This is true for the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries more so than it is for any other. Sight glass for oil and gas applications is installed in many tanks, storage and active process tanks alike to allow for constant visual quality inspection.
Two similarities found across many oil, gas, and petrochemical production processes are the presence of chemicals and the use of high pressures.
Oil, gas, and other petrochemical processes require high pressures to be maintained at certain phases throughout the process. Extreme variations in pressure are also common. Sight glass has the potential to be a weak spot in an otherwise sound system.
In order to prevent loss of product or raw materials and, more importantly, to maintain worker safety, high-pressure sight glass should be used.
Another factor to consider for petrochemical applications is sight glass’s resistance to corrosive chemicals.
Similar to high pressure situations, glass has the potential to be a weak spot for chemical resistance.
Luckily, there are types of glass, such as borosilicate, that have a high resistance to acids and other harmful chemicals.
Is Your Glass Material Suitable for Your Application?
Find out with our Glass Material Properties chart.
Understanding your glass material’s thermal, chemical and physical properties is critical to ensure it can withstand the application’s use and environment.
The best variety of glass for use with specific sight glass requirements will depend on the distinct aspects of the particular application. Swift Glass fabricates sight glass using a number of different types of glass to ensure it can meet a wide range of needs.
To help in your glass purchasing decisions, Swift Glass offers Selecting & Maintaining Sight Glass, an eBook written specifically to help you select the right sight glass for your application; a Material Properties Chart, and a guide to Glass That Withstands Extreme Environments.
Visit our Resource Library to access all of these free guides.
Contact a glass expert to learn more about how Swift Glass can help
with your project.
