High Purity Oxygen Line
Inco Nickel Smelter

Innovative testing procedures were developed to address safety concerns

When Inco Limited constructed the No. 4 Oxygen Plant at its Copper Cliff Smelter, it awarded the contract for the oxygen plant to Praxair, Inc. and the "balance of plant" to Auburn Technical Services. ATS subsequently commissioned Dick Engineering to perform the engineering within its battery limits.

Dick Engineering's scope of work included:

• over 7,600' of oxygen pipeline in sizes ranging up to NPS 36
• a new 50 MVA substation
• pipeline design temperatures ranging from -40 to 90°C

While existing codes and standards provided guidelines on the safe design of oxygen pipelines, practical procedures and reliable quality assurance methodologies were not readily available. Dick Engineering worked with Inco, ATS, construction contractors and a local laboratory to develop detailed procedures and testing methods to ensure the safety of the final installation.

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