Maxim Crane Works and AmQuip recently provided crane and lifting services for Braskem. Located 20 miles from Philadelphia, Braskem’s Marcus Hook plant decided to add a 90,000-gallon pressure vessel to increase its storage and throughput capabilities on-site. The 120-foot-long by 14-foot-diameter, 200,000-pound vessel would be delivered to the site on its side due to height restrictions and permits. Lifting, rolling and setting the vessel proved a challenging task, so the Maxim/AmQuip team was brought in to help determine the safest and most economical way to set the vessel.
According to an AmQuip crane specialist Greg Hannold, there were many factors to consider for a flawless execution.
“There were many challenges to oversee while conducting this lift,” he said. “For instance, the final location of the new vessel was located in a ‘land-locked’ area surrounded by pipe racks, powerlines, and four existing pressure vessels.”
As a safety precaution, it was determined the load shouldn’t be suspended directly over the four existing pressure vessels that would remain in service during the lift. It would require extensive planning to place the crane in a location that would allow the aerial navigation of the load between the in-service vessels and silos, along with several live powerlines and an existing building, while also maintaining safe working distances from each. Furthermore, the site’s safety requirements dictated the lift not exceed 85 percent of the crane’s rated capacity.
Considering all factors, the team chose the Liebherr LR1400: a 440-ton crawler crane with a 207-foot main boom and wheeled-ballast wagon. The crane’s rated capacity in this configuration was 265,000 pounds at a 125-foot radius, and the total load including all rigging and deductions was 223,510 pounds. Its heavylift capabilities and versatility made it the best choice for the installation of the vessel.
A comprehensive lift plan covering all aspects of the lift was put together and reviewed several times to ensure a safe and efficient execution. Once plans were approved, a double-layer mat pad was engineered and constructed to lower the ground pressures the crane would exert to an acceptable level for the site.
“Assembling the crane proved to be the most challenging task,” Hannold stated.
The crane assembly was done in a congested area, and it would have to be repositioned several times during the process. However, the team managed to assemble and position the crawler crane. The team also successfully lifted, rolled and set the 90,000-gallon vessel safely and efficiently.
“From the beginning, the Maxim/AmQuip team was optimistic about the plans and challenges for the Braskem vessel installation,” Hannold said. “The team worked instrumentally toward designing a comprehensive plan to coordinate the logistics and engineering that met the project’s demands.”
For more information, visit www.Maximcrane.com or call (877) 629-5438.
