ILF Co-Founder Mr. Feizlmayr looks back:
50 years ago, on 02/11/1976, I commissioned the world’s first pipeline for liquid sulfur on behalf of ILF. It ran in northern Germany from NEAG’s natural gas processing plant in Voigtei to the Barenburg railway station.
This ILF project clearly showed that technological innovation inevitably involves risks, sometimes considerable ones. It also made me acutely aware of the enormous responsibility that an engineer bears for the work they deliver.
Liquid sulfur must be transported within a temperature range of 125 °C to 150 °C. The lower end of the range is particularly critical. At 125 °C, sulfur solidifies. If cold spots (thermal bridges) form in the pipeline, the resulting plugs not only block the flow but also prevent the expansion of the trapped liquid when reheated. This can lead to a pipe rupture.
During commissioning, the heating cable system—promoted as being especially advanced—failed. Troubleshooting was extremely difficult and time consuming. The heated 4” product pipe lay inside a 10” casing pipe, which itself ran through marshy terrain.
Fortunately, the conventional backup heating cable system functioned properly. However, the risk of cold spots still existed—and we had underestimated it. Ultimately, we had to find a pig suitable to run in liquid sulfur.
During the commissioning preparations and troubleshooting phase, the project became an extraordinary challenge for the entire team. I remain deeply grateful to Johannes Hauser and Klaus Zehl for their commitment. On a personal level, the uncertainty surrounding the project’s success placed me under immense psychological pressure.
At that time, ILF was a civil law partnership in which we (Pius Lässer and myself) were fully liable as partners with all our personal assets. Moreover, we had – at that time – no adequate insurance coverage.
For this reason, it was an unforgettable moment of immense relief for me when the first liquid sulfur arrived in Barenburg during commissioning.
The key takeaway from this rather dramatic experience is that any use of innovative solutions in a project requires a thorough and meticulous risk analysis. It must also be evaluated whether the anticipated benefits truly outweigh the associated risks. At the same time, a thorough briefing with the client is essential to make them understand that they have to bear such risks.