At Quill Falcon, we pride ourselves on our close collaboration with clients and contractors. With our strong engineering background, we are constantly innovating and evolving the technology and methodology behind our sand blasting equipment.
Our dustless blasting equipment is designed to meet the diverse needs of any project across various sectors. Looking ahead, we have been exploring the potential use of our sand blasting equipment in environments where hydrogen is present.
Working in hazardous environments
Hydrogen is known for its highly flammable and explosive nature, forming explosive mixtures with air and having a very low ignition energy. This poses significant challenges for businesses in the petroleum refining, chemical, industrial, transportation, and energy storage sectors. Facilities such as oil and gas refineries and offshore rigs must manage the complexities of their locations while ensuring the safety of operatives working in confined and hazardous spaces.
When it comes to removing corrosion, toxic substances, or abrasive materials from surfaces as part of regular maintenance or surface preparation for recoating, sand blasting is often the preferred method. However, standard sand blasters generate dust, debris, fumes, and potentially harmful sparks, which can be dangerous in environments where hydrogen is present.
Meeting the needs of the project
Recently, a contractor approached us for assistance in removing corrosion in a hydrogen-rich area. Our engineers at Quill Falcon rose to the challenge, adapting the Quill Falcon Cyclone 200 to meet the specific demands of this volatile environment. A key consideration was ensuring that the work could be carried out without disrupting the daily operations of other workers or necessitating a plant shutdown, which would negatively impact the business.
In making these adaptations, we ensured that the newly developed Quill Falcon Hydrogen Cyclone 200 underwent rigorous safety testing. The equipment achieved ATEX Gas Group IIC approval, confirming its safe use in live hydrogen plants. Unlike standard sand blasting, our equipment does not produce sparks, thereby eliminating the need for hydrogen plant shutdowns and its dustless nature allows other trades to continue working safely on site.
We love a challenge!
As an engineering company, we are committed to staying ahead of the curve and finding the best solutions to the challenges presented to us.
If you have a project that requires innovative thinking or involves difficult environments, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch.
