Example of the ASME pressure vessel components forging process

What is the Difference Between the Casting and Forging Process?

On the surface, the casting process and the forging process may seem very similar. Both involve the use of red-hot metal, and both are industrial processes that require a lot of energy to complete, but there are some fundamental differences that you should know about. These differences are especially important when selecting the right ASME pressure vessel components manufacturer. The …

Block for block forging performed at a forged component manufacturer

What Is Industrial Block Forging?

Block forging can be broken down into two different types: open die block forging and closed die block forging. This type of forging is frequently called drop forging because the metal block is shaped by raising and then dropping a hammer onto the heated block of metal to shape it. Block forging is a process commonly used within a forged …

Examples of long weld neck flanges produced at FCI, the world’s premier long weld neck flange manufacturer

What Are the Benefits of Using Long Weld Neck Flanges?

Long weld neck flanges are common specialized connections used in the energy, oil, and petrochemical industries among others. They are typically found in complex pipeline systems serving multi-level buildings and refineries. But why are they considered to be the perfect pressure vessel connections for these pipeline systems? Here are a few of the reasons: Extremely Strong and Reliable Long weld …

Pressure vessel flanges for a frac head

What Are the Different Components of a Frac Head?

There are several common components used in a frac head during hydraulic fracturing operations. Frac Stacks Frac stacks are pressure vessel components that temporarily replace the production wellhead during fracking operations. These stacks protect the production wellhead from the effects of high-pressure abrasion and corrosion caused by the fracking process. Hydraulic and Manual Frac Valves Because these valves–most of the time …

natural gas compressor station that uses ASME flanges

What is a Natural Gas Compressor Station?

A natural gas compressor station is a part of a network of pipes, connectors and flanges designed to transport gas from the production wells to the gas consumers. Because of factors such as the distance between the well and end-user, friction, and different elevation along the pipeline, the gas needs a periodic “boost” along the natural gas pipeline network to help …

Separator for extracting oil and gas from a pressure vessel components manufacturer

What is a Sand Separator?

In the most basic sense, a sand separator is anything designed to separate sand or other solid particulate matter from water. They do not separate all of the solids from the liquid but are an essential initial part of the process of getting a lot of solid particles out of the liquid. This approach is used in waste management and …

Tube sheet diagram from a forged pressure vessel manufacturer

What Is a Tube Sheet for a Heat Exchanger?

Tube sheets have holes drilled to accept a series of tubes inside of an enclosed tubular pressure vessel. These pressure vessels, commonly referred to as shell and tube heat exchangers, are the most common heat exchangers used in oil refineries and large chemical plants. The tube sheet itself serves as a supporting element in heat exchangers and boilers. The tube …

Valves for forged vessel components

More Common Valves Used in the Oil & Gas Industry

Last month we discussed some of the common valves used in the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. But there are many different types of valves used as pressure vessel connections for oil, gas and petrochemical tasks. Here are a few more valve types you should be aware of: ARC Valves Also known as ARV (Automatic Recirculation Valves), ARC (Automatic …

Forged flanges for a frac head

What is a Frac Head?

A frac head is part of the equipment used in hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” a process used to extract oil or natural gas through injecting fluid through specially designed equipment that pushes it into existing cracks or fissures at high pressure, causing them to fracture or open further, making it easier to get to the valuable oil or natural gas …