Case StudyJuly 13th, 2023
Wear Piping Thicker CCO in Pipe
Extending maintenance and optimising operations with Bradken's Chromium Carbide Overlay (CCO) wear pipe applications
Location
Albian Sands - Canadian Natural
Conditions
Slurry transport, 28” diameter piping high wear with rock size up to 3” in a high pressure piping system.
Solution
12mm CCO overlay on piping
Situation
A customer sought to increase slurry pipeline lifespan and improve the total cost of ownership (TCO). While alternative materials existed, they preferred
Chromium Carbide Overlay (CCO) in specific areas to meet wear life requirements and budget, however, further enhancements were needed for the application. By extending the wear life by 30-40% this would result in longer maintenance intervals from the original timing of three months to six months. Other materials offered more longevity, however at a much higher cost.
Solution
Bradken developed an overlay that could be applied 50% thicker than the traditional
CCO for piping to meet application requirements. The customer conducted trials to evaluate the performance of the thicker overlay and its ability to provide the anticipated 50% additional wear life. The trial was successful, and the customer began implementing the thicker overlay in high-wear locations across its operations.
Results
The overlay performed as expected, with no degradation in erosion resistance or impact resistance. The customer achieved the extended maintenance intervals they were aiming for, improving the TCO of the
CCO slurry lines. By implementing the thicker
CCO in high-wear locations they were able to increase throughput, reduce maintenance and optimize their operations.