CRC as a disruptive material
Have you ever asked yourself this question when designing a solution? Can this be done in a better way????
The answer is often YES. When you have trouble with the material properties of steel and regular concrete or other materials, then you can probably use CRC instead. CRC has the benefits of both concrete and steel and can therefore be used in various applications where you need slender and strong constructions. The CRC also has the ability to withstand very aggressive environments and is therefore also suitable for designs in an industrial environment.
For more information about the material properties of CRC you can read the blogpost CRC – basic properties
In 2006, Hi-con was contacted by SPX Flow. Through their development of a new Homogeniser they came up with the idea to change the design from sub-bases made of welded steel into sub-bases made from concrete. SPX-Flow looked for a concrete with the material properties to sustain the loads from their new Homogeniser. They found CRC and contacted Hi-Con. In mutual cooperation and dialog a design was made in CRC and the result is as seen in the picture below. This is a good example of how the CRC can be a disruptive material and where it is possible, through cooperation, to find a solution where 1 + 1 = 4.
APV – Subbases
CRC i2® sub-base after painting and ready for the Homogeniser.
Here are some views on the CRC sub-bases from SPX-Flow:
Traditionally sub-bases for Rannie/Gaulin Homogenisers/high-pressure plunger pumps are welded steel designs, which are coated for corrosion protection. During development of a new Homogeniser model in 2006, the idea of making the sub-base from concrete instead of steel came up.
Potential advantages:
- Cost
- By using a molded design, many details can be integrated into the mold. In our case for example: Stainless steel bushings, for fitting of various equipment, e.g. stainless steel legs.
- Integrated corrosion protection.
The concrete sub-base concept also has some disadvantages:
- Sensitive for impact (e.g. forklift) and transportation. Repair of visual damages is rather complicated.
- Local manufacturing is difficult (compared to a sub-base in steel).
- Local modifications are complicated.
The final Homogeniser with CRC i2® sub-base.
SPX Flow is selling these Homogenisers in most of the world and Hi-con has delivered sub-bases for this model of Homogeniser for the past 10 years. In that time, CRC has been developed further and is now known as CRC i2®. For more information about the development from CRC to CRC-i2® read the blogpost: CRC vs CRC i2® – One ancestor, many descendants.
There must be a huge potential out there for using the material properties of CRC i2® as a disruptive material as done for the APV-sub-bases.
So if you are designing out there, DISRUPT IT ALL….
Thank you for reading the post. Leave a comment below if you have any questions 🙂
Søren Mosegaard Goul Hansen
Project Office Manager