In chemical production, overpressure accidents are one of the main risks leading to equipment damage, casualties, and environmental disasters. As a key safeguard for pressure vessels, bursting discs for chemical and petrochemical industry always protect the safety of the entire facility at critical moments. However, not all bursting discs can operate safely. So, what kind of bursting discs for chemical and petrochemical industry do chemical plants truly need? And what capabilities of suppliers should be focused on when selecting bursting discs?
Core features that top-quality bursting discs should have:
1. Bursting performance: According to the HG/T 20570.3-1995 standard 'Setting and Selection of Bursting Discs', the maximum bursting pressure should not exceed 35 MPa, suitable for pressure vessels and pipelines in petroleum, petrochemical, and chemical plants. However, in actual engineering applications, bursting discs for chemical and petrochemical industry can control the bursting pressure deviation within an even smaller range (±3%).
2. Service condition resistance: Chemical plant processes are complex, and bursting discs must be able to endure long-term service, tolerating extreme temperatures (from -196°C cryogenic to 800°C high temperature), highly corrosive media (chlorine, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, etc.), and fluctuating pressures.
3. Product types and specification coverage: Top-quality bursting devices should cover the full range of products, such as domed, reverse domed, flat, and graphite types. The same pressure range should accommodate conditions from low pressure of 10 kPa to ultra-high pressure of 100 MPa.
4. Quality assurance system: Each product should have a unique identification, allowing traceability of the raw material batch, production process parameters, and quality inspection records, ensuring that the product’s history can be fully reconstructed at any time.
When selecting bursting discs, five dimensions of the supplier should be considered.
1. Qualifications and certifications: Verify whether the supplier has system certifications (ISO 9001 quality management system as a basic requirement, ISO 14001 environmental management, and ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management system are also common requirements for chemical enterprises), as well as international certifications (for exports or foreign-invested enterprises, attention should also be given to ASME, CE/PED, KHK, and other international certifications).
2. Technical strength and R&D capability: Pay attention to whether the supplier participates in standard setting, such as national standards or industry standards, as these companies generally have a deeper understanding of their products. Also focus on the quantity and quality of patents and the ability to solve issues under special working conditions.
3. Performance and industry recognition: This includes the level of customer cooperation (whether the supplier is listed as a qualified supplier for leading enterprises or top engineering companies), as well as the types of projects (whether they have participated in difficult or high-risk installations). These directly reflect the true technical strength of the supplier.
4. Lifecycle service capability: Evaluate the supplier’s pre-technical support, customization capabilities, pre-sale/post-sale service, and dedicated logistics and transportation.
5. Quality management system: The supplier should have capabilities for raw material control, process control, and finished product inspection. According to the requirements related to the manufacturing license for bursting disc devices, purchased raw materials should come from suppliers with corresponding production capabilities.
Taking Shenyang Xinguang Aerospace Safety System Co., Ltd. as an example, the company was established in 1959 and has over 60 years of development history, with mature experience in the field of bursting discs.
As early as 1986, the company obtained the 'Bursting Disc Device Manufacturing License' issued by the Ministry of Labour of China, and has successively passed international certifications such as ASME and CE, meeting the access standards for domestic and overseas chemical projects.
In 2000, the company was recognized by the Liaoning Provincial Department of Science and Technology as a high-tech enterprise, and actively participated in setting industry standards, contributing to the drafting and formulation of several national and industry standards such as 'Bursting Discs and Bursting Disc Safety Devices' and 'Safety Technical Supervision Regulations for Bursting Disc Devices'.
To date, Shenyang Xinguang has established long-term and stable cooperative relationships with well-known enterprises such as Sinopec, PetroChina, and Qilu Pharmaceutical. Based on the process characteristics of different industry clients, the company can provide customized services, maximizing the applicability and reliability of its products.
Choosing a top bursting disc supplier for chemical plants is also about selecting a reliable partner for factory safety. Bursting discs for chemical and petrochemical industry must have excellent performance, and the suppliers must be able to withstand scrutiny in terms of qualifications, technology, performance, service, and quality management.
