Energy security is of utmost importance as the world strives to ensure reliable and affordable energy during the global energy transition. The focus remains on securing oil and gas supplies, which make up 55% of global energy. To meet this demand, the energy industry is increasingly turning to floating production systems to exploit new and existing offshore reserves.
With its extensive experience and portfolio of oil and gas pumping solutions, Trillium Flow Technologies can meet the needs of FPSO and FLNG unit operators for innovative, reliable, efficient, and safe equipment and systems.
Pump design and material
For instance, Trillium provides flexible API 610 BB5-type pump solutions for offshore applications through its Gabbioneta Pumps and Termomeccanica Pompe brands, offering both in-line and back-to-back impeller configurations, as well as bolted or shear ring barrel casing designs.
Having a wide range of BB5 designs guarantees the provision of the optimal solution for any application. The shear-ring style end cover, for example, reduces maintenance downtime and avoids the need for high-torque equipment on assembly.
Trillium also pays special attention to materials for its offshore pump solutions, including, among other things, the qualification of Super Duplex to NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 and NORSOK M-650 standards requirements.
Skid solutions
The floating offshore environment requires specific pumping skid features to ensure reliability under extremely severe conditions: skids must cope with ship movement and, subsequently, deck movements and deformations that may cause a high level of stress in the structure and undesired high vibration levels.
Trillium provides skid solutions with both anti-vibration mountings (AVMs) and three-point gimbal mountings that consent to decouple the skid from deck movements and maintain alignment between the pump and driver, thus avoiding the induction of deflections on the skid. The company uses FEA (finite elements analysis) models of the complete skid to design its mounting solutions, considering static loads and dynamic behaviors. Dynamic loads at the AVM/gimbal connections and the skid’s 3D geometry are provided so that customers can verify their entire module design.
Trillium’s extensive in-house testing capabilities allow for full-performance testing of even the most complex skid assemblies before delivery. In addition to all the typical pump vibration measurements, vibrations are also measured at AVM/gimbal connection points when installed. Hammer testing is available upon request to determine the skid’s natural frequency.
Condition monitoring
To prevent serious malfunctions and failures, Trillium supplies its skids with machine condition monitoring systems, including the hardware and software cabinet. Such systems allow the monitoring of failure modes of critical components of the pump and motor train through multiple signal inputs. For the energy market, the company offers a complete vibration monitoring system with a dedicated human-machine interface per API 670 standards.
Services
Trillium’s comprehensive portfolio of services includes cost-effective solutions for well-controlled onshore and offshore erection and commissioning activities. For example, the company recently provided complex assembly and installation services for 20-meter-long API 610 VS1 pumps supplied for crude oil lifting service on an FPSO.
The group can also re-rate existing installations to suit changes in operating conditions, giving the assets new life.
Conclusion
Trillium designs advanced pumping solutions that can operate reliably under harsh offshore conditions, including floating production systems.
The company’s extensive experience in pumps, skids, and more comprehensive packages that can be easily and efficiently assembled and commissioned by expert technicians allows it to support customers to meet their fast-track project deadlines.
About the authors
This article was written by Trillium Flow Technologies' product director Sam Eccles and product manager Francesca Rizzi.
This article first appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of World Pumps magazine. To read the full issue, click here.
