Martes, Hunyo 17, 2014

What are Concrete Batch Plants?

Colloquially known as concrete mixing plants, these are the places where concrete is manufactured. The process involved in creating concrete is called batching, hence the name, which is comprised of cement being mixed with coarse aggregate (graded crush) and fine aggregate (sand, particularly pit sand), as well as with water.
There are two main types of concrete batch plants, namely the ready-mix and central mix ones. Ready-mix plants involve the combination of all abovementioned ingredients, with the exception of water. Here, the so-called “dry” mixture will be loaded onto a ready mix or concrete transport truck and dispatched to the site where mixing is required. Afterwards, water will then be added to the dry mixture during the actual journey to the mixing site.
On the other hand, central mix plants are a bit of a contrast – in here, either all or some of the dry ingredients will be combined. Then, water will also be added while the mixture is still held in the central location. Afterwards, the now-wet mixture is transported to the subsequent mixing site.
Nowadays, it’s not all about traditional methods as computers are now prevalent and ever-present in batch plants. A vast majority of these plants are now equipped with an array of computers to guide the concrete processing, allowing for a faster, more accurate mixing of ingredients.

Parts of an Oil Drilling Rig

Offshore oil drilling rigs stand as massive structures usually found in the middle of a vast sea without any land mass around. These giants pump petroleum from off the ground for processing and transport to refineries, where oil is refined for various purposes. Here are some of the most essential parts of the drill rig:


Drawworks


Drawworks (or draw-works) refers to the hoisting mechanism that raises and lowers traveling blocks for the rig. Modern drawworks are made up of five components: the motor, reduction gear, drums, main brake, and auxiliary brake. They can either be powered by a DC or AC motor, or connected directly to external diesel engines via metal belts.


Drill Line and String


The drill line is the sturdy wire rope that is threaded and reeved through blocks, and is used to facilitate the lowering and raising of the main drill string in and out of the wellbore. The string on the other hand, is a column of drill pipes that transmits fluid and torque into the drill bit. Its other components include the bottom hole assembly and transition pipe.


Derrick


The derrick is the machine that’s responsible for lifting the entire rig’s drill mechanism. It can either be a tower or a guyed mast that’s hinged freely at the bottom. The oil derrick also contains the mechanism for turning the drill bit into the hole or wellbore.




Lunes, Hunyo 9, 2014

On the Benefits of Local Oil Generation

The United States, along with the rest of the world, will have to depend on fossil fuels until there is a way to utilize more environmentally-sustainable forms of energy. Fossil fuels power the industries that help move the human race forward into discovering newer and safer technologies.
The United States’ biggest oil-related problem is the prevalence of imported oil. At least 60% of the country’s oil usage comes from imports, with 13.15 million barrels imported in a single day. If the United States produced more of its own oil, it could reap great benefits:
Energy Security
The biggest problem the United States has to deal with in competing for international oil is the scarcity of product set against an entire planet of competitors to obtain it. More locally produced oil means that the United States won’t have to depend wholly on the availability of supply worldwide to thrive.
Improved Trade
Americans spend a lot of money to obtain oil from an ever volatile global market that keeps on inflating. If the U.S. were to produce more oil locally, then they won’t have to bend to the whim of the global market, and funds can be focused on improving the nation.
More Jobs

Increased efforts toward harvesting local oil means good for the American people. It won’t just decrease oil prices; it’ll also increase the local generation of oil, and thus more jobs.

A Look at the Different Types of Trailers

Shipping is an integral part of the American economy; in 2010, the United States was listed as the biggest importer of goods from around the world. This distinction can be attributed to the existence of freight trucks that deliver the goods from the ports to the stores, making them an important component of life in the United States.

However, trucks cannot simply do the work without the help of trailers. There are also different kinds of cargo that need to be transported, which gave rise to different types of trailers meant to cater to different shipping and transportation needs. Here are some of them:

Flatbeds
Flatbed trailers are one of the most prevalent types of trailers in the open. Their versatility and stability make these trailers a favorite among truckers. These trailers can handle cargo reaching up to 48,000 lbs.

Extendable Flatbeds
These trailers are similar to their flatbed cousins, save for the fact that they can extend themselves to accommodate freight that are usually difficult to transport with an ordinary flatbed. However, extendable flatbeds sacrifice length for strength, as these trailers can only handle a maximum weight of 43,000 lbs.


Double Drops
These trailers help truckers transport oversized cargo through highways. The lower deck will transfer cargo taller than 10’ safely through the city. Three sections of the double drop combine to carry an overall weight of 40,000 lbs.

Huwebes, Hunyo 5, 2014

Common Pointers on Batch Plant Maintenance

A concrete batch plant is an asset to the construction industry. Whether you have a ready-mix or central-mix affair, the plant will be there when you need to generate a fresh supply of concrete for various uses. However, even big machines like them break down from time to time, warranting maintenance solutions to keep them running. There are a number of cardinal points to consider.

First, you must draft a schedule for maintenance operations at the plant. The work will entail checking the plant from top to bottom, including inspections of the air system and filters, bearings, and the belts. The inspections themselves should be logged down for future reference.

Any loose bearings should be replaced immediately so as not to disrupt operations at the plant; the new blades must also be properly lubricated. The batching blades must be secure in their fittings while any liquid transfer pipes are to be drained of fluid and cleaned after every use.

When you purchase the batch plant, consult your seller about purchasing a stock of spare parts and storing them on site. You can arrange for new supplies later on. The move enables immediate action on emergency repairs with what you have on hand.

Preventive maintenance of the concrete batch plant is what will save your business in the long run. It will also save you a lot of money in the process.    

Maximum pull with the clutch

Every drawworks you see will be capable of using massive amounts of power to pull drills and piping thanks to heavy torque. However, all that power and torque causes a great strain on the line, and the design of the clutch will determine whether the line holds together or snaps. Better understanding the drawworks’ function requires learning about some of the types of clutches present in them.

Mechanical
Mechanical clutches have one pressure plate and at least one friction plate. Release springs are used to separate the plates. Drawworks with mechanical clutches require a non-locking cone instead of locking ones to prevent damaging the block and sending the parts flying. A derivative of this model, the mechanical-positive clutch, contains a jaw- or pin-type clutch working alongside a master clutch. However, operators must ensure that only one of them is active at any given time.

Walking on Air

Technology has enabled the development of drawworks clutches where air chambers will be pushed against two plates instead of a pressure group, plus spliunes in the hub, backplates, and the drive ruing. The diaphragm-type air clutch fills up with air fast at 100 pounds per square inch. Tube-type air clutches have the regular air chambers fashioned like a car’s inner tube. The tube-type drum-type friction surface clutch is unique in the sense that it’s basically a cast iron drum with an air tube that has friction shoes.