The Compact- 8 range of subsea bolt tensioning tools from UK manufacturer and global supplier, Tentec, introduces a new generation of subsea bolt tensioning tools. This unique and innovative range of tensioners was launched at Offshore Europe 2011 last week.
Comprising just 8 bolt tensioning tools, the Compact- 8 series is capable of tensioning most standard flanges including the new Vector SPO Compact flanges. The Vector SPO Compact flange connections are gaining popularity offshore as a replacement for the conventional ASME flanges.
Tentec’s in-house engineering team took on the challenge to design a new range of subsea tensioners that not only satisfy the high levels of bolt load required by the compact flanges but also to make them fit within the very limited available space. The resulting Compact- 8 series of just 8 tools is capable of tensioning over 400 different standard flanges, making them one of the most versatile bolt tensioning tool ranges available today.
The COMPACT-8 series also incorporates many of the features and benefits of Tentec’s previous subsea tensioners that have been used safely and reliably by divers around the world since 1991.
Not only are these new tools easy to use by divers operating in the harsh subsea environment but they have also been manufactured in high tensile stainless steel and this significantly lowers maintenance requirements when they are brought back onshore.
Reliability is further enhanced by the fact that Tentec has designed 7 out of the 8 tools without using bonded seals. Bonded seals are used by most bolt tensioning manufacturers to seal the hydraulic connections to the tensioner. These tiny seals are prone to failure and when just one of the many bonded seals used in a tensioning system fail, the whole tensioning procedure comes to a halt until the failed tiny seal is replaced. Tentec have designed out the use of these fragile seals in their COMPACT-8 range of tensioners and no longer rely on bonded seals.
For divers, the Compact- 8 bolt tensioning tools can be supplied with Tentec’s proven heavy duty split Reaction Nuts. As well as reducing diver fatigue, this unique development increases productivity and ensures the most cost-efficient use of expensive diver time.
The new Compact- 8 range has also been integrated into Tentec’s BTS (Bolt Tightening Software) The software saves engineers both time and money by allowing documentation for multiple bolted joint projects to be created quickly and efficiently and has the additional advantage that engineers can avoid the possibility of error that often occur with manual torque and tension calculations.
[mappress] Source: Tentec, September 13, 2011;