The five P’s

When it comes to thermal fluid systems, planning routine maintenance shutdowns is no simple operation.

It involves a staged process before, during and after the operation to reduce the amount of idle time incurred in the plant.

So when planning maintenance of these systems, it pays to remember that ‘prior preparation prevents poor performance’.

Some jobs need to be organised well in advance to get the right equipment in place, as well as replacement components. This allows each task to be run more efficiently and avoids having to shut the plant down more than once.

Three months prior to shutdown, plant engineers should check pressure relief valve tags and certificates for when they are due for testing.

If the test is due within a twelve-month period of the next planned shutdown, arrangements should be made for testing or replacing.

Two months prior to shutdown, the thermal fluid should to be tested to allow sufficient time for reports to be returned and quotes for any thermal fluid work to be carried out.

Heater, burner and flue servicing should be arranged, either through the thermal fluid manufacturer or a servicing contractor.

A full check of the thermal fluid system should be carried out. Engineers should look for slow leaks where there are joints in the pipework and consider fitting spray guards to prevent splashes from high-pressure leaks.

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