4 reasons why reglassing your reactor is a good idea
The vessel shown above is actually a reactor that was sent to us by a customer for reglass.
This image is an example of what can happen to a reactor that has suffered from extremely harsh working conditions including corrosion caused by chemical attack, environmental effects such as erosion and oxidation, and fractures to the glass lining due to mechanical stresses.
Why is reglassing a good idea?
1. It's Faster
Fabricating a glass-lined vessel is an intricate process involving many steps that take a considerable amount of skill and time to complete. Due to the variety of sizes and specifications such as nozzle locations, De Dietrich Process Systems don’t keep a large inventory of stock vessels. Because vessels are manufactured on demand, the order process can take months from the time an order is placed to the time the vessel is delivered and installed onsite. Reglassing, on the other hand, offers a turnaround time that can be measured in weeks versus months since the framework or “skeleton” of the unit already exists.
3. It's Cost Effective
With reglassing, you are using the frame of an existing vessel, and that saves on the cost of steel as well as the labor needed to build the vessel. Less materials and work equates to substantial price cuts – as much as 50% off the list price of a new vessel.
4. It's Environmentally Friendly
In a world where everyone is continually taking more effort to reduce waste through recycling and repurposing materials, reglassing is a great way to minimize your company’s carbon footprint.
But how can you tell if your vessel is a reglass contender or if it is beyond repair? If you are unsure, a qualified service technician can inspect it for you.
2. It’s “Like New”
A vessel that is reglassed undergoes the same glassing procedure as a new vessel. The refurbishment process to the steel substrate of an existing vessel is so meticulous that if you were to put a brand new vessel next to the refurbished one you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Why is that? Because essentially, a reglassed vessel is the same as exact quality as a brand new one. So much so that Dietrich Process Systems will provide a warranty for a reglassed vessel that is identical to the standard warranty that comes with new vessels.
Instead of throwing out your vessel and buying a brand new one, you can actually refurbish your existing one and restore it to “like new” condition at a fraction of the cost. Your vessel has potential to look like this:
Or like this, if you want to upgrade to a HemiCoil jacket (reglassing is the time to think about any additional upgrades you’d like to include in your vessel’s refurbishment):
