Cargo heating coils are an important part of tanker operations, helping maintain the temperature of cargoes that can become too viscous to pump efficiently at lower temperatures.
These heating coils typically run along the bottom of cargo oil tanks and circulate steam or thermal oil to transfer heat to the surrounding cargo. Because they operate inside cargo tanks, the piping needs to withstand thermal cycling, vibration and the surrounding cargo environment while remaining reliable throughout the vessel’s service life.
For shipowners and operators, the challenge is not only installing reliable heating-coil piping — it is also being able to repair that piping without turning a local pipe failure into a major tank-cleaning and hot-work operation.
Heating coils inside cargo tanks are exposed to repeated heating and cooling cycles, steam flow, vessel vibration and a corrosive cargo environment. Over time, these conditions can contribute to internal corrosion, erosion and wall thinning, while the outside of the piping can be affected by oil, sulphur compounds, acids and sludge that accumulate around the coils.
When a heating coil develops a leak or requires repair, the challenge extends beyond replacing the damaged section of pipe. Conventional welded repairs inside cargo tanks can require extensive cleaning and sludge removal around the work area, followed by ventilation and gas-freeing before hot work can be undertaken. Welding also introduces additional safety controls, specialist personnel and inspection requirements.
The work does not necessarily end after the weld is completed. The repaired piping may require inspection and NDT, followed by flushing and cleaning before the heating-coil system can be returned to service.
A local heating-coil failure can therefore lead to extensive preparation, multiple repair activities and significant disruption to vessel operations. The challenge is finding a piping repair method that addresses the failure without making the surrounding tank environment part of the repair.
Instead of relying entirely on welded joints, mechanical pipe joining technology can eliminate the need to introduce welding heat into the cargo tank. This allows heating-coil piping to be joined and repaired using a controlled cold-work process, reducing the amount of preparation required around the repair location. Introducing Pyplok®, a non-welded mechanical way of joining pipes and tubes.
Pyplok® is Cenergy’s non-welded pipe joining solution for heating-coil applications.
Rather than melting the pipe and fitting together, Pyplok® uses hydraulic radial swaging to permanently deform the fitting around the pipe and create a mechanically retained, leak-tight connection. The process is performed as cold work, without an arc, flame or open welding heat.
For heating-coil applications, Pyplok® is supplied with
Internal EPDM seal
For containment of the steam/heating medium.
External Viton® seal
For sealing against the surrounding oil/cargo environment.
This is where I’d introduce the product — after the visitor already understands why a non-welded solution is valuable.
Pyplok® simplifies heating coil installation and repair by replacing welded joints with a permanent mechanical connection. This can reduce the preparation, safety controls and downtime associated with conventional hot-work repairs inside cargo tanks.
Pyplok® can be used for heating-coil piping applications where non-welded connections can simplify installation, repair and maintenance.
Cenergy Offshore combines Pyplok® technology, experienced field personnel and a fully equipped backend workshop to support heating-coil repair work from preparation through installation.
Talk to Cenergy about a non-welded solution for your cargo tank heating coil application.
Kindly provide your details and project requirements, and our team will promptly get in touch with you to address your needs. We look forward to assisting you!
