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Spanish storage tanks in LDX 2101
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Spanish Emypro is building 13 large storage tanks in LDX 2101 duplex stainless steel from Outokumpu. Filler metals are being supplied by Avesta Welding, which is also providing expert knowledge on welding duplex steels.
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Spain is an exciting market and Avesta Welding has several projects on the go here. As a result of increased interest in duplex stainless steels, there is an increasing need for knowledge on how they should be welded. Along with welding instructor Ole Öhrn and sales representatives from Outokumpu, Fredrik Hägg, head of technical market support at Avesta Welding, has just spent a sunny, autumn week in Spain.
“Particularly because of the comparatively low material costs, many customers are nowadays choosing low-alloy high-strength duplex steels. The price of the alloying elements in the raw materials is very high just now. However, thanks to its particular duplex microstructure, the new steel grade being used here has very good properties, even though the degree of alloying, the nickel content, is low,” says Fredrik Hägg.
Vastly experienced in building stainless steel storage tanks, Emypro was one of the customers to receive a visit. For Relisa, Emypro has started the first of 13 storage tanks in LDX 2101 duplex stainless steel from Outokumpu. The tanks are to be used to store, amongst other things, honey, oils and molasses. They will each be a full 25 metres high and 19 metres in diameter. That comes to a little over 7,000 cubic metres. In total, Emypro will use 1,350 tonnes of LDX 2101 for Relisa’s tanks.
“Avesta Welding has a long and successful history of collaboration with Outokumpu. Emypro is a good example of this. The company was going to make the tanks in ASTM 304. However, it heard Outokumpu talking about the new stainless steel, LDX 2101, and chose this instead. It thus saved over half a million euros in materials costs alone,” explains Fredrik Hägg.
By exploiting LDX 2101’s inherent strength, Emypro was able to reduce storage tank thickness (compared to what it would have been if an ordinary austenitic stainless steel had been used). Despite the low-alloy content, LDX 2101 has extremely good corrosion resistance.
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Welding in the vertical-up position, using Avesta LDX 2101 covered electrodes.
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Avesta Welding is supplying matching filler metals - Avesta FCW 2D LDX 2101 for flat welds and LDX 2101 AC/DC covered electrodes for vertical-up welds. Tank sections are being prefabricated at Emypro’s plant outside Barcelona and assembled on-site at Relisa’s tank complex in the port of Barcelona.
Emypro is certainly not the only company to have realised the advantages of duplex stainless steels. Because of the high alloy surcharges, many manufacturers searching for alternatives to austenitic stainless steels have been forced to look at other steel grades. |
“This is satisfying for us as Avesta Welding has specialised towards this area. Including the necessary knowledge, we have a complete programme for welding duplex stainless steels. Our experience is important for customers. The techniques for welding duplex steels are different from those for austenitic steels,” comments Fredrik Hägg, who believes that, in all probability, Avesta Welding’s instructors will be making far more trips in the future.
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