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Tracey Boseley replacing the lid for sample feed
to the PSD.
Continued from page 32
Qenos install a Pellet Size Shape
& Distribution (PSSD) System
of the sample from the PSSD to their manual
testing results. The results from the comparison
on the same sample were positive and an order
for the PSSD unit was placed with Rheology
Solutions in November 2006.
The PSSD will be used at Qenos as a quality
management tool for pellet geometry. The system
has been installed in the Physical Laboratory
within the Technical Centre. The unit will be used
for rapid and reliable characterisation of Qenos
polyethylene’s, replacing the intensive manual and
time consuming techniques that had been
previously employed within the Technical Centre.
The use of the PSSD will be complementary to but
not replace the in-plant quality control pellet
geometry tests.
biennial 07-08
Tim Kealy setting up the OCS software before
running a sample on the PSSD.
Qenos use Australian oil and gas feedstocks from
Bass Strait and the Moomba Basin. Qenos employ
approximately 800 people and their plants
produce olefins and a full range of polyethylene
products, including high density polyethylene
(HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low
density polyethylene (LLDPE) and medium density
polyethylene (MDPE). This makes Qenos a vital
link in the Australian manufacturing chain,
supplying industries that employ hundreds of
people. Polyethylene is manufactured at Qenos
plants in Botany and Altona with the capacity in
the order of 200,000 tonnes HDPE, 90,000
tonnes LDPE and 125,000 tonnes of LLDPE.
The Australian market for virgin polyethylene is
approximately 450 kt and of this, nearly 65% is
used in the packaging industry. The rigids market
is made up predominantly of bottles and
containers for milk, juice, household and industrial
chemicals, plus caps and closures. The flexibles
market is made up primarily of films for food
packaging including frozen foods, bread and fresh
produce; shopping bags; sling and shrink wraps;
industrial films and extrusion coating applications
such as liquid paper board.
In addition to its use in the packaging market,
some of Qenos’ end products are used for water
management activities such as polyethylene
piping and rotational moulded water tanks.
Polyethylene is used for pipes and fitting; in wire
and cable applications; in the automotive
components sector for tanks and storage; in
household goods and in construction.
The breadth and depth of the applications and
uses for the polyethylene is immense. The
addition of the OCS PSSD system will further
ensure that Qenos continues to provide products
of consistent quality.
Full training and commissioning of the PSSD
system will be undertaken in January 2007 for
the Technical Centre staff at Qenos. The training
will be provided by OCS and will include an
intensive two days of hands on training for all
staff. The training will also be supported by Dr Tim
Kealy – Technical Manager and Mr Richard
Donaldson – Service Engineer from Rheology
Solutions.
34 www.rheologysolutions.com