Local fabrication company ERD Fab, a division of Gauteng-based structural steel product manufacturer Structa Group, completed a heat-exchanger retubing project in July for energy and petrochemicals group Sasol subsidiary Sasol Polymers at its vinyl chloride monomer plant in Sasolburg, in the Free State.

ERD Fab GM Rudi Venter tells Engineering News that the heat exchangers are suitable for use in various industries, including the oil and gas sectors.

“The heat exchanger’s function is to allow for heat energy in one process fluid to pass to another process fluid in a controlled manner. Usually, an outer shell with a tubular inner section allows for steam, or hot oil, to pass through the pipe bundle inner, which heats the fluid of the tubes,” he explains.

Venter says an alternative to this type of heat exchanger is to use a plate heat exchanger, which has a special slim plate with water, or steam ways on the one side and process ways on the other, instead of using tubes.

“Thus, heat transfers across the plates and an exchange of energy takes place.”

ERD Fab also manufactured, installed and commissioned two sodium cyanide storage tanks at Sasol’s Sasolburg plant in June 2013.

Further, Venter highlights that ERD Fab manufactures all its products at the company’s plant in Naledi industrial park, in Sasolburg.

“All our work for Sasol is undertaken according to prescribed Sasol specifications, including special piping (SP)-50-03 revision (Rev) 2 for mechanical piping design and fabrication; SP-90-02 Rev 4 for the welding of metallic processes and power pipings; SP-40-05 Rev 6 for mandatory requirements on steam generators and pressure vessels; and SP-42-02 Rev 5 for category one, two or three type pressure vessels,” he states.

Venter notes that the standards are derived from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Petroleum Institute’s specifications.

Venter notes that the steel fabrication industry is highly competitive and ERD Fab, as local fabricators, also has to compete against the flood of predominantly Chinese and Indian imported (fabricated) products.