Synthesis tower
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When the steam drum at the upper part of the synthesis tower is not fixed but supported at a 45-degree angle upward, are expansion joints necessary for the pipes connected to it? Thank you
Expansion joints or U-bends are required. The steam drum needs support; its weight cannot be borne entirely by the steam and hot water pipes, otherwise it can easily get damaged. The synthesis towers have been purchased; only the cost of a few expansion joints and elbows is still missing. Safety is of greater importance.
Expansion elbows or expansion joints should be considered for upward steam pipes and downward hot water pipes, among others.
It’s not necessary; our company designs it in the same way, using rising and descending pipes as support, which allows for free expansion and contraction, so there’s no need to add anything else.
For safety, it’s better to set it, but it’s also okay not to
For safety reasons, I also think it’s better to set it up that way
First, please specify what type of synthesis tower it is – a methanol synthesis tower or some other type. Then we will consider what the operating pressure is. Our current methanol synthesis tower does not have expansion joints; the design pressure for the shell side is 5.5 MPa, while the design pressure for the tube side is 6.2 MPa. The operating pressure on the shell side is 3.9/2.5 MPa, and on the tube side it is 5.5/4.3 MPa. Whether to include them or not shall be determined by the designer and the owner based on specific circumstances. Thank you for reading, thank you for the rating!
It’s not the expansion joint of the tower, but the expansion joint of the water pipe. The synthesis towers are all made of duplex stainless steel, which essentially solves the problem of thermal stress; therefore, expansion joints are not necessary.
It’s not necessary anymore; using the rising and falling pipes as support allows for free expansion and contraction, so there’s no need to add anything else.
Expansion joints need to be added to prevent unexpected situations! Preventing problems before they occur is an important measure for ensuring safe chemical production; safety first, prevention foremost!