A project manager or process engineer will often devote a significant amount of time and effort to identifying the optimum solution to meet the needs of their application – one that will deliver optimal performance while adhering to specifications and meeting the project’s other restrictions (space, time, and budget). When a major, expensive piece of equipment is given so much thought (as it should be), other ancillary equipment can be disregarded, or at least not given as much thought. Your process peripherals (piping, pumps, valves, columns, column internals, hoses, expansion joints, seals, gaskets, and so on) are crucial extensions of your core process equipment when you think about it.
Piping Options
Choosing a plumbing system for your project should be approached in the same way that you would any other significant piece of machinery. Once the need for pipe has been determined in the system design, you must determine what type of construction material is necessary. If your process involves corrosive media, coated pipes are almost certainly the way to go. Fluoropolymer-lined pipe (the term used to refer to plastic materials like PTFE) and glass-lined pipe are the two basic options. The latter is made in the same way as glass-lined vessels and other glass-lined equipment are made (read this post if you are interested in learning more about how glass lining is manufactured).
We’ll show you how glass-lined pipe and fittings are a suitable solution for your process pipework that offers safe containment of corrosive and hazardous media based on the criteria listed below. And if you’re already utilising glass-lined equipment, the decision should be much easier (after all, shouldn’t your process pipe be of the same quality and performance?).
Properties of Glass-Lined Piping
All of the attributes and benefits of glass-lined containers and other glass-lined components apply to glass-lined pipe. These attributes include:
Corrosion resistance – glass is particularly resistant to acid and alkali corrosion (except for hydrofluoric acid and hot concentrated phosphoric acid)
Many compounds will not adhere to glass yet will adhere to metal.
Purity – glass, which meets stringent quality requirements for culinary and pharmaceutical uses.
Glass is flexible and can withstand a wide range of chemical conditions.
Cleaning is a breeze because to the glass-lined surfaces, which make cleaning and sterilisation a breeze.
Absence of catalytic effect – the composition of glass precludes the catalytic effect that can occur in vessels made of certain unusual metals.
Performance of Glass-Lined Pipes
Many facilities have put various types of pipe systems to the test in the same process circumstances. While they function similarly in many ways, there is frequently a higher variance across time. When put to the test, glass-lined pipe outperforms alternative solutions in the following areas.
Develop
In contrast to PTFE and other fluoropolymer lining materials that are delicate and dependent upon scraped spot and item develop, glass is one of the hardest normal happening materials. Glass lining keeps up with its smooth, impenetrable surface even in the most extreme conditions to incredibly diminish or at times kill item develop.
