High tower assembly welding
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For the welding of tall towers, is it generally done in the air or on the ground in a horizontal position? Especially for towers around 90 meters in height, what pressure testing method should be used for each type of welding joint, and how should the pressure testing be carried out? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each of the two welding methods? I hope experienced seniors can offer some advice. Thank you!
For 90-meter tall towers, they are now generally manufactured as complete units in the factory and then lifted into place; welding is not carried out on-site (from a quality perspective). If it is not possible to manufacture them as complete units, then welding on the ground is preferable from the aspects of quality, working at heights, and costs.
So, how is the whole thing transported?
Indeed, ground welding has many advantages, but it requires a high standard for the lifting site and also has a certain impact on the construction schedule.
90 meters, will you transport it by helicopter?
This needs to be considered in conjunction with transportation conditions, resources available at the installation site, and the capabilities of large lifting equipment – each option has its advantages and disadvantages!
Transportation is the main limiting factor; from economic and safety perspectives, horizontal welding is superior to vertical welding. If conditions permit, it is possible to have the manufacturer weld the sections separately and transport them to the site for welding of the waist joints. For normal units, if the RT test is successful, there will be no issues; simply perform a pressure test on the entire piping system after it’s assembled.
This post was last edited by The wise are enlightened on 2019-11-29 at 20:28.]@313522683: 90 meters? Will you use a helicopter for transportation? @313522683 @duqiang_DLBI Not to mention 90 meters – there are already cases of towers that are 120 meters tall (there are many such examples on the forum). The key is that all relevant conditions need to be suitable.
Can this transportation cost be covered? The vast majority of small and medium-sized pressure vessel manufacturers simply cannot afford it
Overall transportation is of course the best option, but various transportation conditions must be taken into account and coordinated properly. The ground assembly process is easy, but the lifting operation poses a challenge. Air docking also requires certain technology. Each has its advantages and disadvantages; ultimately, it depends on what works best given the on-site conditions.
The key is what is the diameter of your tower? Small ones can be joined using flange connections, with the joint surfaces being machined on a lathe in segments; large ones cannot be done this way