Planned plant shutdowns, also known as turnarounds, are one of the most crucial parts of managing a refinery. These planned pauses allow refinery staff to focus on much-needed maintenances and optimizations that cannot be performed while a refinery is operational. As refinery machinery wears down over time, dangerous errors can begin to occur. Turnarounds can prevent these issues. The numerous benefits and opportunities ultimately serve to improve the output, longevity, uptime, quality, and efficiency of the refinery. When managed correctly, turnarounds can also dramatically improve a refinery's financial performance. However, turnarounds can be quite expensive, consuming up to 50% of a refinery's annual maintenance budget.

Due to these factors, professional management of the turnaround process is increasingly important. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to successfully manage the turnaround process. Refinery turnaround management services have emerged as an excellent way to manage turnaround frequency, strategy, and quality. Here are two ways that turnaround management services can keep your machinery safe.

Machinery and Surface Cleaning

Oil mechanisms, lubrication systems, and machinery do not tolerate dirt, dust, and grime. If these materials find their way into machinery and handling surfaces, they can result in reduced machinery longevity and performance. Lubrication systems often result in significant leakage over time. Unfortunately, while refinery machinery is operational, it cannot be cleaned. Attempting to do so would be extremely dangerous. By periodically shutting down machinery, turnaround management professionals are provided with the opportunity to clean machinery and equipment, allowing machinery to operate at peak efficiency.

Machinery Repair and Replacement

Inspections cannot be performed while the refinery machinery is operational. Turnarounds present refineries with the rare opportunity to plan machinery and equipment inspections. Inspections can uncover issues with failing tanks, drains, filters, and lubrication systems. If left unchecked, these problems would cause a longer and more serious unplanned shutdown. These unplanned shutdowns are far more costly than turnarounds and can provide none of the maintenance and financial benefits. The repair process is also an excellent time to upgrade key aspects of the refinery machinery. Upgrading the lubrication system is a common and effective choice. A better lubrication system helps reduce maintenance time and energy usage, while also improving machine efficiency.

Conclusion

Refinery turnarounds, while costly in the short term, are a profitable long-term investment. These periodic shutdowns allow a refinery to clean, repair, and upgrade machinery, preventing costly operational mistakes. However, when planning turnarounds, there are many factors to consider. If you need help optimizing your refinery turnarounds, contact a refinery turnaround management service today.