Session: MF-24-04 Materials and Fabrication for Refining - 4

Paper Number: 105721

105721 - Ultra-Thick 9% Nickel Plates for Cryogenic Pressurized Equipments 

9%Ni (as per ASME SA553 type I) is the reference material for the fabrication of large LNG storage tanks servicing at -163°C/-260F and industry has a long experience with that alloy. Considering the case of pressurized applications, the situation is largely different as only few examples of using 9%Ni can be found. AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel is in that case the material of choice, despite its low strength.

 

On the one hand, usual applications in LNG business as well as new low temperature applications linked to the Global Energy Transition could benefit of high performances coming with that alloy. In particular, its very high strength (about twice one of 304L) permits to significantly reduced the call thickness of pressure vessels while keeping an excellent level of toughness and hence of safety.

 

But on the other hand, experience with thick sections is very scare and hence pressurized equipment would require significantly thicker product that low pressure above ground flat bottom storage tanks. Demonstration of the industrial feasibility of such equipments needed to be done.

 

The present paper aims at summarizing recent developments made to produce ultra-thickness plates (up to and above 100mm/4inches thick) and data achieved on such thick products. Base material as well as welds have been extensively studied, in various thermal states able to replicate all industrial configurations required by customers. In particular, material properties after PWHT have been measured, as some pressure vessel construction codes may require such treatments after welding or forming operations.

 

Finally, heterogenous welds between 9%Ni and 304L austenitic stainless steel have been tested with the aim of enabling the use of conventional pressure vessel sub-components (such as nozzles, piping, flanges) with 9%Ni pressure vessel.

 

Performances of materials down to -196°C/-320F have been addressed by the various tests made during the study. All results achieved are satisfactory and it is demonstrated to be safe to use 9%Ni for the fabrication of large pressure vessels.

Presenting Author: Sylvain Pillot Arcelormittal

Presenting Author Biography: Worked as R&D Engineer and Group Leader for 16 years at Industeel, a business unit of ArcelorMittal focused on heavy plate production. Hold several positions all in the Field of steel grades developments for energy markets (petroleum refining, gas treatment, LNG, nuclear, …) and developed expertise in related fields (fracture mechanics, high temperature service, steel-hydrogen interactions, hydrogen embrittlement, …).
Then between 2017 and 2022, worked as Technology Coordinator in a transverse position for all ArcelorMittal business units, performing technical analyses of energy markets needs for new steels and promoting the current offer, including increasingly new technologies and energy sources linked to the Global Energy Transition (GET).
Since early 2023, moved to Industeel Marketing Project Team in charge of Pressure Vessels, Cryogenics and GET activities.

Authors:

Sylvain Pillot Arcelormittal
Jean-Christophe Milek Industeel
Anne Higelin Industeel
Ian Zuazo Industeel
Natalia Loukachenko Industeel