pressure vessel - internal component fell off

[Makun]

We had a leak in a pressure vessel internally coated. The problem was caused by the impact of an internal component that fell off. The point is, there is some method to check for something loose inside the pressure vessel? They said they could hear through a stethoscope, is effective?

Regards

 

[metengr]

That or perhaps acoustic emission monitoring.

 

[MintJulep]

Open an inspection plug or opening and look.

 

[Makun]

Opening the vessel is not an option, with acoustic emission did you have a good experience?

 

[metengr]

I have not used acoustic emission on any of the equipment I have been involved with over the years. I would think it would work once you have installed the probes and factored out background noise. It is not cheap.

 

[gtaw]

AET requires the component to be loaded in some manner that will cause the material to yield or the crack tip to propagate, thus emitting a high frequency squeal that can be detected by the transducers. If the weld is located such that it is not loaded, no sound will be generated and no signal will register on the display.

A crack or localized yielding in the vessel wall will generate noise that can be detected by AET when the vessel is pressurized. However, a bracket on the inside of the vessel may not be loaded by pressurizing the vessel, thus a “bad” weld would not produce a signal and will go undetected.


Best regards - Al

 

[metengr]

It is best to check with AET folks on capablity.

 

[Duwe6]

What metengr said; The AE folks will tell you that 'listening' [using AE] for loose parts is several orders of magnitude easier than listening for the tiny noise that a propagating crack makes.
MISTRAS is one provider of AET.