Sarens Uses Wireless Load Cell at Petrochem Plant
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October 21, 2015 - Sarens USA recently used four wireless compression load cells from Straightpoint to weigh a large distillation column at a petrochemical plant on the Gulf Coast.
Four identical load cells of 330,000-lb. capacity were used to measure the weight of the 287-ft. vessel that weighed in at 1,410,000 lbs. (705 tons). The distillation column will be used on the plant to separate mixtures into component parts.
Each end of the distillation column was weighed by lifting it with a self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) with the load cells positioned between the SPMT deck and the vessel support beams. The readings from each end were combined to determine the total weight.
“The distance from support beam to support beam, along with the weights of each end were utilized to determine the location of the center of gravity," said Jay Holt, project manager for Sarens. "This data was used to verify the loading to each of the two cranes that were used to upend the vessel from horizontal to vertical.”
John Molidor, Straightpoint's general manager, said this is a common method of measuring loads of this type. "It is growing in popularity," he said. "We have participated in more such lifts already this year than last and I expect that trend to continue. The cable free wireless system is user friendly and virtually maintenance free.”
The load cells removed reliability issues associated with troublesome and hard to maintain cables, thus presenting Sarens with the opportunity to complete the work in a fraction of the time that would have been possible using alternative weighing methods.
Molidor added: “Sarens had already formulated a gameplan for the project when they contacted me. We just needed to finalize the number and capacity of our wireless compression load cells needed to complete the project. Our participation in Sarens lifting projects increases yearly. We have provided both Radiolink Plus and wireless compression load cells and look forward to providing many more force measurement solutions for their applications in future.”
