Huntsman Chem Conroe
Prepared crack sealing addressed water migration through the UC6 cooling-tower tank’s interior perimeter and base at Huntsman Conroe.
Delta Structural Technology completed concrete crack repairs for the UC6 cooling-tower area at Huntsman in Conroe. The treatment addressed water migration through cracks around the tank perimeter and base. The scope used a crack-and-joint repair paste following mechanical preparation, with the repair locations established through site coordination with CDI Engineering and Huntsman.
- Market
- Petrochemical
- Services
- Cooling-tower concrete crack sealing
- Location
- Conroe, Texas
Project challenge
The work involved designated vertical and base cracks inside the tank. The project team had also encountered damaged concrete associated with acid exposure and increased water flow at the west end. The crack treatment therefore formed part of a broader effort to address water-related deterioration while concentrating the sealing work on identified paths through the existing concrete.
Project approach
The proposed sequence began by locating and marking the cracks. Delta specified hand grinding and cleaning of the concrete, followed by blowing out the prepared areas with pressurized air. Thiokol 2235, previously used for joint repair at the facility, was designated for the interior cracks. The treatment was intended to limit water escaping from the tank through the prepared vertical and base locations.
Delivery and coordination
Delta’s site discussions with CDI Engineering confirmed the additional crack repair requested for UC6. The proposal organized the work around identified locations and separated the new treatment from earlier concrete repair activity. Staging, securing the area and cleaning for final inspection were included in the work sequence. That definition gave the owner a location-based scope to coordinate with the cooling-tower maintenance activities.
Project significance
The UC6 project demonstrates the importance of selecting a repair treatment for the actual function required at the defect. Here, the stated purpose was water control at specific interior cracks. The case also shows how site review can refine a maintenance scope as additional deterioration is identified around an existing industrial concrete structure.
