SwirlCoat Technology

SwirlCoat is a unique approach to field joint coating for both offshore and onshore oil and gas pipe lines. This new and innovative system combines
induction heating with the application of sintered Fusion Bonded Epoxy (FBE) powder and co-polymer as the first two layers of a three layer field joint protection coating.

Traditionally, field joint coating equipment is designed specifically to meet the requirements of a fixed length joint, however, as a consequence of the demands of NDT testing of girth welds, field joint lengths can vary from 300mm to 1000mm and above. This has generated the requirement for a universal tool that has the capability to heat and coat variable length joints. The Radyne Swirlcoat system incorporates scan heat and coat technology that provides this flexibility on 6.625”, 8.625”, 10.75” and 12.75” diameter pipe used in lateral lines.

The Swirlcoat system comprises an induction coil, a set of patented Swirlcoat coating heads and integral powder overspray recovery chambers, designed as one complete module which can be opened and closed over the pipe.
The module is then traversed along the field joint length, heating and coating the pipe progressively. The number of Swirlcoat heads will depend upon the application requirements. i.e. coating thickness and whether single layer or three layer coating is required. To accommodate diameter changes, the system incorporates interchangeable cassettes for the coil and heads.

SwirlCoat delivers the following major advantages over traditional field joint procedures:-

•    Variable field joint length coating capability – from 300mm to 2000mm
•    Single operator capability with fully programmable plc control
•    360 degree coating with no moving parts, other than scanning
•    Coating thickness can be monitored by measurement of powder inflow
•    Minimum residual heat in the pipe –  minimising disbondment of the parent coating
•    Can be used vertically or horizontally
•    Multi-functional – can be used on J-lay or S-lay vessels for offshore pipe lay, spool bays,
     custom coating facilities for bend coating and coating random lengths in addition to
     pipe fabrication yards.