Level Gauge Requirement on Vessel (ASME Sec.VIII Requirement)

[franklin55]

We are undergoing revamp of our Urea plant, for which our process licenser has advised the replacement of some of the existing equipment. Among these equipment, Low pressure steam Drum is also included.There is a level transmitter proposed by the process licenser on this equipment but no level gauge is given. Our operation department is of the view that according to ASME code there is a level guage required in addition to the LT. When we contacted our process licenser they told us that they have shown all the necessary requirements on the datasheet, and its upto the end user whether to install the additional instruments or not.
Please guide me whether its mandatory accroding to code to have level gauge on this sor of equipment.

Regards

 

[moltenmetal]

It sounds like you're confusing ASME I with ASME VIII. ASME VIII does not require any particular vessel to be instrumented in any particular way, aside from having a relief device. Good engineering design may require ASME VIII vessels to have all sorts of instrumentation for safe and proper operation, but these requirements are not part of the design/fabrication code for the vessel itself.

 

[vpl]

While it may not be required by Code, one thing to consider is how your vessel is operated. A level transmitter sends a signal somewhere -- maybe to a local control panel, maybe to remote control panel. A level gauge is right there at the vessel.

If you have operators who have tasks at the vessel where they need to know the level, having a gauge would be worthwhile. That way they can actually see for themselves rather than relying on a radio/phone connection to someone in another building (yes, I've seen it done this way, but it increases the likelihood of an error.)

On the other hand, if all operations are done from a panel (either local or remote), there's no reason for a gauge.

Patricia Lougheed

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[GenB]

it looks to me as a contractual dispute,
If it was not included in the purchase order by the owner or rep, the fabricator was not obligated.