Stripper column collapses

FiGURE 3-5 A Stripper column collapses. Courtesy of Guido DeJesus. 

The stainless steel stripper column stood about 82 ft. (25 m) tall, which included a column skirt base of about 15 ft. (4.6 m) tall. The stripper collapsed in the lower 9-ft. diameter (2.7 m) section just below the conical transition section that tapered down to connect with the upper 5A ft. (1.7 m) diameter section. The vessel was designed to operate about 5 psig (34.5 kPa gauge) and was mechanically rated for about 25 psig (173 kPa gauge). 

Figure 3.7 A close-up of a collapsed stripper column base.

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