TPi March 2019

Products & developments

“Off the shelf” anti-vibration pipework bracing system

at these problem areas. For Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) sites handling dangerous liquids and gases, loss of containment can present a real risk of a major incident involving fire, explosion or pollution.” As well as being guaranteed to fit any SBC geometry, the Easy-Brace design complies with the best practice recom- mendations from the Energy Institute. Mr Parkinson added, “Typical bracing system retrofits involve bespoke fabricated solutions which require a significant input of time and expertise. What sets Easy-Brace apart is that it has full angular and linear adjustment, so is simply clamped onto any standard SBC configuration without the need for welding, and eliminates the risk of static offset stresses caused when fixed braces are misaligned.” With more than 40 years’ experience helping companies improve reliability, that joins the two cities, and will make it possible to take fresh water into the homes of over 1.2mn people, as well as to the hospitals and all the public and private buildings in the area. The Nidec solutions, activated by inverters that make it possible to adjust the power, also save energy, cutting electricity used to a minimum and reducing environmental impact. Once built, the plant will be managed by Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), a public agency operating in the water desalination and electrical power plant sector in Saudi Arabia. “We are particularly proud of this project: our motors and inverters will help to provide a precious resource such as water to over one million people in Arafat and Taif, Rabigh, Jeddah and Makka, who currently have trouble obtaining it,” explained Dominique Llonch, CEO of Nidec ASI and president of Nidec Industrial Solutions.

Plant reliability specialist AVT Reliability has launched Easy-Brace ® , a universal small bore connection (SBC) anti- vibration bracing system that increases plant safety and reduces the risk of downtime. Unlike traditional SBC bracing systems, which are bespoke to each application, its modular design means it can be specified using just two or three basic dimensions. It is supplied in kit form, making it easy to install by non-specialist fitters. It also requires no routine maintenance and can be easily removed for valve maintenance, contributing to operational efficiency. Neil Parkinson, technical director at AVT Reliability, said, “Vibration is by far the key cause of fatigue failures in process pipework, particularly in the welded con- nections between SBCs and main lines. We genuinely believe that Easy-Brace will make a significant improvement to plant safety, reducing the risk of failures Nidec ASI – part of the Nidec Industrial Solutions platform of Nidec Group – has supplied the motors and the technologies for creating a system of pipes to transport water in Saudi Arabia, between Arafat and Taif and between Rabigh, Jeddah and Makka, in the desert of the Arabian Peninsula. The project will guarantee a greater amount of water for the local populations in this area, helping to improve their quality of life, with a positive impact on their safety and the local economy. The project, carried out by Mapa Construction – one of the two main contractors of MNG Group – with the cooperation of Nidec at each stage, involves transporting the water to a reverse osmosis desalination plant in the city of Jeddah, on the Red Sea, for the production of drinking water that will be channelled through a network of piping. The motors and inverters of Nidec Asi and Leroy Somer (one of the group companies) will be placed in the 46km-long stretch

Easy-Brace anti-vibration bracing system

AVT offers a full range of products and services for asset management professionals, including vibration and oil analysis, thermography and ultrasound, as well as training. These services are used as part of its asset integrity, performance monitor- ing and maintenance management pro- grammes or for one-off consultation.

AVT Reliability Ltd – UK enquiries@avtreliability.com www.avtreliability.com $15mn Saudi water transportation contract

“The system of pipes will also have an important knock-on effect on the economic and cultural development of the area. Operating in a country in rapid economic expansion such as Saudi Arabia, alongside an important partner like Mapa Construction, is further proof of the success of our approach, based on offering specifically custom-designed, high-technology solutions.” Nidec ASI’s know-how is based on over 150 years of technological innovation, with an engineered-to-order approach able to satisfy the needs of clients in various countries worldwide, with a wide variety of technical specifications that enable solutions to withstand not only scorching temperatures and very dusty environments, but also temperatures that can reach as low as -60°C, which require special materials. Nidec Industrial Solutions – Italy Nidec ASI LLC – United Arab Emirates www.nidec-industrial.com

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March 2019 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL