PWHT of a Francis Turbine Bottom Ring with a Temporary Furnace

Heatmasters completed PWHT on a welded bottom ring at the IP Huse mechanical workshop in Norway, located on the Harøy island between Ålesund and Molde.

IP Huse

IP Huse is a world leader in the design and production of winches for anchor handling vessels as well as winches and related equipment for special vessels and floating installations. IP Huse also provides services and solutions for various products in areas such as equipment for hydropower plants, sub-sea, and handling solutions.

Scope of heat treatment

The heated item is a bottom ring component for a Francis turbine, which will be delivered to a hydropower plant. The component had a diameter of 5.5 meters, a height of 1.1 meters, and weighed more than 70,000 kg. The component is made out of welded plates of carbon steel S355 material. Due to the plates having a thickness of up to 200mm and a significant amount of welding (24 stiffeners inside, consisting of 90 mm plates), there was a need for stress relief after welding, before the final machining of the ring could be started.

Heat treatment was completed utilizing a Heatmasters temporary furnace. Temporary furnaces are a cost-efficient solution for heat treatment for large objects, such as pressure vessels, boiler parts, and off-shore components. Our heat treatment specialists utilized Heatmasters’ digital temperature control system to accurately control heaters installed into the furnace and digital documentation of the heating process.

“The Heatmasters team performed an excellent job, with a calm and professional approach and attitude to the different tasks during the entire project. From the very beginning with the establishment of communication and commercial offer to the final delivery of documentation after PWHT was performed, Heatmasters has performed in the utmost professional manner. Good job and well done!”
– Magne Runar Harnes, Project Manager at IP Huse AS

Precision Heat Treatment for Heavy-Duty Components

This PWHT project for a Francis turbine bottom ring showcases Heatmasters’ expertise in handling large-scale, high-stress components with precision and professionalism. Using a temporary furnace and advanced digital temperature control, our team ensured uniform stress relief and full documentation — all delivered on time and with exceptional quality.

From one-off jobs to long-term partnerships, Heatmasters is your trusted provider for industrial heat treatment solutions.