Inquiry (采购产品): Accumulator Testing Good day Mr/Me I am the the apppointed Resident Engineer at Hillendale Mine situated about 150 miles north of Durban on the east coast of South Africa. The mine produce heavy minerals for further beneficiation. Two Wirth diaphragm type positive displacenemt pumps manufactured in Germany are used to pump our slimes to the Residue Dam. To reduce pulsation accumulators are fitted on the suction ( model K 80-275)and high pressure delivery line (model K 80-1440) on both pumps. Suction side accumulators serial numbers are 135057 and 135059. The delivery line accumulators are installed above eye level but the serial numbers can be supplied if needed. Like any other country compressed air vessels are viewed as a big potesial hazard and strictly governed by legislation. Under the Mines Health and Safety Act in South Africa a pressure vessel means any vessel in the interior or jacket of which a pressure may occur, but shall not include any- a)boiler; b) vessel in which the pressure is exerted by a liquid harmless to the vessel, the temperature at atmospheric pressure. Provider that a cushion of gas or vapour cannot form above of which does not exceed the boiling point of the liquid; c)working cylinder or chamber of a steam, heat or air engine, nor any transmitting column or pipeline; d) portable gas container; e) vessel in which the maximun working pressure exceeds 40 kilopascals, but but in which the product of the working guage pressure in kilopascals and the capacity in cubic metres does not exceed 10. The Act does not define a accumulator seperately but one can argue that the accumulators are pressure vessels due to the pressure and volume product greater than 10 if calculated. I have discussed this in the past with Machinery Inspectors and with Legal Advisors but cannot get a clear answer whether to view it as an pressure vessel or not. Basicly one have two options and that is to view it as a pressure vessel and to comply to all the other pressure vessel regulations or to view it as not a vessel. If one view it as a vessel than I have to apply for several regulation exemptions according to our regulations eg. for liquid level indicators, safety valve, drain valves etc. as well as getting the manufacturing certificates and get the vessels certified etc. Are these type of accumulators manufactured to the same or beter Goverment or other approved standards than normal pressure air vessels? How will industry classify these accumulators in the States and will the same regulations that apply for pressure vessels also apply for hydraulic and air accumulators? Is there different regulations for accumulators than for pressure vessels? Please comment and advise. Regards Pierre van Zyl **** Hidden Message ***** Pierre Van Zyl Hillendale Mine, Esikhaweni RichardsbayZAF Company: Ticor SA Title: Mr Phone: +27832796999 E-mail: pierre.vanzyl@ticor-sa.com **** Hidden Message ***** pierre.vanzyl@ticor-sa.com
