Crack repair on a stainless steel drying drum

Diagnostics and Repair Preparation

The client scheduled a one-week line shutdown to carry out the repairs. The repairs consisted of two main parts:

1. Repairing a leak in the drum head's circumferential weld
2. Removing cracks on the drum shell

Visual inspection revealed discontinuities both on the drum head and inside the shell. Dye penetrant testing  was used to accurately determine the depth of the cracks and to verify the repair quality upon completion.

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Repair Process

1. The cover plates of the drum head had to be cut off, then reinstalled after the repair and welded to be completely dust-tight.
2. A new circumferential weld was executed on the drum head, passing a 100% visual inspection.
3. Repairing the cracks in the rear section of the shell was time-constrained, so we focused on the most damaged areas with the longest cracks.
4. Crack removal was challenging—material kept breaking off, and the cracks tended to propagate laterally.
5. A total of 8 cracks of various orientations were repaired; the quality of the repairs was verified visually and via penetrant testing.
6. The repaired areas are defect-free, and the drum was safely handed back over to the client.

Summary

Repairing a worn drum with defects is always a challenge. The actual scope of repairs is often larger than initially planned, requiring the schedule to be continuously optimized.

Thanks to our precise procedures, the appropriate application of NDT methods, and the expertise of our specialists, we can guarantee reliable repair quality.

Do you have equipment in poor condition and are considering a repair instead of a replacement? Contact us for a professional solution.

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