Unique technique used for inspections at Synfuels Plant
A group of people who enjoy rappelling down mountainside cliffs turned their hobby into a business.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
- June 10, 2011
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| Two Remote Access Technologies team members rappel from the top of the anhydrous ammonia sphere. The team set probes to perform acoustic emissions testing to check for cracking on the sphere. |
A series of tests are being conducted in a unique fashion at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant on some of the tanks and towers. A group of people who enjoy rappelling down mountainside cliffs turned their hobby into a business.
Remote Access Technologies (RATT) of Las Vegas, NV, has been at the Synfuels Plant since April conducting inspections on the structural beams of the building in the ammonium sulfate area.
They also installed probes to assist Stress Engineering of Houston, TX, on performing an acoustic emission test on the ammonia sphere. Acoustic emission testing is an inspection method used to detect cracking.
"RATT's services were also used to perform risk-based inspections on the towers in the phenosolvan area and to inspect the damaged insulation on the 30,000-ton ammonia storage tank," said Mark Degenstein, inspection supervisor.
Degenstein said the group will be on plant site the remainder of the month to finish insulating the tower in the phenosolvan area and inspecting structural beams in the ammonium sulfate area.
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1717 East Interstate Avenue
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Basin Electric Power Cooperative will provide cost-effective wholesale energy along with products and services that support and unite rural America.
