PlantIntegrityEngine
Mechanical
- Nov 25, 2013
- 3
Good day all,
I'm struggling to convince my client that they should be taking the following damage seriously. I am not a materials engineer so looking for some advice please.
We have on our plant a 10" Dia CuNiFEr deluge supply pipework, which if failed would render our fire protection deluge useless resulting in process shutdown at considerable expense.
This line was hit by a swinging load during lifting operations which has resulted in a shallow dent with obvious gouging at the centre of the dent. The access has not allowed close visual inspection as yet and no DPI as been done to establish if any surface cracking as occurred.
So my basic understanding of defects likes this is very limited and to carbon steel pipework. I believe that impact such as this can cause strain hardening and make the material more susceptible to cracking and provide a local stress concentrator. This system is under cyclic pressure when the deluge is fire. I.e only pressurised when deluge is set off.
I'm sorry I can't provide any dimensions, but the client is requesting 8 months to change this pipework out. I authorise the deferrals and have refuse this as I don't fully know how bad the damage is until I can get access and 2 I know a combined dent and gouge in carbon steel is a severe defect.
My question is therefore to ask if CuNiFer also suffers similar issues with gouges and dents subject to internal pressure? Is the material more elastic which may help prevent cracks? I am still looking for the full spec of this pipework as the client keeps very poor records.
do you agree this could be classed as a serious defect, at least until we have better dimensions and a code FFS is carried out.
Thank you and regards.
I'm struggling to convince my client that they should be taking the following damage seriously. I am not a materials engineer so looking for some advice please.
We have on our plant a 10" Dia CuNiFEr deluge supply pipework, which if failed would render our fire protection deluge useless resulting in process shutdown at considerable expense.
This line was hit by a swinging load during lifting operations which has resulted in a shallow dent with obvious gouging at the centre of the dent. The access has not allowed close visual inspection as yet and no DPI as been done to establish if any surface cracking as occurred.
So my basic understanding of defects likes this is very limited and to carbon steel pipework. I believe that impact such as this can cause strain hardening and make the material more susceptible to cracking and provide a local stress concentrator. This system is under cyclic pressure when the deluge is fire. I.e only pressurised when deluge is set off.
I'm sorry I can't provide any dimensions, but the client is requesting 8 months to change this pipework out. I authorise the deferrals and have refuse this as I don't fully know how bad the damage is until I can get access and 2 I know a combined dent and gouge in carbon steel is a severe defect.
My question is therefore to ask if CuNiFer also suffers similar issues with gouges and dents subject to internal pressure? Is the material more elastic which may help prevent cracks? I am still looking for the full spec of this pipework as the client keeps very poor records.
do you agree this could be classed as a serious defect, at least until we have better dimensions and a code FFS is carried out.
Thank you and regards.
