Protection for the Protection Ring
 In
order to protect the manway opening nozzle
of glass-lined reactors most commonly separate
glass-lined protection rings according to
DIN 28153-1 (figure 1) are used.
The fundamental idea for using a protection
ring is that this one fully covers the manway
nozzle flange. Furthermore the top-side of
the protection ring is the exposed surface
and not vessel nozzle itself. Should in the
process of filling through or by entering
the reactor for inspection, etc. the surface
or edge become , then only the protection
ring needs replacement. Should otherwise the
manway opening nozzle get damaged, then only
a very costly repair of the reactor remains
as an option.
Based on inputs and feedback from many customers
and users THALEMAIL has transformed this into
a simple and low cost, but very effective
new product: called "The Protection for
the Protection Ring" by use of a special
PTFE-envelope.
Figure: Application and cross-section
of a PTFE-envelope to protect the glasslined
Protection Ring: (a) glass-lined Protection
Ring according to DIN 28153-1, (b) envelope;
(1) reinforced top of the PTFE-envelope,
(2) reinforced edge protection, (3) reinforced
inner side, (4) equalizing bottom side of
the envelope
The concept is simple: To protect the exposed
top surface of the protection ring from
damages it only requires a PTFE-envelope,
which encloses the glass-lined DIN manway
opening protection ring (figure 2). On the
envelope's top side there is a reinforced
edge protection, which protects the protection
ring from direct damages caused by impact.
Should, however, the impact is severe and
cut through the edge of the envelope, then
this one at least prevents glass chips from
falling into the reactor and contaminate
the product. In evaluating the potential
risk of corrosion when the glass of such
a new protection ring gets damaged and comparing
this to the conventional one made from solid
PTFE or PTFE with metal insert, then this
solution carries the true advantage.
In summary, the protection of the protection
ring has the following advantages:
- Any installed reactor can be retrofitted.
- Standardized DIN 28153-1 Norm specifying
the thickness of 30 mm for glass-lined
protection rings. Design for protection
rings of different thicknesses can be
offered on request.
- Protection of the protection ring against
impact arising from strong bounces, as
these may occur during filling and entering
of the reactor through the manway.
- Should for one reason or another protection
ring gets damaged and chipping of the
glass occurs, then these chips will not
contaminate the product.
- In most cases does a damage of the PTFE-envelope
and the protection ring not result in
a stop of production at that moment.
- The base material and the glass enamel
are one and the same in terms of chemical
resistance.
- The gasket of the manway opening and
the reactor are not affected in any case.
At present PTFE-envelopes for manway protection
rings in sizes DN 500 and DN 600 are available
from stock. They are made of top quality virgin
PTFE material, also with an FDA-certificate
upon request.
It is possible for any user to retrofit
installed glass-lined protection rings of
the referenced thickness by himself.
Table 1: overview of the protection rings
presently available
| DN |
Part No. |
Thickness of the
ring |
| 500 |
19020345 |
approx. 30 mm |
| 600 |
19020346 |
approx. 30 mm |
|
