I. Based on Laws and Technical Standards
Air compressor‑mounted air receivers are classified as stationary pressure vessels, and their decommissioning must strictly comply with the “Special Equipment Safety Technical Specification TSG 21—2016: Safety Supervision and Inspection Rules for Stationary Pressure Vessels.” This specification explicitly stipulates that air receivers reaching their design service life, failing inspection, exhibiting severe defects that cannot be repaired, or being determined by a safety assessment to no longer meet operating conditions shall be decommissioned.
II. Main Conditions for Decommissioning
- Exceeding the design service life (typically 10 years) without having undergone the required fitness‑for‑service evaluation;
- Discovering during periodic inspection irreparable defects such as cracks exceeding allowable limits, extensive corrosion thinning, material degradation, or structural distortion;
- Failure of safety accessories (such as safety valves and pressure gauges) that cannot be calibrated or replaced;
- Following incidents of overpressure, overheating, or operator error, a subsequent inspection confirms a significant reduction in load‑carrying capacity;
- Lack of technical documentation, missing nameplates, or inability to trace manufacturing and inspection records, rendering effective assessment impossible.
III. Periodic Inspection Is a Critical Step in Decommissioning Determination
According to TSG 21, air receivers must undergo periodic inspections, including external examinations, internal and external inspections, and hydrostatic tests. Inspection intervals are generally as follows: those rated safety levels 1 or 2 must be inspected at least once every six years; those at level 3, at least once every three years; and those at level 4 should be closely monitored, with shortened inspection cycles. If an inspection concludes that the vessel is to be decommissioned or may not continue in service, it must be taken out of operation and the decommissioning procedures must be completed.
IV. Requirements for Decommissioning Disposal
Upon confirmation of decommissioning, the vessel shall be depressurized and emptied, its connecting pipelines disconnected, and its pressure‑containing structure rendered inoperable (e.g., by making openings or cutting off the heads), with appropriate markings and records maintained. Unauthorized modification, reduced‑pressure operation, or resale of decommissioned air receivers that have not been deregistered are strictly prohibited.