Technical Manual 16\" all vessels

Summary

Product Identification

BEL™ 16" vessels are high-performance composite pressure vessels designed for Reverse Osmosis (RO), Nano-filtration (NF), and Ultra-filtration (UF) membrane applications.

They are manufactured from filament wound Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) over chrome-coated mandrels using a superior epoxy resin. Each vessel is designed and tested according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) code for Boiler and Pressure Vessels Section X for Fiber-Reinforced Plastic pressure vessels. BEL™ holds ISO 9001 quality systems certification.

Available models include:

• BEL16-E-300
• BEL16-S-300
• BEL16-E-450
• BEL16-S-450
• BEL16-E-600
• BEL16-S-600
• BEL16-E-1000
• BEL16-E-1200
• BEL16-S-1000
• BEL16-S-1200

Legend:

• E…End Port
• S…Side Port

Each model is available in different lengths to accommodate 1 to 8 elements of 40-inch membranes for 16-inch vessels.

Operating Limits

• Intended Use: Water treatment use only. Do not use with compressed air.
• Operating Pressures:
  • BEL16-E/S-300: up to 150 & 300 psi (10 & 21 bar)
  • BEL16-E/S-450: up to 450 psi (31 bar)
  • BEL16-E/S-600: up to 600 psi (41 bar)
  • BEL16-E/S-1000/1200: up to 1000, 1200 and 1500 psi (69, 87 & 102 bar)
• Permeate Port Pressure: Must not exceed 125 psi (with standard materials).
• Design Pressure Protection: Protection against over-pressurization must ensure pressure does not exceed 105% of design pressure.
• Hydrostatic Test Pressure: Each vessel is pressure tested at 110% of its maximum operating pressure. Vessels are designed to withstand more than 6 times the design pressure.
• Operating Temperature: Should not be continuously operated at temperatures above 120°F (49°C).
• Cycle Life: Designed for 100,000 cycles of working pressure.
• Fluid Compatibility: Materials of construction must be compatible with the process fluid, preserving, and cleaning fluids.

Mechanical / Hydraulic

Construction

• Manufactured from filament wound Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP).
• Wound over precise Chrome coated mandrels using a superior epoxy resin.
• Designed to the engineering requirements of the latest version of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) code for Boiler and pressure vessels section X.

Configurations

• Vessels accommodate 1 to 8 40-inch membranes.
• 16-inch diameter vessels are available in End Port (E) and Side Port (S) configurations.

Part List (Partial, for 16-S model)

• Pressure Vessel BEL 16-S
• Side Port 4"-6" (1-4 quantity)
• Disk For Side Port (1-4 quantity)
• Seal For Side Port (1-4 quantity)
• Retaining Ring For Side Port (1-4 quantity)
• Base Plate (2 quantity)
• Sealing Plate (2 quantity)
• Seal For Sealing Plate (2 quantity)
• Seal For Adapter (2 quantity)
• Seal For Permeate Port (2 quantity)
• Permeate Port (2 quantity)
• Retaining Ring For Permeate Port (2 quantity)
• Support Ring (2 quantity)
• DIN 912-M8 x 45 (8 quantity)
• Thrust Ring & Locator (1 quantity)
• Straps (2-3 quantity)
• Saddles (2-3 quantity)

Installation

• Vessels must be installed horizontally on support saddles (black urethane) with the drain hole facing down.
• Vessels must not be rigidly clamped, allowing for axial and radial expansion (typically up to 0.5 mm in diameter and 2-3 mm in length for an eight-element vessel).
• Use flexible connectors (e.g., Victaulic®) for piping connections.
• Vessels should not support other system components. Piping manifolds and fittings should be supported by properly designed system framework.
• The total weight of any branch connection and fittings supported by the vessel should not exceed 5 kg for either the feed/concentrate or permeate ports.
• Membrane elements should be inserted at the upstream end and removed from the downstream end (in the direction of feed flow).
• Do not over-tighten vessel straps. U-bolts should not be used for mounting.
• The recommended permeate port connection is a U-bend pipe with flexible connections or a flexible hose.

O-Rings and Lubrication

• All seals must be lubricated with an appropriate lubricant (Glycerin or Parker-Super-O-Lube™ recommended) prior to installation.
• Lubricant should be applied sparingly, just before seal installation, to prevent contamination and fouling of membranes.
• Do not allow petroleum or silicone-based chemicals (other than approved lubricants) to contact membrane parts.
• O-rings must be handled carefully during assembly to avoid twisting, forcing over sharp edges, or pinching.

Maintenance & Safety Precautions

• Always ensure the vessel is fully depressurized before attempting any work or disassembling components.
• Do not use vessels with damaged or faulty parts; replace any corroded or damaged components.
• Only qualified mechanics experienced with high-pressure hydraulic systems should disassemble or assemble the vessel.
• Membrane installation must follow the membrane supplier's instructions, paying attention to flow direction and orientation.
• Adapters must be installed on both ends of the element column, and a thrust ring at the downstream end.
• Head assembly at the feed side should be shimmed with PVC disks to minimize membrane movement.
• Inspect internal surfaces for corrosion or deposits and clean as necessary.
• Never attempt to repair the fiberglass vessel or disassemble the feed/concentrate port in a side-port vessel without consulting BEL.
• Do not over-tighten components into the thermoplastic permeate port (not more than one turn past hand tight).
• Ensure all support ring components are properly installed and secured.
• When re-assembling, apply a thin layer of Parker-Super-O-Lube™ inside the vessel ends for the main head-seal.
• When pressurizing, ensure the vessel is fully and properly assembled with all necessary elements, membranes, and adapters.
• Fill vessels gradually with fluid to facilitate removal of trapped air, and pressurize slowly and gradually to prevent damage.

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Disclaimer: This summary is based on the provided text extract. It may not include all figures, footnotes, or the latest revisions of the complete OEM PDF. For contractual data and comprehensive information, the official OEM PDF revision used on the project must be consulted.

Official datasheet (PDF)

PDF datasheet