Solution Provided | Operational Assessment of an Alumina Refinery Extraction Steam Network
Discipline | Process, Mechanical
An Alumina Refinery was forced to shut down following the failure of one of the main headers within the extraction steam distribution system. Carnac was engaged to hydraulically model the facility-wide steam distribution system under certain operational scenarios and assess the effect of shutting down “jumper” headers on the network’s performance. Critical events were deemed to be those where pressures fell below operational targets and where there were directional changes in the flow of steam. Carnac identified the optimal facility and line shutdown configurations to minimise critical events.
The hydraulic model was formed in isometric view in Piping Systems Fluid Flow (FF3), and had over 2500 nodes and captured over 9.3 km of steam header. The model assessed 12 steam consumers supplied by 6 turbines, 5 pressure reducing stations and included superheating.