High pressure vessels and their problems [Paper No.: VI B-7]

The Heavy Water Plant at Baroda operates at a high pressure of synthesis gas which is around 640 kg/cm2. There are vessels in forged and multiwall construction with the basic design of cover gaskets as the self sealing type. The H.P. vessels operate between the temperature limits of -33 degC upto 250 degC on the metal wall. The generally faced problems are of gasket leaks from the main covers. There have been such problems mainly on two vessels i.e. converter 13 Bl and driers 11 A 21/22. The converter 13 Bl is provided with a biconical gasket of soft steel whereas the driers 11 A21/22 have the alloy steel gasket with aluminium liners. It is discussed how these problems were tackled. (author)