Universal Industrial Gases, Inc....Engineering and Site Services

Engineering and Site Support Services
Plant Supply, Installation, Startup, Operations & Maintenance

UIG plant supply activities include a wide range of engineering and design services. The mix of services which is provided with a given project will depend upon many variables; primarily the type of plant, the characteristics of the plant site, and the desires of the customer regarding the supply of equipment, and the management of construction and infrastructure installation activities which could be the responsibility of either party.

UIG skill areas and services include project development; process design; project management; cold box design; plant layout; mechanical and civil design; electrical, controls and instrumentation design; procurement; construction; transportation; plant relocation and refurbishment management; commissioning; pre-startup training of operations personnel, and start-up assistance.

In general, UIG plant supply services personnel can provide or manage essentially all activities required to bring a plant from the definition-of-needs concept stage through startup and verification of satisfactory plant operation. Because UIG is not only a supplier of air separation and other industrial gas plants, but is an operator of its own plants, it brings an owner mentality to the design and installation of UIG plants.

Following startup, UIG can provide additional customer plant support services. Depending upon customer needs, these can include operations monitoring, auditing of operating procedures and performance, ongoing operations training, assistance with operations problem-solving; and assistance with planning and performing minor and major maintenance activities. UIG maintenance support activities can include assistance with procuring spare parts, replacement parts, and specialty services.

Project Development

During project evaluation and proposal development, UIG reviews customer needs, desires and priorities, examines expected variations in ambient conditions, operating conditions and delivery rates and makes initial determinations regarding the best fit in terms of process and physical equipment. Additional information about the proposed plant site is often gathered to ensure it is suitable and to determine the best arrangement of equipment on the site. Factors included in these more detailed analyses include the size of the site, distance and direction to the product use point, locations for tie-ins to utility systems, access, drainage, etc. The project development team may include process and project managers, potential equipment suppliers and specialized design engineering and field services subcontractors, with the mix of personnel dependent upon the type of project, its anticipated complexity and timing.

UIG may propose an all-new plant or one that includes both new and used equipment. Alternatives are compared on the basis of first cost, operating costs, schedule requirements, operational features and customer evaluation criteria.

UIG develops an optimal design around customer requirements, including consideration of off-design operations. Work products include process flow diagrams and heat and material balance analyses, process and instrumentation diagrams and equipment specifications. Assumptions and decisions are continually reviewed as more information is developed. The final process design is then turned over to detailed design groups to develop final mechanical designs, procurement and fabrication specifications.

Experienced UIG supervisors are available to manage all required field activities from site preparation, through equipment erection, mechanical completion, commissioning, checkout, operator training, and startup. In the case of plant relocations, UIG also provides plant dismantlement, transportation and refurbishment support services.

Field work may be performed by UIG-supplied field forces or by qualified local contractors that have been selected by the plant purchaser.

During plant commissioning and startup, UIG supports customer operations and maintenance personnel with training and other assistance tailored to the specific needs at each customer site.

UCG on-site gas supply sites operate in a largely self-sufficient manner. Local operators make periodic adjustments to nitrogen and oxygen plant operating parameters to reflect changes in customer demand, check and calibrate instrumentation, perform minor maintenance, arrange for outside support for more complex maintenance tasks, and maintain inventories of supplies and materials. When needed, local UCG operations personnel can obtain advice and assistance from UIG home office personnel, and other UCG operations staff.

UIG provides an array of after-services to its plant supply customers, and to other operators of air separation plants. Available plant operations and maintenance support services include remote operations monitoring, operational audits, maintenance procedures audits, plant turnarounds, retraining, and other assistance to facilitate ongoing satisfactory plant operation and performance. These Customer Plant Support services are provided by members of the same experienced team which monitors UCG plant operations and which provides technical, operational, maintenance and procurement support to Universal Cryo Gas onsite gas plants.

Most UIG customer plant support is advisory and supplemental to the owner's operations team. However, if circumstances require, UIG can provide limited-duration or long-term operations services on a contract basis.