EXPERIENCE IN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION OF ROLLED PLATES DESIGNEDFOR THE MANUFACTURE OF VESSELS AND TANKS FOR STORAGEAND PROCESSING OF LIQUEFIED GASES

Abstract

The use of liquefied gases in the modern world is quite promising: thermal energy, chemical production, in
capacity of natural gas motor fuel. Certain calculations show that transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) over long distances is less expensive than supplying gas through main pipelines. Another argument in favor of LNG is the geography of natural gas fields: the regions of the Far North that are adjacent to the Northern Sea Route. The equipment of plants for the production of liquefied gases is quite metal-consuming. At the same time, the overwhelming majority of metal products used for the respective equipment are operated at the boiling point of liquefied natural gas ‒167 °C. Along with natural gas, industry also consumes other liquefied gases (ethylene, oxygen, and nitrogen). In the production of liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen is simultaneously produced by separating liquefied air, which in turn is used as a refrigerant. Cryogenic tanks are used to store liquefied gases. Typically, transportation and storage of gases is carried out at the boiling point of the respective gas, down to ‒196 °C. Currently, in the Russian Federation, expensive aluminum alloys, as well as austenitic stainless steels such as steel type 18/10 (18 % Cr/10 % Ni) are used as materials for the manufacture of vessels and tanks intended for storage, processing and transportation of liquefied gases. Currently, the highest priority in
the development of any industry is to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Working in this direction, JSC Ural Steel together with JSC NPO TSNIITMASH, has mastered the production of rolled plates from sparingly alloyed ferritic cryogenic steel grade 0Н6ДМБ for liquefied gas plants. The results of an extensive study of the metallurgical quality of rolled plates made from the newly developed 0Н6ДМБ steel confirmed the high level of toughness and ductility over the entire range of possible operating temperatures of cryogenic apparatuses down to ‒196 °C. Studies of weldability and
welding-technological properties have confirmed the possibility of using rolled plates from the newly developed 0Н6ДМБ steel in the manufacture of cryogenic equipment operated at a temperature of down to ‒196 °C. The research resulted in confirmation by the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor) of the use of rolled plates of 0Н6ДМБ steel grade for the manufacture of vessels (apparatuses, tanks) intended for storing and transporting liquefied natural gas.