Pressure Vessel Inspection

_{(Inspection Services)}
Pressure Vessel Inspection

Recent inspection programs for metallic pressure containment vessels and tanks have revealed cracking and damage in a considerable number of the vessels inspected. Safety and hazard evaluations of pressure vessels need to consider the consequences of a leakage or a rupture failure of a vessel.

Two consequences result from a complete rupture:

• Blast effects due to sudden expansion of the pressurized fluid; and
• Fragmentation damage and injury, if vessel rupture occurs.

For a leakage failure, the hazard consequences can range from no effect to very serious effects: Suffocation or poisoning, depending on the nature of the contained fluid, if the leakage occurs into a closed space; * Fire and explosion for a flammable fluid are included as a physical hazard; and * Chemical and thermal burns from contact with process liquids.

Only pressure vessels and low pressure storage tanks widely used in process, pulp and paper, petroleum refining, and petrochemical industries and for water treatment systems of boilers and steam generation equipment are specialised by ITE.

Pressure Vessel Design Codes

Most of the pressure or storage vessels in service in the United States will have been designed and constructed in accordance with one of the following two design codes:

The ASME Code, or Section VIII of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code; or * The API Standard 620 or the American Petroleum Institute Code which provides rules for lower pressure vessels not covered by the ASME Code.

Vessels certification can only be performed by trained inspectors qualified for each code. Written tests and practical experience are required for certification. Usually, the compliance office is not equipped for this task, but is able to obtain the necessary contract services.

ITE assist our clients with certified experienced Pressure Vessel Inspectors.