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For a number of reasons in the early 1980’s there was
no doubt that the frequency of manned entry to reactors for
catalyst extraction purposes was increasing. It was in fact
this trend that became one of the major contributory factors
in relation to Dialog Technivac’s decision and determination
to R&D safer alternatives to manned entry.
The above photograph shows a Dialog Technivac ‘Portflo’
bottom manway self feeding unloading hopper. These hoppers allow
the bottom manway to be removed without any form of spillage
and are a highly successful alternative to manned entry particularly
where pyrophoric materials are concerned.
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The very high potential hazards of personnel entry
to reactors under nitrogen blanket conditions are well known. However
even under normal gas free oxygen levels there is only one excusable
reason for confined space entry and that is when beds are heavily
fused. When beds are heavily fused Dialog Technivac has the same ‘fail
safe life support’ capability as its competitors allowing us
to enter reactors in the safest possible manner and in the 1980’s
we were the first catalyst handling company in the UK to utilise air
powered man winches as an alternative to rope ladders. We
also introduced a practice rescue rule as a prerequisite of manned
entry to vessels. But for all that Dialog Technivac for years
has been demonstrating that apart from free flowing beds even heavily
crusted beds can often be completely unloaded from the outside and
for this reason we believe confined space entry for bed unloading
purposes should be the exception rather than the rule.
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Dialog Technivac
has been experimenting with and refining self feeding devices
for the last 17 years. The photograph on the left shows an earthed
self feeding vacuum nozzle with a nitrogen purge line lowered
into the bed through the top manway. All the operator on the
top platform has to do is to lower the nozzle into the bed as
unloading progresses. |
Today Dialog Technivac’s unique ‘Portflo’ hopper and the self feeding
devices have become so successful that we now frequently completely
unload beds without any entry whatsoever. |
| Apart from the significant safety benefits of eliminating
often unnecessary entry to reactors, Dialog Technivac’s self feeding
vacuum systems are non labour intensive and this can be a major advantage
in terms of bed unloading speed. |
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