Tinita Engineering Delivers Washing Drum to Numaligarh Refinery – CCR Unit, NERP

Tinita Engineering Delivers Washing Drum to Numaligarh Refinery – CCR Unit, NERP

In 2024, Tinita Engineering Pvt. Ltd. designed, fabricated, and delivered a Washing Drum for Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NERL) as part of the Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NERP). The equipment was supplied under the EPC contract awarded to thyssenkrupp.

The Washing Drum was built to ensure reliable hydrocarbon washing and treatment before catalytic reforming in the refinery’s Continuous Catalytic Reforming (CCR) Unit. Fabricated using Stainless Steel 904L, the equipment guarantees excellent resistance against highly corrosive refinery environments, providing long-term durability and operational safety.

Design and Construction Details

The Washing Drum stands 11.287 meters in height with an internal diameter of 1.4 meters. Its total fabricated weight is 14,000 kg. Constructed entirely in SS 904L, the drum was engineered for demanding refinery operations where corrosion resistance, precision, and durability are paramount.

The design included multiple nozzles, internals, manways, and inspection points to ensure safe operation and ease of maintenance. Every specification was closely adhered to, maintaining compliance with international quality standards and EPC requirements.

Fabrication Excellence

The Washing Drum was fabricated at Tinita Engineering’s Dahej plant, a state-of-the-art facility equipped for heavy fabrication and exotic metal processing.

The project required advanced rolling, welding, and fabrication expertise due to the large size and weight of the equipment. Tinita Engineering deployed specialized welding automation, modular handling systems, and strict quality control checks throughout the process.

The use of SS 904L addressed challenges related to chloride-induced corrosion and acidic service environments. This material selection ensures strength, stress-cracking resistance, and superior corrosion protection for the Washing Drum’s long-term service life.

Dispatch and Logistics
Transporting the 14-ton, 11.3-meter-long drum to Numaligarh Refinery was a logistical challenge. Tinita Engineering carefully planned the dispatch using heavy-duty trailers, ensuring secure handling and safe delivery to the refinery site in Assam, India.

Role in Refinery Operations

The Washing Drum is a critical part of the CCR Unit, where it ensures that feed hydrocarbons are washed and treated efficiently before entering the catalytic reforming process. Its reliability directly contributes to the refinery’s performance, energy efficiency, and reduced downtime.

Contribution to India’s Refining Sector

By successfully delivering this large-scale Washing Drum, Tinita Engineering Pvt. Ltd. has once again demonstrated its capability to design and fabricate critical refinery equipment from exotic materials. This project, fabricated at the Dahej plant, reinforces the company’s contribution to strengthening India’s refining capacity and supporting world-class process infrastructure in collaboration with leading EPC contractors like thyssenkrupp.