ASME pressure Vessel specialists Houston Vessel Manufacturing (HVM), a sister company of Generon IGS, completed 144 PED certified vessels and 96 CE certified Air Lock assemblies in less than ten (10) weeks from approved drawings. Vessels were purchased by Allen-Sherman-Hoff (A-S-H is the recognized global industry leader in ash handling and is a division of Diamond Power International, Inc) and will be used by AES-3C, a subsidiary the AES Corporation, in a state of the art power plant being constructed in Bulgaria under AES-3C’s design and management.

All the vessels are Air Lock Assemblies for a Power Generation Plant and are PED 97/23/EC (European Pressure Equipment Directive), ASME Sec VIII Div 1, and CE certified. Each assembly consists of three individual PED vessels that are, when completed, assembled and then wiring and tubing is installed for pneumatic and electrical controls, as well as all fabrication and assembly of mechanical components for the air lock valves.

The three companies, working closely with the PED and ASME bodies and inspectors, were able to complete this impressive amount of work by coordinating design, engineering, on-site personnel, and fabricators to ensure issues were identified and corrected promptly.

This impressive accomplishment encountered all the same hiccups every job encounters; rejected material, rework, multiple hold points, 3rd party inspectors being scheduled, etc. But, due to the guidance and oversight from A-S-H, along with their customer AES, HVM was able to complete the project within the specified time frame allotted.

The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) is European Legislation based on Essential Safety Requirements (ESRs) that govern design, manufacturing, inspection and testing. PED affects most equipment that will be placed on the market in the European Economic Area (EEA) designed for pressures above 0.5 bar g or 7.25 psi g. It assures the vessel is safe and meets essential safety requirements covering design, manufacture and testing; satisfies appropriate conformity assessment procedures; and carries the CE marking and other information. The fabricator must have each participating welder be “3rd Party” certified to PED standards along with authorized inspectors, associated with the European body, who are required to perform ‘sign offs’ at every fit and weld; as well as witness the hydrostatic test.

HVM maintains ASME certifications for ASME Section VIII, Division 1 and Division 2, "U", "R" and “NB” Stamps conforming to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the National Board of Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspectors codes, as well as certificate registration for CRN, (Canadian Registration Number) and PED, (European Union - Pressure Equipment Directive). Also maintaining certifications in ABS, AS-1210, NR-13, DNV, ABS, API, and others; HVM can meet your vessel and welding specifications.