Fläkt Woods has won a $2.8-million contract to supply ATEX-certified air handling units (AHUs) to Total’s Akpo field FPSO off Nigeria. The 26 units, to be built at the company’s Jönköping plant in Sweden, will be delivered to Hyundai Heavy Industries, the constructor of the FPSO.
As far as the company is aware, these are the first ATEX-certified AHUs delivered anywhere to the oil and gas industry.
The units, comprising primarily air filters, a heating/cooling coil and motor-driven fan, are from Fläkt Woods’ EUMM range, which is specially designed for offshore environments. It is a modular system, featuring 50mm (1.97-in.) thick double skins, flush-fitting stainless panels, corrosion-resistant components, and non hygroscopic, rigid sheet mineral wool insulation, optimized for thermal and acoustic requirements. An in-house developed program is used to ensure that the equipment is optimally dimensioned for the application.
Total itself requested ATEX-certified AHUs, as they are not a regulatory requirement, says Mikael Karlson, marine/oil and gas applications manager for the Fläkt Woods group. The ATEX (Atmospheric Explosion) requirements, which are mandatory within the EU for equipment to be used in potentially explosive environments, are more demanding than the equivalent US standards followed by much of the offshore industry, suggesting that the customer’s intention is to achieve the highest safety level.
Before the order was placed by Hyundai’s HVAC contractor Hi Air, Fläkt Woods had extensive direct contact with Total, discussing the specifications for the units. It then went through a lengthy and costly process to gain the ATEX certification, Karlson says. This included a risk assessment to identify all possible ignition sources and find solutions to mitigate the risks.
The EUMM design was modified in a number of ways, including changes to the motor that drives the fan, and measures to minimize the risk of sparking. Most items within the units are fitted with their own earthing wire to safely lead away any static overload. Product guides and operations manuals were also adapted and revised.
Fläkt Woods’ investment was greater than the value of the Total contract, but the company sees encouraging signs that other offshore operators are also interested in taking the same route. The additional cost is small compared to the overall value of the production facility where safety is ultimately at stake. The company already has one new order from another oil company.
For more information, contact Mikael Karlson, Fläkt Woods Group. Tel +46 3619 3458, fax +46 36 19 31 41, [email protected], www.flaktwoods.com
