Jun-2024

Ensuring business continuity of ageing plants

Effective strategies for water emergencies and planned maintenance.

NSI Mobile Water Solutions

Article Summary

In an era where industrial operations heavily rely on water treatment processes, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of ageing plants is paramount for maintaining business continuity. NSI Mobile Water Solutions (MWS), a division of Nijhuis Saur Industries, discuss the critical importance of safeguarding production security amidst potential risks posed by water treatment failures.

In today’s industrial landscape, companies operating in heavy industries across Europe – such as power, chemicals, petrochemicals, and refining – are grappling with the challenges posed by ageing assets, including water and wastewater treatment plants. The potential degradation of these facilities and equipment due to age-related mechanisms such as corrosion, erosion, and fatigue, presents significant concerns for the industry.
Beyond safety considerations, ageing plants can also jeopardise production continuity, particularly in the case of permanent onsite water treatment facilities. Given the vital role of water in many heavy industry processes and the increasing demand driven by population and industry growth, unreliable or inefficient ageing plants may require emergency maintenance to prevent disruptions in production, which could lead to costly downtime for industrial sites.

Mobile water treatment providers, such as NSI Mobile Water Solutions (previously known as Veolia Mobile Water Services Europe), provide rapid and efficient solutions for water and wastewater emergencies. Our temporary water treatment systems guarantee uninterrupted operation across diverse industrial applications.

Our client, a leading global energy and petrochemical conglomerate, specialises in the extraction of natural gas and crude oil. Facing critical maintenance and repair activities, they urgently required a continuous supply of demineralised water to maintain uninterrupted production and mitigate revenue loss. Our solution involved deploying mobile reverse osmosis and mobile deionisation assets, sourcing demin water from well water. To ensure efficient operation, we utilised the phosphate-free antiscalant Spectraguard 111. Under a frame agreement, the client benefits from preferred customer status, rapid response, and 24/7 support during emergencies.

Meeting the demand for extended temporary solutions during planned maintenance and turnarounds
While emergency provision of temporary water treatment has been a longstanding practice, operators are increasingly turning to mobile water services providers for flexible, longer-term solutions to address the challenges posed by ageing plants.

NSI Mobile Water Solutions plays a crucial role in planned preventative maintenance, refurbishment, or scheduled turnarounds for permanent water treatment plants requiring frequent attention, even those requiring a total suspension of operational activities.

During these critical periods, mobile water assets can provide efficient and reliable water supply, reducing downtime and avoiding costly disruptions. This proactive approach not only minimises disruptions to production schedules but also extends the potential life cycle of ageing plants, ensuring continuous operations.

Operators can benefit from a comprehensive range of services, including resin replacement, pressure vessel maintenance, controls upgrades, reverse osmosis membrane cleaning or replacement, chemical dosing equipment maintenance, and work on wastewater treatment plants.
One notable example of NSI Mobile Water Solutions’ effectiveness in ensuring business continuity during maintenance turnarounds involved a multinational oil and gas company. The refinery required an extra backup supply of demineralised water – 100 m³/h in operation and 100 m3/h in standby – running in parallel to its own demineralised water plant. MWS provided a four-trailer configuration to guarantee the water supply and meet the water specifications, including a conductivity of <0.1 µS/cm and <10 ppm of SiO₂. This intervention offered a reliable and secure backup, demonstrating the importance of proactive planning.

Meeting industry challenges with flexible solutions
As industries navigate through issues brought about by ageing assets and constrained capital budgets, the importance of finding flexible solutions becomes increasingly evident. NSI Mobile Water Solutions offers a compelling response to these challenges through its adaptable approach and pay-as-you-go model.

By providing pay-as-you-go, emergency, planned and multi-year contracts, NSI Mobile Water Solutions enables plant operators to achieve predictable costs and efficient financial planning. This flexibility allows companies to maximise their existing resources and extend the life of ageing assets while ensuring continuous production.

Raising awareness about the benefits of mobile water solutions is crucial in driving their adoption among industrial manufacturers. As companies recognise the value of these services in maintaining business continuity and enhancing the resilience of water treatment plants, we anticipate a widespread implementation of these solutions across various industries.