MechChem Africa February 2020

⎪ Maintenance and asset management ⎪

Quick repair of ArcelorMittal turbine

T he emergency repairswere required after the generator broke down in October 2018, with damage includ- ing failed bearings on the generator train. ACTOM Turbo Machines, a division of ACTOM(Pty) Ltd, undertook to complete the work and have the generator back in opera- tion by mid-December 2018. Demonstrating its high level of expertise as a mechanical repairer, ACTOM Turbo Machines first diagnosedall theelements that would require attention during the repair. All four bearings – as well as the rotor sealing elements –were found to be damaged. Other damage, whichwas unrelated to theOctober failure, was also discovered. “The damage involved a crack on the high- pressure (HP) gland sectionof themain steam casing, while a secondunforeseen irregularity was a malfunction in the starting or auxiliary oil pump,” said Danie Bloem, ACTOM Turbo Machines’ project manager on the contract. Other irregularitieswere an incorrect bolt clearance on one of the HP palms, probably due to faulty installation. “In addition to repairing the damaged bearings, we had to recondition a spare set A quick repair byACTOMTurboMachines put a 40 MW turbine generator for ArcelorMittal’s Vanderbijlpark works back into service on a fast track schedule.

ACTOM Turbo Machines technicians– from left: Louis Claasen, Jacques Zandberg and Dehan Meyer –pre- pare to work on the 19 t rotor of the 40 MW turbine generator, as a rigger guides it into position.

of bearings that ArcelorMittal had in reserve,” Bloem said. “The sealing segments were replaced with new ones manufactured at our Sasolburg works.” He noted that the process of repairing the crack in the main steam casing took the team five days, working around the clock. “A high level of welding expertise was re- quired here, as the casing was made of a Data Science: Future-proof your career, since Data Science is a regular topic within Pragma. “It goes hand in hand with ‘con- nected tech’ – another big drive within Pragma. I believe that data science will go from being a desired skill to a necessary skill in the near future, especially given the incredibly fast expansion and use of tech- nology in the physical asset management space,” he explains. “The era of connected devices and big data is upon us and if we aren’t ready, we’ll be left behind. The abil- ity to be accomplished in complex problem solving is the top skill needed in jobs in2020 and beyond. Future proofing your career is essential if we look at the pace atwhich new jobs are being created, and traditional ones coming to an end. Data science andmachine learning will help us become better at our jobs so we can be more efficient to keep up with market demands.” Nina Booysen, project engineer at Pragma, adds that the student training

special material,” he added. The repair of the startingoil pumpwas also performed, in just two days. This required the manufacture of a new shaft and the recondi- tioning of the mechanical seals. Once the generator resumed operation, vibration testing confirmed that its perfor- mance had improved significantly, Bloem pointed out. q programme typically runs from the start of the last week in June to the end of the second week in July. “The programme will run from 22 June until 10 July 2020. This year we celebrate a decade of Pragma’s Student Training Programme (STP), which also coincides with Pragma’s 30 th birthday.” Pieterse has been involved in the design and execution of the student training pro- gramme sincePragmapresented itsfirst one in 2011. As he retires from this position, he says there could not have been a better duo to take over the reins, than two STP alumni. “It’s been an amazing privilege and honour to have been part of the design and execution of this programme. Both Darius and Nina participated in the programme. I wish them all the very best. I know they will take the programme to even greater heights,” Pieterse concludes. q For more information visit: https://www.prag- maworld.net/culture-careers/student-training- programme/ .

Pragma invites engineering students to apply for its student training programme Leading enterprise asset management engineering company Pragma will host its award-winning Student Training Programme (STP) in June and July 2020 at its head office in Cape Town. Students are invited to apply for one of the ten sought after spots on this programme between 1 March and 31 March 2020.

“The three-week programme is specifi- cally aimed at B.Eng. or BSc Eng. students in their third or fourth years of studies. The programme content ensures that students are introduced to the concepts of enterprise asset management as well as Pragma’s service offering. Participants also have the opportunity to be part of various coach- ing and mentoring sessions with Pragma’s senior management team so as to provide themwith valuable life and career lessons,” says Stéphan Pieterse, chief people officer at Pragma. According to Darius Booyens, associate consultant at Pragma, the theme will be

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