Pressure Vessels Repair

[rudedude]

A pressure Vessel has been used for more than 20 years at high pressure and the inner surface is now rusty and has 2 to 3 mm PITTING inside.
Could it work more or it should be scrapped now??
If it is repairable then according to which code it should be repaired?

 

[metengr]

What kind of service was the vessel exposed to in service?
Where is the vessel located - in the US?
Has this vessel been inspected before by others?

 

[vpl]

Adding to metengr's questions -- what Code was orignially applied?

Patricia Lougheed

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[Duwe6]

If you will get an API-570 Inspector, he/she can make that determination for yopu, and give you an approximate "remaining life", based on your corrosion rate.

 

[EERNIE]

There are two recognized repair codes in the US -- National Board Inspection Code and API 510.

Rusting with 2-3 mils pitting isn't necessarily unusual depending upon service and may well lie within the corrosion allowance of the original construction.

Furthermore, this vessel would have been built to the lower stress values which have been upgraded and you may be able to re-rate the vesssel.

I am assuming vessel is ASME stamped and is a Division I construction. A number of pressure vessel shops within in house engineering can help you determine the integrity of this vessel.