The challenge
The steel casing of a bucket elevator lifting clinker and raw meal was corroding in the humid tropical climate and wearing from the inside. Holes had opened, leaking dust and material.
The elevator stands in a congested area, so scaffolding was not possible without interrupting operations.
Scope of works
- Dual-rope rope access from the elevator headframe
- Visual inspection and ultrasonic thickness gauging of all casing panels
- Check of bolted flanges and weld seams
- Removal of rust, grinding back to sound steel and SMAW welding of patch plates over perforations
- Anti-rust primer and protective topcoat on repaired areas
Outcome
All perforations were sealed and worn panels reinforced, stopping dust leaks and avoiding replacement of whole elevator sections. Read our bucket elevator concrete repairs case study and see a similar job in Guadeloupe.
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