Is a man way to a pressure vessel a girth flange. 2

[Jimjoe]

A customer has issued a bolting a torquing handbook for all of the contractors to abide by when making connections
They detail out the stud requirements, gasket and materials, as well as the lubricant for each vessel and piping connection. Of course they specify by flange size but the main concern is over stressing the studs.

Besides that, there was a thought among the contractors that the tanks, drums, and tower's man ways fell under the girth flange torques, the reason being the title for the torque sheet, "pressure vessels and girth flanges". The alternative to this torque sheet is, or course, "raised face flanges", but this only goes to a certain flange size, where as the, "pressure vessel and girth flange", sheet bases it's information off of stud size.
So... To the question, is a man way to a pressure vessel considered a girth flange or.. more over is a man way more like a girth flange than it is a pipe flange?

 

[gr2vessels]

A manway on a pressure vessel is an access opening and as such is subjected only to the process operating conditions, without typical nozzle loadings. Exceptions only when the manway cover is supporting other type of openings, then the manway require additional analysis.
Cheers,
gr2vessels

 

[SnTMan]

Jimjoe, Girth flanges are generally understood to join sections of a vessel. Your customers requirements are unclear, and ideally agreement among the parties should be reached.

Regards,

Mike



The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[Krausen]

Typically not. Manways are typically blinded nozzle flanges (often 16" to 24" in size) that use standard 16.5 flanges, & without any nozzle loadings as g2vessels said. These typically don't require a controlled bolt torque procedure, but depends on the site/company. On some smaller vessels, I have seen contactors/operators/maintenance refer to the flanged top head of vessels (which are girth flanges, typically designed under VIII-App2) as "manways", since they normally access inside the vessel by removing this flanged top head.

 

[r6155]

Depending on the service, Manway (inspection opening) flanges can be made to a custom design with plates (ASME B16.5 is forged) and a significant reduction in thickness and number of studs.
You can also use ASME B16.47.
@Krausen. Be careful, studs should ALWAYS be installed with a tension control.

Regards