Does a detachable plate heat exchanger qualify as a pressure vessel?
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According to the definition in the catalog of special equipment, a pressure vessel is a sealed device used to hold gases or liquids and subject to certain pressure. It includes fixed and mobile vessels whose maximum working pressure is 0.1 MPa (gauge pressure) or higher for gases and liquefied gases, and whose maximum working temperature is equal to or higher than their standard boiling point; such vessels also have a volume of 30 L or more and an inner diameter of 150 mm or more (for non-circular cross-sections, this refers to the largest geometric dimension of the cross-sectional boundary)； Gas cylinders, liquefied gas cylinders, and cylinders for liquids with a standard boiling point of 60°C or lower, whose nominal working pressure at full charge is greater than or equal to 0.2 MPa (gauge pressure), and whose product of pressure and volume is greater than or equal to 1.0 MPa•L ； Oxygen chamber. Our company is currently purchasing detachable plate heat exchangers with operating pressures of 1.2 MPaG and 0.6 MPaG, respectively; the inlet/outlet diameters are all over 300, and based on calculations they should be considered pressure vessels. However, according to TSG21, clause 1.5(5) states that plate heat exchangers are not applicable to the provisions of TSG21. Therefore, whether a plate heat exchanger is considered a pressure vessel.
Refer to TSG21-2016, 1.5(5): Plate heat exchangers are not applicable.
It falls under the category of pressure vessels, but it is not covered by TSG21; therefore, no inspection is required, and no reporting is needed
To be more precise, they are containers that fall outside the scope of dimensional tolerances. Anything that meets the definition of a pressure vessel is a pressure vessel.
Thank you to the seniors above for their guidance. :handshake