Siemens gearing improves reliability for oil refinery

Gear units from Siemens Industry Automation & Drive Technologies (IA&DT) have helped a major UK oil refinery reduce failures and downtime on its high-speed gear units, maintaining high production levels.

The refinery produces significant quantities of petrol and other useable by-products every day, and the crude oil coming in requires sophisticated handling systems, performance and reliability to ensure production levels are constantly maintained.

There are 26 Flender gear units serving several processes within the refinery, which have been in service for over 30 years. Previously, reverse engineered gearing was supplied by a third party, allowing the refinery to refurbish its gear units in-house, but downtime was proving an increasing problem, and efficiency needed to be improved.

The company therefore reverted to having new, original Flender gearing and associated parts supplied by Siemens Automation & Drive Technologies, in five different sizes, to solve the long-term issue. The first units were provided over four years ago, and so far no failures have been recorded. Due to this excellent track record Siemens is now also providing a full maintenance and support service, incorporating training, service and assistance with ongoing pump upgrades, partnership flexibility, and stock supply.

Due to the improvement in gear quality a reduction in noise output has been achieved, which is another added benefit for the refinery, coming in addition to the reduced downtime, improved efficiencies and increased throughput.

Fred Garbett of Siemens has been involved with the supply of the new units over an extended period, and commented: “We have been able to provide original parts with a proven track record in a total quality environment, and the lack of failures has since enabled the client to recoup the unit costs of these upgrades in a much shorter time.”

More information on Flender gear drives and geared motors from Siemens Industry is available on 01274 657700, or by emailing anna.grimshaw@siemens.com

ENDS

PHOTO-CAPTION: One of the oil refinery high-speed gear units

For further media information please contact Bridget Summers, Footprint, PO Box 4, Thorpe Park, Leeds LS15 8WX. Tel: 0113 251 5697. Fax: 0113 251 5351. E-mail: bridget@fim.org.uk