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Meyer Tool Manufactures Helium Liquefier Cold Boxes
Cold Facts, Summer 2009
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Meyer Tool and Manufacturing, Inc. is in the process of fabricating three large cryogenic equipment “cold boxes” for Cryo Technologies of Allentown PA. Both companies are Corporate Sustaining Members of CSA. When completed in late 2009, the cold boxes will be part of a helium liquefaction system to be installed in the western United States.
A helium liquefier is the process system and equipment used to take helium gas at room temperature and make it into a cryogenic liquid at near absolute zero. After the helium gas is extracted from a natural gas stream, it will be first purified and then liquefied by Cryo Technologies’ process system. Transforming helium gas into a cryogenic liquid is the most economical way to transport and store a large mass of helium. |
Cold Box Vacuum Shell Section
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ASME Code Pressure Vessel
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With this project, design, engineering and fabrication are taking place concurrently. Manufacturing custom systems always presents challenges, but working just a few weeks downstream of fabrication drawings involves difficulties in project scheduling and execution that are being deftly handled by Meyer Tool’s project engineering and manufacturing team.
Similar in complexity to other large projects manufactured by Meyer Tool, these cold boxes contain a complex array of interconnecting pressure vessels, valves, piping, heat exchangers and instrumentation. Meyer Tool’s familiarity with how these large complex cryogenic systems go together allows their personnel to continue fabrication without a complete drawing package. This approach yields shorter equipment deliveries and earlier returns on the end user’s investment. |
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The project includes more than a dozen ASME Code pressure vessels. These “U” stamped vessels are stainless steel construction, with x-ray quality welds, and charpy impact tested materials and weld processes (due to the -450˚F design temperatures).
The project also includes ASME B31.3 process piping involving over 200 individual piping spools ranging from 0.5" Pipe to 8" Pipe in both aluminum and stainless steel. These process spools are required to pass a 5% x-ray of all welds, a helium leak test and a pressure test. Meyer Tool is also responsible for fabrication of the internal and external support structures, superinsulation blankets, installation and testing of controls valves and instrumentation, as well as the three insulating Vacuum Vessels that contain all the ASME Code pressure vessels, heat exchangers, process piping, etc. The vacuum vessels are up to 10 feet in diameter with carbon steel shells, with F&D heads at the ends. While built and shipped horizontally, the cold boxes are installed and operate vertically. |
ASME Code Pressure Vessel
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