Spiral Welded Pipe Workshop Design
Introduction
Spiral welding is a process in which a steel plate is rolled from along its axis as well as around its circumference to form a pipe. This method of pipe manufacturing is used in many industries such as water treatment plants, pipelines and oil drilling industry. It is particularly ideal for the production of large diameter pipes that are required for large hydraulic projects. The purpose of this project is to design the layout of a workshop for the production of spiral welded pipes.
Workshop Design
The goal of the workshop design outlined in this project is to provide a system that is both cost effective and efficient while also meeting delivery time commitments. Firstly it is necessary to determine the layout of the workshop in terms of the equipment required and its position in the workspace. The layout of the workshop is integral to the success of the overall system. An efficient layout allows for minimization of movement within the workshop, resulting in improved material and personnel flows within the production process.
Equipment
For the production of spiral welded pipes, the equipment necessary includes a cutting machine for steel plate and strip cutting, a production line consisting of a number of welding systems and measuring systems, a shearing machine, a series of hand-operated bending machines, a hydrostatically tested pressure vessel, and a number of other auxiliary tools.
Line Formation
The line formation of the workshop is the most important part of the layout. Generally, the layout should consist of a series of parallel lines joining a number of workstations in such a way as to minimize the amount of material handling. The production line should begin at the cutting machine and proceed through the shearing machine and welding lines. From there it should proceed to the measuring systems and hand-operated bending machines before continuing on to the hydrostatically tested pressure vessels.
Testing
Once the pipes have been manufactured and tested, the pipes may require adjustment depending on their intended application. An important part of workshop design is ensuring that this kind of adjustment can be carried out quickly and effectively. Accordingly, the layout should include a testing station with the necessary machinery and personnel for such adjustments before shipping the products to the customer.
Conclusion
The production of spiral welded pipes requires a dedicated space for the operation of a number of separate stages in the overall process. It is of paramount importance that the workshop is designed in such a way that allows the flow of the process to be monitored and controlled with minimal disruption or delays. Successful workshop design requires the utilisation of efficient space planning, the right equipment and personnel, and the right testing processes. With this in mind, it is possible to create an effective system for the production of spiral welded pipes.
