RotaBolt Success at Polish Power Plant

A power station in Southern Poland has achieved leak-free operations on a variety of pressure containment applications using RotaBolt® measurement fasteners. The operators of the plant are now planning to extend the use of the technology not only across other pressure containment applications, but also in a working environment where sustained vibration has caused bolt loosening.

The 2000 megawatt coal fired power station first began using RotaBolt measurement technology in 2009, when sixteen M45 x 250mm RotaBolt studs were fitted on a steam flange operating at 540°c. The flange had a track record of reliability issues but once fitted with the technology it became leak-free and has operated reliably ever since. Following the success of achieving joint integrity in these pressure containment applications, the operators of the plant are now planning to use RotaBolts to prevent vibration loosening on foundation bolting on a crusher machine that is subject to prolonged vibration. The success of this technology driven approach to reliability at the power station reflects similar stories from other applications in Poland. The very first breakthrough in Poland came when a major refinery owned by Poland's largest petrol company became the first customer, using RotaBolt fasteners to cure an issue on a heat exchanger.

Today, the measurement technology is successfully being used in Poland at power plants, refineries, chemical processing plants, in steel production and in general industry. RotaBolts are being increasingly used around the world to assure bolted joint integrity in any application where pressure containment, vibration, fatigue or structural slippage are an operational issue.