GL Glass Lined Vessels

Closed-welded reactors with no main cover The new standard in glass-lined steel reactors, the GL reactor has several advantages over the older SA/RA style, while maintaining the same dimensions and nozzle array. GL reactors are available with either a conventional jacket (GL) or with a HemiCoil® split pipe-coil jacket (CGL). Advantages of the GL: Higher internal pressure ratings GlasLock^® agitator standard More and larger process nozzles Larger manway Fewer spare parts needed Because De Dietrich’s GL and CGL reactors do not require a large main opening, there is a gain in top head strength. This enables the GL series to attain a higher pressure rating of 130 psig versus 100 psig. Also, without a main opening, the need for a large gasket (and possible shimming) is eliminated. Elimination of the main opening removes a primary escape route for liquid leaks and fugitive gases. Absence of the main opening means there is room for more and/or larger nozzles on the top head. The nozzle layout of the standard GL is essentially interchangeable with the SA Series. In some cases, a particular nozzle may be larger to accommodate a flange-mounted baffle but remains in the same location. GL reactor manways are larger. For sizes 750 through 2000 gallon manway openings are 18 inch round, as compared to 14” x 18” elliptical on SA reactors. The GlasLock^® Agitator The GL/CGL concept is made possible by use of De Dietrich’s adjustable blade GlasLock^® agitator. The agitator blades are easily passed through the manway for installation and removal. (Request Bulletin 118 for additional details on the GlasLock^® agitator.) GL sizes range from 300 to 25,000 gallons. Popular sizes 300 through 4000 gallons are stocked at De Dietrich’s Corpus Christi, Texas manufacturing facility for quick delivery.	For technical information select the appropriate size
Manufacturing GL Top Heads At the De Dietrich factory, heads are formed and machined, nozzles are swaged and attached to the head using sophisticated positioners and robotic welding stations. Here, a QC manager conducts a final check before the completed head moves on to the fabrication shop.
Spraying the Glass Here we see a skilled technician applying our high performance 3009 glass formulation to the welded-up reactor. The glass lining is sprayed on the prepared steel. The vessel is then moved into the furnace to “fuse” the glass and steel together, via mechanical and chemical adherence. The 3009 glass formulation offers superior corrosion resistance over a broad range of chemical applications. (For more information request Bulletin “3009 Glass”.)
Firing the vessel At De Dietrich, all furnaces for high temperature firing (baking) of glass lined steel equipment are all electric, whether located in Corpus Christi, Texas, Zinswiller, France or elsewhere in the world. These state-of-the-art furnaces have special multi-zone computerized programming, assuring precise control of sensitive time/temperature cycles during heating and cooling, for the best application of glass to steel. These sophisticated furnaces enable De Dietrich to produce more “plug free” vessels than any other glass-lined steel manufacturer in the world!