Application of automatic welding machine for pipe prefabrication in the installation project of the Wugongbu Laos refinery

The finished oil refining project of the Lao-Middle East Petrochemical Co., Ltd., which is under the responsibility of the Fifth Construction Department 50 ten thousand tons / Annual diesel hydrotreater and sulfur recovery unit installation project, with approximately 10 ten thousand inch ports. There are many large-diameter, thick-walled pipes. The refinery project has a tight construction schedule and high quality requirements. Our unit in 2019 year 9 month introduced pipe prefabrication, including pipe cutting and material machines, automatic beveling machines, automatic welding machines, etc. The welding machine uses a method of rotating the pipe while the welding head remains fixed to achieve automatic welding. The main unit consists of a base, a horizontal arm, a clamping device, a welding torch adjustment system, etc., and can achieve DN600 and below pipe diameter pipe hoisting, cutting, beveling, grinding and welding, and when the pipe is longer, it can be used with a movable support. Automatic GMAW welding has concentrated arc heat and relatively deep penetration; it also has high welding efficiency and small welding deformation. First of all, it can greatly reduce labor costs while significantly improving welding quality and efficiency. In addition, this technology can be used extensively in future devices, enhancing the company's competitiveness in domestic and international welding construction.

The use of automatic pipe welding can improve the construction level of pipe welding, greatly reduce construction costs, and generate huge economic and social benefits. This project also uses EP3D software to establish a pipe 3D model to assist in construction management. According to the model diagram, a single-line pipe diagram (including pipeline number, materials used, standards and dimensions) can be directly generated, reducing the difficulty of pipe prefabrication and installation, and playing a significant role in promoting construction progress.

Pipe prefabrication automatic welding technology has been successfully applied in our company's Laos refinery project, reducing costs and labor intensity while improving welding efficiency and quality, and receiving positive feedback from supervisors and owners. As the project progresses, pipe prefabrication welding technology will be applied more extensively.

  Fifth Construction Department / Pu Tongtao