horizontal tanks standard - ASME VIII/API 650/API 620

[mafla jones]

Hi All,

There is a hydrocarbon horizontal tank that I've perform thickness gauging and visual Inspection, however this horizontal tank does not have a design data information which means no nominal thickness which I cannot compute the remaining life or its fitness for service it is a 103,000 litres horizontal tank.

Regards,
Mafla

 

[MJCronin]

Let's see here ....

You have a horizontal tank that stores "something" ... You have an idea about the wall thickness and internal condition.

The plant staff and management have, of course, discarded all records, design drawings, reports and any other paperwork related to the tank. Probably, this happened during one of the multiple times that the plant was sold to a new owner.

The same hostile MBAs in management have no idea about the maximum operating temperatures and pressures for this tank and wonder why you have not yet completed your work ....

Right ?????????

Quote: "The real challenge of engineering is never the work .... It's always the management".... Robert K. Sterling

MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer

 

[mk3223]

First, need to clarify the "horizontal tank" is a pressure vessel or low pressure storage tank.

Second, without have the original tank design, fabrication, and O&M documents, who will accept it and pay for reusing this equipment.

 

[mafla jones]

Mk32223, the inlet pressure rating for the horizontal tanks is 43.5 psi so it falls under the pressure vessel code ASME VIII, however there is no ASME stamp shown on the tank so I presume the tanks were shop build.
The thickness readings are still satisfactory approximately 7.00mm to 6.50mm for the shell, head and bottom plate.

I will probably use this thickness as the initial UT reading.

Regards,
Mafla

 

[JStephen]

If the pressure range falls under the pressure vessel code, but it's not stamped or identified in any way, you simply don't know what you have. Thickness readings are rather a moot point in that case. All you can say is "it hasn't blown up YET."

 

[LittleInch]

NO ASME stamp, no design docs = large lump of scrap metal.

It is not a Pressure vessel.

This comes up many times on the boiler forum.
Design data is only one aspect - manufacturing data / inspection records is critical also.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.