Hydrocarbon Processing - May 2021 - 44

Maintenance and Reliability
pert personnel attend to assess analyzer performance and detect anomalies before they develop into costly problems-and
commissioning. Commissioning is the inspection of an instal-

required depends very much on the gas analysis equipment
used. The key, of course, lies not merely in obtaining the diagnostic data from the analyzers, but also understanding it, which
is where a partnership with an expert service network comes in. By monitoring the diagnostics, such
as detector signals over the course of many years,
Even the most reliable analyzers benefit
any decline in performance can be identified early,
allowing scheduled maintenance or replacement
from regular, planned maintenance.
with minimal disruption to the process and no loss
Getting the necessary level of service
of measurement accuracy. In this way, the plant operator can be confident that the measurement they
support can be the difference that keeps
receive from their gas analysis system remains accua plant operating reliably and profitably,
rate, even late into the lifecycle of the analyzer.

even during pandemic restrictions.
lation-including the set-up and configuration of gas analyzers-by highly trained engineers to ensure peak system performance from the outset.
Service departments can get involved even before the commissioning stage by providing a factory acceptance test (FAT).
This test is conducted in partnership between the customer
and supplier to ensure the gas analysis system meets specifications prior to dispatch.
Service centers may also offer plant owners rapid access to
high-quality spare parts and consumables for their gas analysis
equipment. This service often extends to providing complete
gas analyzers for hire, providing a temporary replacement that
can be delivered quickly and with confidence that it will operate correctly.
Finally, many service networks are responsible for offering training to plant staff. This may be delivered onsite or at a
training center and helps ensure that staff get the best performance from their gas analyzers.
Getting started with service support. The best way to be-

gin a service partnership is to organize a health check for your
gas analysis products. This validates the product performance
and checks the state of the instrument. When engineers carry
out these checks, they provide a written report on the work
required, if any. Plant operators often want to go straight into
a service contract. Even in these cases, a health check should
be conducted to establish what sort of support is necessary.
Once the health check has been completed, the level of support needed can be determined.
Commonly, plant operators are protective of their analyzers and dislike any interference with the product that might
compromise the measurement. By partnering with the service
division of an expert gas analysis supplier, they get total peace
of mind that the engineer understands the product and knows
how to get the best performance from it. Typically, onsite visits to inspect, service and maintain gas analysis equipment are
scheduled for every 6 mos. The same regionally-based engineers are likely to attend each time, so trust is quickly established between them and the plant operator.
If it has been installed and configured correctly, a gas analysis
system operates very reliably for many years, so this long-term
relationship becomes very important. Additionally, the support

44 MAY 2021 | HydrocarbonProcessing.com

The impact of COVID-19 on maintenance.

The restrictions and safety concerns accompanying the global COVID-19 pandemic have had a
significant impact on how service is carried out for industrial
plants in all regions. Having an established service network
that operates globally but at a local level, works very effectively. It means engineers are familiar with local restrictions and
international travel is minimized.
Having built a good relationship with the plant personnel,
engineers are able to more quickly adapt to any new procedures adopted to prevent the spread of the virus. They are also
able to put their existing familiarity with the plant and its processes to good use through remote support.
Many gas analyzers have advanced digital communications
options, which can be used to send diagnostic data to the engineer without them needing to attend the site. They also have
auto-calibration and auto-validation capabilities that support
ongoing reliability and make remote monitoring easier. Additionally, an existing service partnership can provide more
secure spares support. The engineer can advise what spares
need to be kept onsite and has rapid access to global stockpiles
of these parts, along with an existing distribution network.
Therefore, if disruption occurs as an essential part is needed,
the problem is mitigated by the service arrangement.
While the pandemic is, hopefully, becoming less of an issue, it is comforting for plant operators to know that the procedures and technologies already in place will help service
networks to provide continuous maintenance coverage even
when the unexpected happens.
Takeaway. Ultimately, the goal of service is to support the
customer throughout the entire lifecycle of the gas analysis
product. It ensures that the plant starts up correctly, on time
and on budget, and looks after the equipment until the time
comes when it eventually needs replacing.
Good maintenance ensures maximum uptime and the
best return on investment. It goes together with analyzer performance, delivering the measurements that plant operators
need, whenever they need them.
MARK CALVERT is the Global Head of Service for Servomex.
He is responsible for the coordination of Servomex's global
service teams, ensuring that customer support and service
delivery are provided quickly and effectively, while promoting
best practices and maintaining the same high standards
of service globally.

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Hydrocarbon Processing - May 2021

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