(((@ Research Centre MAT. TECH. REPORT Psy Porsgrunn Classification: internal Ti High Temperature Gaskets in Nitric Acid Plants Presentation of Questionaire Replies Aathortah Olsen, Arild To: al 1995-09-11 Decne: 95R_DS3.DOC B. Swensen, R.C. Fileno: — 212.3121.1 PagesiApp.: 5/3 . Nirisen, Proj.no: —R.74596.300 | Ret: ARO:(VN) Copy: ‘Arch. pot: Permanent See distribution list, appendix 3 Keywords: M, Potties, HA Brussel FLENSPAKNINGER HOYTEMPERATUR P. Bleijenbergh, HA Brussel SALPETERSYREANLEGG — LANDBRUK 1H, Bien FS NITROS HYDRO AGRI AO, Egner A, Anundskis. * ‘Approved project ‘Approved project W. Frydonberg (f.p.) a responsibilty G. Kongshaug B. 25 c epi bees “Guidelines for approval are described nthe Research Conte Qually Handbook IAET A ‘Summary/Conclusion: A note and a questionaire about high temperature gaskets in nitric acid plants have been distributed to the Norsk Hydro nitric acid plants. The intention with the questionaite was to collect informations about which high temperature gaskets are in use in the plants and share these informations and experiences with the plants involved in similar production, When comparing such informations it was also the hope that they should give us a tool to optimize the use of high temperature gaskets in this area and be a basis for developing gasket guidelines. Questionaire replies from 4 plants have so far been received and these informations are presented in this report. A summary of the gasket informations is given. An interesting observation from this summary is For large diameter flanges in NOx environments and for the tongue/groove flanges in the burners, the 4 plants have different gasket solutions A futher collaboration between the nitric acid plants and the Research Centre, Porsgrunn about selection of the most optimal gasket concepts is proposeInternal Research Centre Page 2 of 5 Introduction A note (see appendix 1) with a questionaire (appendix 2) were distributed to the Norsk Hydro nitric acid plants. (see distribution list, appendix 3) The intention with this questionaire was to collect informations about which different high temperature gaskets are in use in the plants and share these informations and experiences with the plants involved in similar production. Comparing such informations will hopefully help to optmize the use of gaskets in this area and also give a valuable tool to develop guidelines for selection of such high temperature gaskets, Questionaire replies from 4 plants have so far been received and these informations are presented in this report. Presentation of informations received ssion has been performed as a Each plant is handled separately, but a general dis summary of all informations presented. ‘The flange connections deal with steam, NOx and NH,-ait/NOx environments at different temperatures and pressures. Hydro Agri France, Ambes: MP and HP steam at 300 to 470°C design temperature, pressure [5-60 bar, raised face flanges, diameter 200-350 mm. Gasket type; Spiral wound with graphite filler. Supplier: James Walker, Nantes. No problems with the gaskets. NOx at 300 to 482°C design temperature, pressure 5-12 bar, raised face flanges At the tail gas turbine, spiral wound gasket with graphite is used. ‘On a man hole flange in a heat exchanger, spiral wound gasket with asbestos filler is used, Supplier of both gasket types is J. Walker, Nantes. No problems with any of the gaskets reported, but the heat exchanger gasket contain asbestos which may cause health damage. The Burner, NHy-ait/NOx, 895°C design temperature, 5 bar pressure, large diameter (5225 mm) flange. Gasket used: Asbestos gasket, Ferlam 73430, Athis de L “orme. The gasket is tightened at a pressure of 500 bar No problems with the gasket except for the health problems with asbestos. Hydro Agri Immingham NOx in general (MP and HP NOx), design temperature 200 to 450°C, pressure 4-10 bar, ANSI class 150/300 flanges, diameter 600-800 mm. Gasket type: Spiral wound with graphite filler. Supplier: Hofland. No leakage problems, but the gasket must have both inner and outer guidering to protect the gasket against damage under compression. The guiderings and the spiral wound are in stainless steel 316. ARO:VNV95R_DS3.006Internal Research Centre Page 3 of 5 MP NOx in the boiler outlet, temp. 480°C, pressure 4 bar, 1200 mm flange. Gasket type: Hofland "kamprofile”, The camprofile type M 40 L is a 3 mm thick stainless stee! ring with 0.5 mm graphite on both sides. Has been in service for 6 years without replacing, ‘The burner, NHy-air/NOx, 900°C, large diameter flange. Gasket packet used: 6.5 mm braided packings (Excelsior 1500, contain 80% asbestos) + a top layer of 3 mm graphite ribbon (Pilotgraph 4040). ‘The supplier of both Excelsior 1500 and Pilotgraph 4040 is Beldam Crossley Ltd. ‘The possibility of changing Excelsior 1500 to an asbestos free packing, Valvepack 8300 from Beldam, is considered Hydro Agri Sluiskil NOx, tailgas system, to DN 800 diameter. Gasket type: Klinger Picoff, Milam PSS 130. Supplier: Klinger. The gasket consists of mica material on perforated (tanged) stainless steel The gasket requires high, correct calculated torque values to achieve gas tight connections. This gasket has replaced asbestos containing gaskets. If necessary the gasket has to be retightened during service. 10/500°C design temp., pressure 11 bar, raised face flanges, up ‘The burner, NH,-air/NOx, 900°C, 5 bar pressure, 5200 mm diameter flange. Gasket used: Braided graphite fibres (size,16 mm) with inconel reinforcement. Supplier/trademark: ARS, Carrara GR 8807 ‘The gasket is replacing asbestos. The results/tightness are excellent, but the gasket is very expensive (nlg. 18,000 per plant on each catalyst replacement, appr. 6 months). Sluiskil has another problem in their looking for asbestos free stuffing box packings. ‘They have not satisfactory tightness on stuffing boxes with hot NOx gas. For the moment they use reinforced graphite which has a very short lifetime. Hydro Agri Porsgrunn Superheated steam in general. Gaskets used: Spiral wound with graphite, Supplier: Vestpak The gaskets is retightened once at the first temperature elevation, NOx in general, design temp. 300 to 600°C, 5-12 bar pressure, small flange diameters, up to DN 300. Gaskets used: Spiral wound with graphite, Supplier: Vestpak. Retightened once at the first temp. elevation. NOx in general, design temp. 300 to 600°C, — 5 bar pressure, large flange diameters, 300-1000 mm (manholes ete.) Gaskets used: Metal jacketed gaskets with graphite filler. Supplier: Fuglesang Ltd. Very good tightness with this gasket type, but it needs high compression force. ARO:(VNY/S5F_DS3.D0CInternal Research Centre Page 4 0f 5 Burner, NH,-ait/NOx, 900°C, ~ 5000 mm, tongue/groove flange. Gasket used: Braided glass fibre impregnated with "Permatex" sealant. Supplier: C. Bagge’s a.s and Loctite Norge as. No problems within lifetime (6-9 months) ‘The cost of this package deal is very cheap, below 1000 NOK. Summary of the gasket informations The gaskets used for steam are: Spiral wound with graphite filler. HA Porsgrunn retighten the gasket once when the gasket has reached service temperature. No problems have been reported with this type of gasket for MP or HP steam. In NOx environments and for small flanges (appr. up to DN 300) : Spiral wound with graphite seems to be used without problems. For larger diameter flanges in NOx different gasket types are in use: HA Ambes uses a spiral wound with asbestos filler. HA Immingham uses a camprofile type with graphite filler HA Sluiskil uses a perforated/tanged stainless steel plate with mica as filling and tightening material. HA Porsgrunn uses metal jacketed gasket with graphite filler In the large diameter (appr. 5 m) tongue/groove flanges in the bumers at high temperature, the following gaskets are in use: HA Ambe’s uses an asbestos gasket. HA Immingham uses a braided asbestos gasket with a top layer of graphite ribbon. HA Sluiskil uses a braided graphite gasket reinforced with inconel wire. HA Porsgrunn uses a braided glass fibre gasket, impregnate with "Permatex" sealant, About leakage problems in stuffing boxes in NOx gas at Sluiskil, we can inform that HA Porsgrunn uses graphite sealing rings made from expanded graphite tape which are compressed to rings into the stuffing box in place. HA Porsgrunn has very good experiences with these packings. Further collaboration ‘The replies of the questionaire have shown that different solutions have been chosen to achive many of the gasket tasks. It seems that a closer co-operation between the different plants will give possibilities in optimizing gaskets in the nitric acid plants. It also seems obvious that each individual plant will have benefits of exchanging such informations. AROAVNYOSA_DS3.006Internal Research Centre Page § of 5 The Section for Material Engineering at the Research Centre, Porsgrunn is beeing about developing a users guideline for gaskets/packings. A discussion concerning gaskets in nitric acid plants looks to be a good start, and we will hereby take the initiative in a co-operation about such gasket guidelines. As a start we can suggest visits at the plants which already have answered the questionaire, or a joint meeting of all plants involved to discuss the gasket topics. For further collaboration, questions etc. can be adressed to B. Nirisen, B, Swensen or A. Olsen at the Research Centre, Porsgrunn by phone, post or fax. Porsgrunn, 1995-09-11 Frcld barn Arild Olsen 5R_DS2,.000a Research Centre Classification: Internal p"8 Porsgrunn Page: 10f2 ed Date: 1995-06-01 Gpopend:x 7 NOTE Subject: High temperature gaskets in nitric acid plants Exchange of experience, questionaire To: See attached list Copy: @ystein Nirisen From: Bernt Swensen ‘The use of gaskets in the temperature range 300° - 900° C is handled differently in the Hydro nitric acid plants. Different experience has been made in plants, some good and some bad. To be able to optimize the use of gaskets in this area, we would like to ask you to share your experience with other plants by filling in the attached questionnaire. This will give us a valuable tool to develop a guideline for the selection of gaskets in high temperature service. ‘We would very much appreciate if you send this questionnaire to the adequate person in your organisation. Normally you will have several gasket concepts for high temperature use in your plant. We would be very grateful if each of these concepts would be described on separate questionnaires. (take copies) By return, you can use either post or telefax. Our postal address is: Hydro Porsgrunn Industripark Research Centre N-3901 PORSGRUNN Norway Our telex number is: +47 35 563476 best regards _ Bernt Swansen/GASKET.DOCInternal Research Centre Page 2 of 2 Fppendix 2 Location in the plant: Medium: Design temperature/service temperatur. Approximate gasket temperature: Design pressure/service pressure: Gasket diameter/flange configuration: Does the gasket require a special flange facing: ‘Type of gasket: + Asbestos gaskets. (CAF/IT, with or without inserts) + Nonashestos gaskets (rubberbonded, aramide/Kevlar/glass fibres with inorganic fille) — * Graphite gaskets (kind of inserts): — + Spiral wound gaskets (kind of fille, Graphite, asbestos, ceramies, others) + Envelope gaskets (envelope materia, filler material) * Metal jacketed gasket (jacket material, filler material): + Braided strings (type of fibres): - ‘© Metal gasket (shape and material): = Other types: Is the connection retightened during service: Supplier of the gasket, Trademark: Lifetime: Advantages/disadvantages with this type of gasket: Cause for replacement: Does a gasket specification exist for the plant/site? If yes, please submit a copy. Bernt Swenser/GASKET.DOC(a Research Centre P+9 Porsgrunn bod Appendcx? TELEFAX Classification: Internal To: Distribution HNO, plants From: Bernt Swensen Norsk Hydro a.s Research Centre Porsgrunn P.O.Box 2560 at: See list 1N-3901 Porsgrunn, NORWAY Faxno: See list +47 35 56 3263 +47 35 56 20 00 Date: 1995-06-06 Number of pages: 3 Subject: Questionaire high temperature gaskets Aanund Jore Torleif Nilsen Karl Olson Bo Granlie Harald Schwieg Girard Lemmonier Philippe Chaboche Philippe Michiels Tom Grundy Rik Lambotte Bomt Swensen/FAXLIST, DOC Hydro Agri Porsgrunn Hydro Agri Glomfjord Hydro Supra Landskrona Hydro Supra Képing Hydro Agri Rostock Hydro Agri France, Ambés Hydro Agri France, Montoir Hydro Agri France, Pardies Hydro Agri Immingham Hydro Agri Sluiskil +47 35 562901 +47 75 719400 +46 41 817225 +46 22 27964 +49 38 20253136 433 56 772306 +33 40 171627 433 59 609442 #44 14 69571624 43111 572688