Pressure Vessel and Stacks Field Repair Manual

Keith Escoe

• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann
• Year: 2011
• ISBN:
  9780080559186
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Construction & Architectural Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Written from the practitioner's perspective, this book is designed as a companion for engineers who are working in the field and faced with various problems related to pressure vessels and stacks, such as: modification, retrofitting existing pressure vessels or stacks to either enhance process capability, lift, move or replace damaged equipment. This makes the book a valuable guide for new engineers who need to develop a feel for these types of operations or more experienced engineers who wish to acquire more useful tips, this handy manual provides the readers with rules of thumbs and tips to mitigate or remediate problems which can occur on a daily bases.

Because of their size, complexity, or hazardous contents, pressure vessels and stacks require the highest level of expertise in determining their fitness for service after these operations. Care must be taken in installation / removal of the vessel to avoid damage to the shell. Damage to the shell can result in catastrophic failure and possible injury to personnel. The book will cover topics such as: lifting and tailing devices; an overview of rigging equipment; safety consideration; inspection and repair tips; methods to avoid dynamic resonance in pressure vessels and stacks; wind loads and how to apply them for various applications and assessment guidelines for column internals, tables and pressure vessel calculations, and code formulas.

The examples in the book are actual field applications based on 40+ years of experience from various parts of the world and are written from a view to enhance field operations. In many parts of the world, often in remote locations, these methods were applied to repair pressure vessels and stacks. These problems will still continue to happen, so there is a need to know how to address them. This book is to present assessments and techniques and methods for the repair of pressure vessels and stacks for field applications. Also the book is to be a repair manual for easy use for mechanical engineers, civil-structural engineers, plant operators, maintenance engineers, plant engineers and inspectors, materials specialists, consultants, and academicians.

• Lifting and tailing devices
• An overview of rigging equipment
• Inspection and repair tips
• Guidelines for column internals
• Tables and pressure vessel calculations, and code formulas

Chapter 1. Systems of Units

This chapter presents two systems of units so that you can follow the examples ahead. These two systems of units are the metric SI and what is termed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) as the U.S. Customary system of units, namely in the ASME Section II Part D [1]. This system is also termed the American Engineering System (AES) by the U.S. government. I mentioned the latter term in my book Piping and Pipelines Assessment Guide [2], in how to use the two systems of units. In this book, we will discuss briefly the other variants of the metric SI system, but it is the prevailing metric system of units. Likewise, we will concentrate on the U.S. Customary system versus the British Imperial system. Even though the latter two are similar, there are some differences.

This book is about engineering and discusses how to engineer with each system. It is not of interest to get into a historical discussion about how the system of units evolved, as there are many sources available if you have this interest. There are strong emotions associated with using each system, but this book is not interested in the polemics of using one system versus the other. The other reason for this discussion is that I have worked extensively in each system and have noticed the level of apprehension and intimidation among those using U.S. Customary units toward the metric SI system. This apprehension is totally unnecessary and is without warrant, as the metric SI is used in almost every country of the world except the United States, where it has made headway in medicine and the pure sciences. After reading this chapter, you will not need to convert from one system to the other in the discussions that follow; this text is for users of each system of units.

If you have used only the U.S. Customary system of units, the younger you are, the more likely you will be in the future to encounter the metric SI in practice. If you work outside the United States, then chances are certain that you will have to work in this system of units in one form or another. With more and more foreign projects and foreign engineers coming to the United States, the more likely the event of your using metric SI. Instead of resisting metric SI, consider it as a new friend, which it has been to me. In the metric SI, there are no fractions to worry about, like adding 3/32 to 11/64! The thought of not having to work with fractions is addictive in itself.

The metric SI is an absolute system of units, meaning that it does not depend on where the measure is made. The measurements can be made at any location. For example, the meter has the same (or absolute) length regardless of where the measurement is taken—here on earth or elsewhere. The unit of force is a derived unit. The metric SI system has been called the meter, kilogram, and second system, or MKS. These three units are primary units. In this system the Newton is the amount of force needed to give 1 Kg mass an acceleration of 1 m/sec². Thus, Newton's second law is the crux of the system.

To derive force from mass, you have to use Newton's second law:(1.1)

The unit of mass is kilogram (Kg) and acceleration is m/sec². To perform the conversion, you use(1.2)

In the metric SI system, you use

Thus, the force required giving 1 Kg of mass an acceleration of 1 m/sec² is(1.3)

Yes, that's right: It takes 9.807 N (Newtons) to accelerate 1 Kg (kilogram) of mass 1 m/sec²—almost 10 times. This is a number to remember. See the note later in this section.

Regarding the U.S. Customary system, the same discussion is presented in my book Piping and Pipelines Assessment Guide, pp. 498–500 [2], as follows:

From Newton's second law, we have the following:(1.4)

Hence,(1.5)

As you can see, in the U.S. Customary system, mass is a derived unit, with the primary units being force, pound, and second. Some authors refer to it as the FPS system. This is a gravitational system, where force is a primary unit. Since most experiments involve a direct measurement of force, engineers prefer a gravitational system of units as opposed to an absolute system. Often the units g ...

Table of contents

• Copyright
• Brief Table of Contents
• Table of Contents
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Dedication
• About the Author
• Preface
• Chapter 1. Systems of Units
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 2. Handy Pressure Vessel Formulas
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 3. Dynamic Response of Pressure Vessels and Stacks
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 4. Wind Loadings on Pressure Vessels and Stacks
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 5. Pressure Vessel Internal Assessment
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 6. Safety Considerations for Lifting and Rigging
• Chapter 7. Lifting and Tailing Devices
• BibliographyReferences
• Chapter 8. Assessing Weld Attachments
• Chapter 9. Rigging Devices
• Index