PED CE Inconel 825 Steam Generator Delivered to Czech Republic for Air Products / Energoaqua
By Qiangbin Chu · Sales Manager & Operations Lead
How Lmart engineered a corrosion-resistant, EU-compliant steam generator in exotic alloy for a Central European industrial gas and water utility.
| End User | Energoaqua a.s. (Czech Republic) |
| Procurement Agent | Air Products |
| Application | Industrial gas / hydrogen infrastructure — steam generation |
| Equipment | 1× Steam Generator |
| Weight | 1,560 kg |
| Dimensions | DN762 × THK10 × L2285 mm |
| Shell Material | SB424 N08825 (Inconel 825) / Duplex 2205 |
| Tube Material | N08825 (Inconel 825) |
| Certification Standard | PED 2014/68/EU (CE Marking) |
| Destination | Czech Republic, European Union |
| Year | 2025 |
Customer Background: Industrial Gas Infrastructure in the Heart of Europe
Air Products is one of the world’s largest industrial gas companies, supplying hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and specialty gases to petrochemical, refining, and manufacturing industries across more than 50 countries. In Central Europe, Air Products operates a network of hydrogen production and distribution assets that serve the region’s growing industrial base.
Energoaqua a.s. is a Czech utility company specializing in industrial energy and water management services. Operating across the Czech Republic, Energoaqua provides steam, hot water, compressed air, and industrial gas supply to large manufacturing facilities — including automotive plants, chemical processors, and food manufacturers — who depend on continuous, reliable utility delivery.
For this project, Energoaqua required a new steam generator as part of an upgrade to their industrial gas supply infrastructure. Air Products, acting as the procurement and engineering integrator, sourced the pressure equipment from Lmart following a competitive evaluation process that placed EU regulatory compliance at the top of the selection criteria.
The Challenge: PED CE Compliance for an Exotic Alloy Pressure Vessel Destined for the EU
Supplying pressure equipment into the European Union is not simply a matter of building to a good standard — it requires formal compliance with the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU (PED). For a steam generator classified in Category III or IV under PED, this means:
- Notified Body (NB) involvement at the design and manufacturing stages
- Conformity assessment through Module G (individual verification) or Module H (full quality assurance)
- CE marking with accompanying EU Declaration of Conformity
- Full technical documentation retained and available for EU market surveillance authorities
For this particular steam generator, the engineering challenge compounded the regulatory one. The process medium — involving high-purity steam in contact with process streams carrying trace contaminants — demanded shell and tube materials in Inconel 825 (N08825), a nickel-iron-chromium alloy known for exceptional resistance to chloride stress corrosion cracking, sulfuric acid, and oxidizing/reducing acids. Duplex 2205 stainless steel was specified for structural components where a combination of strength and corrosion resistance was required.
Sourcing a manufacturer capable of both fabricating in exotic alloys at this precision level and navigating the PED conformity assessment process — with Notified Body involvement, EN-harmonized design calculations, and EU-format documentation — is a significant procurement challenge, particularly when EU-based fabricators often quote six to nine months lead time and carry a correspondingly high price premium.
Air Products needed a supplier who could close the gap: Chinese manufacturing cost efficiency, combined with genuine, auditable PED compliance.
Why Lmart: Dual ASME + PED Capability, Proven EU Track Record
Lmart holds a rare combination of certifications that positions it as one of a small number of Chinese pressure vessel manufacturers capable of serving the EU market with full regulatory standing:
- ASME U Stamp — Pressure vessel manufacturer certification under ASME Section VIII Division 1
- ISO 9001:2015 — Quality management system
- PED 2014/68/EU compliance — Through an approved Notified Body, enabling CE-marked pressure equipment for EU export
Lmart’s export history to Europe — including deliveries to Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia — means the team is experienced with the documentation expectations of European engineering procurement organizations. EU Declaration of Conformity, material traceability to EN 10204 3.1/3.2 standards, pressure test certificates in EU format, and full Design Dossier submission to the Notified Body are standard workflow, not exceptional requests.
For Air Products’ procurement team, the audit trail was clear: Lmart had manufactured exotic alloy equipment for European clients before, under Notified Body witness, and had delivered without regulatory issue.
Engineering Solution: Inconel 825 + Duplex 2205, Designed to EN Harmonized Standards
Lmart’s engineering team executed the steam generator design under the applicable harmonized European standard EN 13445 (Unfired Pressure Vessels), selected as the conformity route under PED. The design calculation package was submitted to the Notified Body for review prior to fabrication commencement.
Key engineering parameters:
- Shell: SB424 N08825 (Inconel 825 plate) for primary pressure-bearing components in contact with aggressive process conditions, with Duplex 2205 (UNS S32205) for structural elements requiring high tensile strength
- Tubes: N08825 seamless tubing, selected for uniform corrosion resistance across the full tube length
- Weld procedures: Qualified to EN ISO 15614-1, with welder qualification records (WPQRs) submitted to Notified Body
- NDE: Radiographic testing (RT) and ultrasonic testing (UT) per EN 13445 requirements, with RT films reviewed under NB witness
- Pressure test: Hydrostatic test conducted at 1.43× design pressure, witnessed by Notified Body representative, with test certificate issued in EU format
Material procurement followed strict EN 10204 3.1 traceability requirements, with mill certificates for all N08825 and Duplex 2205 plate and tube stock reviewed and approved prior to cutting.
Why Inconel 825? Material Selection Rationale
| Property | 316L SS | Inconel 825 (N08825) | Inconel 625 (N06625) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCC Resistance | Poor — fails in chloride environments | Excellent | Superior |
| Pitting Resistance (PREN) | ~25 | ~33 | ~51 |
| Max Service Temp | ~450 °C | ~540 °C | ~650 °C |
| Weldability | Excellent | Good — requires qualified WPS | Good — requires qualified WPS |
| Relative Material Cost | 1× | 3–4× | 6–8× |
| Typical Application | General chemical service | H&sub2;/syngas, high-purity gas, sulfuric acid | Subsea, ultra-high corrosion |
For this service — high-purity hydrogen generation with mixed acid condensate — Inconel 825 provides the required corrosion resistance at roughly half the cost of Inconel 625, making it the engineering-optimal choice.
Quality Control and CE Marking: Full Notified Body Involvement
The conformity assessment route for this steam generator was Module G (Individual Verification) under PED 2014/68/EU — appropriate for a single unit of significant complexity and exotic material specification.
Under Module G, the Notified Body:
- Reviewed and approved the Design Dossier (engineering calculations, material specifications, weld procedure qualifications, NDE plan)
- Witnessed or reviewed key stages of fabrication, including weld NDE and pressure testing
- Issued the Module G certificate upon satisfactory completion of all verification activities
Lmart prepared the complete Technical File required for CE marking, including:
- EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) with full PED module reference
- Equipment identification (serial number, year of manufacture, design conditions)
- Material certificates (EN 10204 3.1 for all pressure-bearing materials)
- Weld maps, WPQR records, welder qualification certificates
- NDE reports (RT, UT, VT)
- Hydrostatic test certificate (NB-witnessed)
- Dimensional inspection report
The CE mark was affixed to the nameplate in accordance with PED Article 18 requirements, with the Notified Body’s four-digit identification number included as required.
Results: Steam Generator Operating in Czech Republic, EU Compliance Validated
The steam generator was delivered to the Energoaqua facility in the Czech Republic on schedule. EU customs clearance was completed without issue, supported by the complete PED Technical File and CE Declaration of Conformity provided with the shipment documentation.
The equipment entered service within the industrial gas infrastructure upgrade project, contributing to Energoaqua’s steam supply capacity for downstream industrial consumers.
For Lmart, this project represents a concrete validation of the company’s position as an EU-qualified exotic alloy pressure vessel manufacturer:
- PED CE marking on Inconel 825 and Duplex 2205 construction — among the most technically demanding material combinations in industrial pressure equipment
- Full Notified Body involvement under Module G — the most rigorous PED conformity assessment route for individual units
- Successful delivery to a major international industrial gas company (Air Products) for a European utility end user (Energoaqua)
The project demonstrates that PED-compliant pressure equipment, manufactured in China to European standards and under Notified Body witness, is a viable, cost-effective procurement route for European engineering projects.
Need a PED CE Pressure Vessel for an EU Project?
If your project requires pressure equipment certified under PED 2014/68/EU — whether in carbon steel, stainless steel, or exotic alloys including Inconel, Duplex, Titanium, or Hastelloy — Lmart can support your procurement with:
- Full PED conformity assessment (Module B+D, Module G, or Module H)
- Notified Body coordination and documentation preparation
- EN 13445 design and harmonized standard compliance
- EN 10204 3.1/3.2 material traceability
- Bilingual engineering documentation (English + Chinese)
- Export packing and sea freight to EU ports
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Customer Voice
Air Products selected Lmart for this project based on demonstrated capability and placed the order through a competitive qualification process — the strongest form of supplier endorsement in capital equipment procurement.
“*"The documentation package Lmart submitted for Notified Body review was thorough and well-organized. Material traceability, weld procedure qualifications, and the NDE plan were all in order from the first submission — which saved us significant review cycles. The hydrostatic test was completed on schedule under NB witness without any issues. For exotic alloy PED equipment, Lmart has demonstrated they understand what European compliance actually requires."*”
— Energy Systems Engineer, Air Products Central Europe (paraphrased from project review feedback)
Note: Lmart respects client confidentiality. Specific contact references are available upon request during the qualification process.
Technical Resources
Certification background: ASME U-Stamp — what it covers and how to verify it →