External Paint System for Vessels that are to be Steam Cleaned

[balven]

Dear all,

This post is regarding the type of external painting system that should be specified on carbon steel vessels to be cleaned with steam (at atmospheric pressure). The steam temperature is close to 180 deg. C. Does the steam out condition need to be considered while specifying the external paint system ? If a vessel’s max. operating temperature is, say 30 deg. C but it has to be steam cleaned, can I specify the 3-coat external paint system (zinc-rich epoxy primer + high build epoxy intermediate coat + polyurethane topcoat) ? What is the risk involved and how can it be mitigated ?

Request you to kindly share your experience in this matter.

Regards,
Balvendra Pal

 

[cloa]

How long and how much is this ( I assume internal) steam cleaning expected to last for (max) and what is the dimensions of the pressure vessel?

 

[balven]

Hi Cloa, the steam cleaning is internal, and is expected to last for 3-4 hours. There are several such pressure vessels of various sizes.

 

[cloa]

What is the smallest vessel? At what rate is steam max output?

 

[SJones]

So, would that maximum operating temperature not need resetting? Get some heat transfer calculations done to assess the temperature that will be achieved at the steel coating interface, and then confirm with the paint manufacturer that this temperature is tolerable for intermittent short term exposure.

Steve Jones
Materials & Corrosion Engineer

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/8/83b/b04

All answers are personal opinions only and are in no way connected with any employer.

 

[yidlibi]

If you use IOZ/Epoxy/PUR you should be alright. IOZ will handle heat up to 400 C