NDE of a non-pressure boundary weld 1

[accordigang]

Hello all, we have been having a discussion about completing NDE on welds that are not on a pressure boundary.
I've tried looking online for similar examples and through our ASME codes (B31.1 most often) but have not found anything.

In our example, we would have a welded cone that is fixed and fully submerged in a pipeline. Per code, (or even GEP), would the weld on the cone be subject to full NDE requirements?

 

[r6155]

Visual examination, at a minimum.
Regards

 

[0707]

As it is a cone fully submerged in a pipeline it would be advisable to do full NDE requirements.

 

[r6155]

Please explain what a "full NDE" means to you.

Regards

 

[Trestala]

A cone inside a pipe? Does it have any loading or pressure applied to it?

Some Clients would just require 100% Visual with PT or MT for non-pressure components.

 

[accordigang]

No loading on the cone, it can be thought of as simply directing the flow, almost as a flow conditioner.
The only pressure the cone would be subject to is from the fluid, and since it is fully surrounded the net pressure is 0, AFAIK.

We perform 100% visual examination, the issue is when PT or volumetric NDE is arbitrarily requested by the client, our manufacturer argues the additional testing is a waste of time and resources for the use case of the cone.
From what I can tell the manufacturer is correct, but I need to do my DD before advising clients that the additional NDE is not technically required.

 

[Dhurjati Sen]

It seems that the "cone" acts like a vortex breaker or deflection plate (sort of).
You need to carry out LPI of the welds (those must be fillet).
No NDE of such internals results in typical future problems during operation like the cone breaks off causing undesired flow patterns or it floats to some location downstream and gets stuck at the inlet of a valve.

DHURJATI SEN
Kolkata, India

 

[KevinNZ]

What is the pipeline code? B31.1 is clear

The types and extent of mandatory examinations for pressure welds and welds to pressure-retaining components are specified in
Table 136.4.1-1.

For welds other than those covered by Table 136.4.1-1, only visual examination is required​