telltale hole / vent hole/weep hole 1

[Ap734]

As per ASME B 31.3, and ASME VIII, in RF PAD or PAD plate make hole for Pneumatic test and vent out the gas entrapped.

That hole should closed or remain open?

If it is inside vessels?
If it is out side of the vessels?

 

[SnTMan]

Ap734, for location outside, common practice is to plug hole with stiff grease or perhaps caulk. Not familiar with inside location, however it seems it should be plugged as well, something that will not retain pressure and is compatible with the process.

Regards,

Mike

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

 

[Syahar1975]

RF pad welded onto external surface of the tank or vessel.

Only 2" nozzles does not required RF pad unless the designer has other judgment.

Syah

 

[LittleInch]

I had always thought that the weep hole was there for two reasons -

1) To allow hot air/gases to escape while welding the pad to the shell, especially the last part of the weld

2) to show if there is any leak in the underlying metal. RF pads are there to reinforce, not become pressure containing elements.

I've only seen them on the outside of vessels mainly due to ease of manufacture I would suppose.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[Ap734]

Thanks to all for replying.

PAUL A.

 

[DanTh3Man]

Weep holes should always remain open. If you plug it off you have basically added a lap patch to the vessel which can be very dangerous.

 

[weldstan]

One of my first trouble shooting and repair resolutions involved internal reinforcing stiffeners without weep holes. Moisture contained within the annular space vaporized and blue out the shell when the internally coated vessel was heated to 600 F during the coating curing process.