PRODUCT REVIEWS
Pressure vessels are vital components in the oil and gas industry as well as other sectors such as petrochemical , chemical and food processing . These enclosed containers play a crucial role in storing and transporting liquids as well as gases at pressures that are significantly higher or lower than the ambient pressure .
In the oil and gas industry , tanks and pressure vessels are used for a variety of purposes . One type of tank commonly found in this sector is storage vessels , which are designed to hold large quantities of oil , gas or other fluids . These storage vessels are carefully engineered to withstand the high volumes at low pressure .
Another type of pressure vessel used in the oil and gas industry is the heat exchanger . These vessels facilitate the transfer of heat between fluids , allowing for efficient energy usage and temperature control in various processes . Heat exchangers are essential in applications such as oil refining , natural gas processing and power generation . Typically , a heat exchanger has a heavy walled shell and a low inside diameter .
Boilers are another type of pressure vessel commonly found in the oil and gas industry . These vessels generate steam or hot water , which is then used for various purposes such as power generation , heating or industrial processes . Boilers are widely used in refineries , petrochemical plants and power plants , ensuring the smooth operation of these facilities .
Process vessels , including distillation columns ; decanters and gravity settlers ; industrial mixers and chemical reactors , are also essential pressure vessels in the oil and gas industry . Distillation columns are used to separate different components of crude oil or natural gas , while decanters and gravity settlers aid in the separation of liquids and solids . Industrial mixers are employed to blend different substances , and chemical reactors are used for various chemical reactions ( such as the production of petrochemicals or pharmaceuticals ).
Above : The recently launched FACCIN Eyebend TM laser-based , plate-roll measurement system . Right : The newly upgraded Siemens CNC ( the PGS-Absolute™ ).
Pressure vessel geometry and materials
Pressure vessels , according to their geometry , can be divided into spherical pressure vessels or cylindrical pressure vessels . Spherical pressure vessels , as the name suggests , have a spherical shape . This design allows for uniform distribution of stress , making them suitable for highpressure applications . On the other hand , cylindrical pressure vessels have a cylindrical shape , often with hemispherical , ellipsoidal heads and ASMER torispherical heads for the lowpressure range .
The commonly used construction materials for pressure vessels are carbon steel ; stainless steel ; the Duplex family ; nickel alloys ; aluminium and titanium . The choice of material depends upon factors such as the nature of the substances being stored , their corrosiveness and the required pressure and temperature levels . With a wealth of experience
FACCIN ’ s HAV plate roll for pressure vessel production .
Rolling solutions for the oil and gas industry
spanning several decades , Faccin Group has been a major provider of rolling , bending and forming solutions tailored specifically for manufacturers of tanks and pressure vessels . “ It is no surprise that a vast majority of pressure vessel components worldwide are manufactured using one of our premium brands ,” the Faccin Group told ISMR .
Plate-rolling equipment
FACCIN ’ s HAV three-roll , variable-axis plate rolls are advanced and powerful electronic three-roll bending rolls for building pressure vessel shells .
“ The HAV series combines rolling power and maximum pre-bending precision , ensuring high performance in less time . The special variable geometry configuration makes it a preferred choice for medium-heavy and heavy rolling processes for plates with thicknesses of up to 300mm ,” explained FACCIN .
“ The HAV series can easily bend a wide range of diameters due to the interchangeable top rolls . It combines precision with high pre-bending performance and reliability ( using a revolutionary hydraulic unit ). Calibration results are excellent and the plate roll HAV series delivers results across a variety of high-tensile steels ,” added the manufacturer .
104 | ismr . net | ISMR September 2023