GMM Pfaudler manufactures 150,000-liter reactor in Alloy Steel

GMM Pfaudler, founded in 1962, is the market leader for glass-lined equipment in India. Over the years, GMM Pfaudler has diversified its product portfolio and services, especially our Heavy Engineering Division.  

The Heavy Engineering Division provides design and production of equipment in critical sectors such as Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Fertilizers, Specialty Chemical and Pharmaceutical industries.

Special alloy steels are required for different applications in the process industry where the chemical process involves corrosion, thermal cracking, etc., which is highly detrimental to normal grade steels.  For example, corrosion in the petrochemical industry (refineries) is of considerable importance as equipment failures can have serious consequences because processes at high temperatures usually involve high pressure as well.  With hydrocarbon streams there is always the danger of fire when rupture occurs. Corrosion is primarily caused by sulphur compounds originating in the crude oil. The selection of the proper alloy depends on the design and the operating conditions of the process unit.

GMM Pfaudler provides customized process equipment according to the project specifications and process requirements. These involve Reactors, Columns, Heat Exchangers, Dryers, and High Efficiency Agitators, in wide ranging materials of construction, including exotic metallurgies such as Hastelloy, Monel, Inconel, Duplex, Super Duplex, Cupro-Nickel, Nickel, Low Alloy Steels and Clad steels. 

As a case study example, one recent key project, in clad stainless steel construction, was performed for one of the main chemical manufacturers.  This special project was for two of the heaviest reactors ever manufactured by GMM Pfaudler.  Some of the challenges faced in the manufacture of these thick-walled vessels were: 

a) manufacture of dished ends by use of crown and petal segments; 
b) joining of the top and bottom sections while ensuring the vessel alignment; 
c) machining of the drive nozzle to ensure perpendicularity for proper alignment of the agitator.

With our large production capacity supported by our engineering services, we supplied a unique solution for the customer with proper design and on-time delivery. 

The main features of the two reactors: 

Base Material:   Carbon Steel clad with 4 mm Stainless Steel 
Diameter:   4700 mm
Length:   12.029 mm
Thickness of Shell:  56 + 4 mm 
Weight:   110 tons

Contact Pfaudler today to learn more.