Winter is around the corner, and the lower temperatures can cause problems for the unprepared. Failure to winterize your operations can lead to major accidents from burst pipes, leaking tanks, and massive damage when the temperature drops. Ice formation can break open flanges and have pipes crack or leaking, increasing the risk of fire or environmental contamination. Freezing temperatures can also damage level and pressure measurement instruments. At Automation Products Group, Inc. (APG), we’ve compiled top tips and techniques to help winterize your operations and keep everything running smoothly this season.
Place a protective box around your ultrasonic and radar sensors that are outdoors. This will protect the sensor’s housing from ice forming around the sensor and shield it from heavy snow build up, which can affect the sensor’s measurement.
Ensure your tanks are insulated and protected from freezing. Submersible pressure transducers, like our PT-500, will fail to operate in a tank with frozen liquids. Water expands as it freezes, causing excess pressure on the senor’s diaphragm and distorting the diaphragm permanently. By keeping your tanks insulated and protected from freezing, the sensor can continue monitoring the liquid level inside without any risk.
Identify and address areas prone to freezing. Pipes are a common culprit. Ensure pipes and other areas have sufficient insulation and heating to withstand freezing temperatures. Sufficient pipe insulation and heating will prevent water from freezing, reducing the risk of broken, cracked, or burst pipes.
Systemically review all pipes, especially infrequently used pipes, to identify and alleviate freezing hazards. Blocked pipes can also cause problems, so regular inspection can help identify and correct any blockage in a system. Examine piping systems that have dead-legs (sections with no flow) and ensure they’re properly removed, isolated, or winterized as needed.
Implement a winterization checklist to follow through every year. This will ensure that the plant is regularly prepared for the cold weather. Establishing a formal, written freeze protection program and implementing it annually will reduce the risk of long-term poor management practices.
Even if you’re not in an area where the cold, freezing temperatures hit, it’s still a great idea to have several strategies in place for the worse-case scenario and regular inspections. Have any further questions on how to winterize your operations? Give our Sales Team a call!
