Adequacy check of Heat exchanger .

[Ronak_Patel]

Hello ,
I`m working on revamp project in which My project team has asked me to check mechanical adequacy of Pressure vessels. Equipments were built on ASME 1993 code and are in operation since 1995.

(a) Im confused about the use of code ,whether latest ASME shall be used to check shell thickness or ASME 1993 ?
(b) since equipment are in use for some 25 years now , there must have been some corrosion . Client has not provided any health check up report so i do not know current shell thickness of equipment . what shall be sensible assumption ? corroded thickness or uncorroded thickness of shell . Is there any ASME Procedure or requirement ?

thank you!!

 

[r6155]

See NBIC- National Board Inspection Code 2021 Edition.

Regards

 

[Ronak_Patel]

@r6155 Thank you for lead!

 

[MJCronin]

Ronak ...

I assume that you are dealing with Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers...

The In-Service Inspection code for shell and tube heat exchangers is API STD 510. Other API recommended practices and codes must be used in with this Code. Recommended Practices you should review are API RP 572, API RP 577, and API RP 571. New pressure vessel construction code sections might be used, such as ASME Code Section VIII and ASME Code Section IX.

For repair work , requirements of API STD 510 or ASME-PCC-2 needs to be met. The title of ASME-PCC-2,(first published in 2006), is: “Repair of Pressure Equipment and Piping.”

As stated above: if your shell and tube heat exchanger is “U” stamped and you need to do the repair, you have to use a Repair Organization holding an “R” Stamp from the National Board Inspection Code.

Tell us more about the specifics of the HXs to be evaluated and if you are working under a structured company reviewed program.

Can you post any drawings or datasheets about the type of HXs ?

Regards

MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer

 

[Ronak_Patel]

MJCronin
Thank you for your detailed response.
i`m dealing with Shell and tube Heat exchanger.
The heat exchangers i`m dealing with are of mostly AES ,AEL and BEM type.
it is revamp project and We are mostly doing small changes in nozzle sizes.

I forgot to mention but this project is based on india . when i searched , i found that IS:2825 "Code for unfired pressure vessel" has some recommended repair practices.

This equipments are not U-Stamped but were built using ASME Div-1 , will still requirements of API STD 510 or ASME-PCC-2 needs to be met ??

"if you are working under a structured company reviewed program" can you please elaborate on the same ? The organisation i`m Working with has been using ASME Codes to design Pressure vessels but im not aware of any structured program.

 

[r6155]

@ MJCronin
Do you mean that NBIC is not applied?
The requirements of the NBIC supersede general and specific requirements of other inspection codes, standards, and practices.

Regards

 

[EdStainless]

If they are looking to modify these then the first step is a detailed inspection.
Otherwise you run the risk of modifying a HX that at the end of its service life.
You need to check your local authority and find out if they will hold you to a repair/modification Code.
If not then use NBIC as a guide for what needs to be done to do this correctly.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed