Quality assurance of pressure vessels and tanks for the transport of liquified gas

摘要

A large number of tanks is used for road-, railway- and shiptransport of the large quantity of technical gases from the gas-producer to the consuming industries. With respect to the nature of the gas and the means of transport, the constructionand size of such tanks differ. Usually these tanks are built in a cylindrical form, but for the transport by ship there are also spheres in use.The liquified gases are classified as dangerous goods. Therefore the international and national regulations for the carriage of dangerous goods habe to be obeyed in the production and during the operation of the tanks. In addition they need an officialapproval. These rules give the requirements which have to be met and define the independent authorized inspector, who has to assure that the quality is fulfilled.The quality assurance system with the authorized inspector includes the initial inspection with the approval of the manufacturer and the different tests of the tanks, the fitting and the vehicles.The quality assurance system and these tests before the start of working of the tanks and the vehicles are extended by making periodic inspections by the authorized inspector at fixed intervals.Experience with the operation of the tanks and of accidents which have happened during the transport of liquified gases in the last years allows one to postulate that the regulations and the testing rules are sufficient to fulfill and to keep the highsafety standard.