A leading liquified petroleum gas shipping company, operating a fleet of modern Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs), urgently requested immediate Field Service Representative (FSR) support from Burckhardt Compression. While docked at a terminal in Houston, TX, USA, the customer discovered particles in the compressor crankcase and needed our on-board assistance right away.
The primary objective was to investigate the presence of metal particles in the crankcase. The condition of the crankcase is critical to the performance of the compressor and our FSR was committed to providing expedient and necessary support. Not only did we quickly respond to this issue but ensured that the customer has access to our experts for future projects. Not all work could be done while berthing so our FSR sailed away with the customer’s vessel.
The Burckhardt Compression team did a fantastic job at urgently inspecting the equipment while in-transit. The team was great at communicating. The FSRs brought much needed expertise and know-how to make the correct repair. They looked out for our best interest. Many thanks for your prompt response.
What our customer says
Customer challenges
- Terminal regulations prohibiting disassembly during berthing
- Visual assessment confirmed metal shavings
- Integrity of the oil being reused
- Plan for repair needed with specialized tools
- Operational limitations
- Parts catalogue needed for future efficient parts ordering process
Technical data
| Manufacturer | Burckhardt Compression |
|---|---|
| Type | 3K140-3A_1 |
| Power | 300 kW / 402 hp |
| Speed | 300 rpm |
| Gas | LPG |
| Suction pressure | 1.4 bara / 20.3 psia |
| Discharge pressure | 23 bara / 333 psia |
| Lubrication | None |
Our solution
Additional services
Our FSR conducted a comprehensive inspection of other components while sailing to Panama identifying further areas of concern and provided the needed services while on board the vessel.
Future recommendations
Recommendations were given to prevent failure and to keep the compressor operating efficiently. Overhaul included main bearings, pin bushings, potential new pins and all necessary gaskets and O-rings.
Future repairs planned
We recommended the future repairs with a two-man FSR crew including a laser alignment, utilizing a hydraulic torque wrench and having a toolbox on hand.
Continuous communication
Constant contact was maintained between our FSR and the vessel’s superintendent, ensuring the customer was informed about progress and operational limitations.
Customer received parts catalogue
The customer received a parts catalogue for efficient ordering of critical parts in the future and can count on the FSR team, with specialty tools, to install the parts quickly with little downtime.
Customer benefits
- One dedicated contact from Burckhardt Compression for easy and efficient communication
- Knowledgeable experts to do inspections, given the constraints and operational limitations
- Our expert team possesses the necessary expertise and specialized tools for the job
- Ordering parts easily while sailing with a custom parts catalogue
- Long-term partnership with Burckhardt Compression