In total, two walk-in shelters and two
large cabinets were built by Intertec
to meet the custom shape, size and
weight constraints. Each shelter
houses an identical instrumentation
system including pressure reduction
sample conditioning equipment,
a Danalyzer gas chromatograph,
Rosemount pressure transmitters,
calibration facilities and various
safety devices and accessories.
The two cabinets house cylinders
to supply the required gas for
calibration purposes, along with
associated pressure regulation,
measurement instruments, tubing
connection and flow control
components.
The GRP material used by Intertec
to build the shelters and cabinets is
a proprietary multi-layer composite
with moulded GRP panels enclosing
polyurethane foam insulation,
protected by gel-coated surfaces.
This composite material has a very
high thermal resistance, reducing
the amount of energy required to
heat equipment. A further benefit
of Intertec’s approach to shelter
fabrication is an advanced gel-coat,
which is applied in a much thicker
layer than alternatives such as
paint. It protects against ultraviolet
(UV), and is highly effective against
abrasion. It offers exceptional
environmental protection and
resistance to ‘corrosion’ (GRP
does not rust or degrade in
any meaningful way), allowing
maintenance-free lifecycles of
30-40 years - more than enough
to meet the anticipated cease of
production date for the platform.
The gel-coat also incorporates a
unique nanotechnology treatment
that provides conductivity to
dissipate static electric charges
safely to ground - protecting
against sparking in hazardous
areas. Developed for Intertec
by BÜFA, the coating employs
single-wall carbon nanotubes
(SWCNTs) to provide conductivity.
Because the SWCNTs are only
around 1-2 nanometres in
diameter, they enhance surface
smoothness. The gloss retention
after accelerated weathering
tests of this surface is some
50% better than the previous
coating technologies used.
This technology is behind the
significant improvement in
resistance to UV of Intertec's
shelters. Previously, exposure
to high UV levels over the long
term could lead to surface
roughening - which is sometimes
referred to as 'chalking' or
'frosting'. Intertec's weathering
tests have demonstrated that
the new coating will withstand
extended exposure to very high
UV levels - providing hitherto
unachievable protection for GRP
field enclosures destined for
ultra-harsh environments such as
offshore platforms, deserts and
Arctic environments.
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