades 4.6, 4.8, 5.8, 8.8, 10.9 etc
Here 1st digit of grade indicates the tensile strength of the bolt & second digit indicates the ratio of Yield strength to ultimate strength.
For example: A bolt of grade 10.9 implies that,
Tensile strength = 10 X 100 = 1000 N/mm2
Efficiency or with standing load = 0.9 X 100 =90%
This means that, a bolt of metric grade 10.9 with stands a load 101 kg/mm2 of (1000/9.81) & fails at 90% load (90 kg)




Stainless steel bolts grades
Generally used nut bolts are of SS304 & SS316 materials
Grades are ,A1-50,A2-70 & A4-80
  • A2-50 : Soft graded used for lower loads
  • A2-70 : Austenitic steel, cold worked & tensile strength 70 X 10 = 700 Mpa
  • A4-80 :  Austenitic steel, cold worked & tensile strength 80 X 10 = 800 Mpa
  • C4-70: Martens tic 12% Cr steel, hardened & tempered & having tensile strength 70 X 10 = 700 Mpa


Other high temperature nut bolts grades grades:
  • SA 193 grade B-7: For alloy steel bolts Quenched & Tempered
  • SA 193 grade B-16: For alloy steel bolts Chromium & Vanadium
  • SA 193 grade B-8 & B8M: For SS 304 carbide solution treated
  • SA194 2H: For alloy steel nuts
  • SA 193 & A 193 grade materials properties are same, however SA refers to the ASME grade & A refers to the ASTM grade materials
  • ASTM-A 325 or A-325 -Medium carbon steel
  • ASTM-A 354 Grade BB, BC & BD-Alloy steel quenched & tempered
  • ASTM-A490-Alloy steel quenched & tempered




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