Working with the Operator, Jord conducted a root cause analysis of thermal and mechanical design, process fluid testing, material selection and corrosion analysis.

Jord recommended the tube and plate material be upgraded from 316L to duplex stainless steel, using a two-step process to minimise plant downtime.

Firstly, the existing 316L headers were repaired with carbon steel ones so they could be returned to service for the short term. Typically, an air cooler repair of this nature would take 18 weeks. Jord managed to have production restarted within 6 weeks – unprecedented timing for this Operator.

The second step was to replace the units with a permanent duplex solution. This was achieved within just 9 months, made possible by Jord constructing the replacement bundles in its local alliance partner’s workshop.

This was the first time that a locally fabricated air cooler had been installed at this End User’s facility, an additional benefit to this government owned entity. The new cooler was commissioned in 2013 and has been operating efficiently, safely and reliably since.