BP at Sunbury

TECHNICAL BULLETIN
Title:

INSPECTION OF PRESSURE
VESSELS FROM THE
OUTSIDE ONLY

Summary:

This Technical Bulletin outlines new technology for the inspection of pressure
vessels by external ultrasonics.

Serial No:

TB0023

Date:

24th September 1996

Issued by:

Engineering Shared Service

Tel:

01224 83 4628

Team:

Material & Inspection

Engineering

Fax:

01224 83 2954

For further information contact:

Alan Gorvett, Material & Inspection Eng., GRE Sunbury

INTRODUCTION
As an outcome of a Group Sponsored Project on "Inspection of Pressure Vessels From
the Outside Only" a number of procedures have been produced to allow specific
inspection activities to be performed. These cover guideline procedures for:

the ultrasonic inspection of internal glass flake and other non-metallic linings

the ultrasonic inspection of corrosion under nozzle reinforcing plates

the ultrasonic inspection of attachment welds from the outside of thick section
vessels

Non-intrusive inspection of plant and equipment has a number of advantages including

increased plant availability and lower maintenance costs. It can also provide a higher
level of confidence in equipment integrity when effective inspection methods are
applied and targeted at critical areas and components. Some areas of pressure vessels
have traditionally been problematic to inspect from the outside and a number of these
areas have been addressed in the course of the project thus allowing scope for a higher
degree of confidence in applying the non-intrusive approach.
INSPECTION PROCEDURES

Ultrasonic Inspection of Internal Glass Flake and Other Non-metallic Linings

The guideline procedure covers the inspection of glass flake lining on the inside of a
steel vessel shell for lack of bond or loss of lining. The technique on which the
guideline procedure is based has been developed and evaluated on test pieces lined
with 2mm to 3mm glass flake lining. However it should be suitable over the thickness
range 2mm to 5mm and is expected to be applicable to other hard non-metallic linings.

Ultrasonic Inspection of Corrosion Under Nozzle Reinforcing Plates

The guideline procedure covers the ultrasonic inspection of vessels inner surfaces for
corrosion at regions which are under nozzle reinforcing plates i.e., where conventional
compression probe inspection is not possible. The technique should also be applicable
to other regions of the vessel which are covered by plates e.g., vessel saddle supports.
The technique on which the guideline procedure is based is expected to be applicable
for the detection of corrosion exceeding 4mm depth (assuming length of 10mm
minimum) at distance up to 6 x 't' from the edge of the plate to vessel weld, where 't' is
the vessel thickness.Sensitivity will be reduced with increasing vessel
thickness,particularly over 40mm.

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Ultrasonic Inspection of Attachment Welds From the Outside of Thick

Section Vessels

This guideline procedure covers the ultrasonic inspection of internal attachment welds
from the outside of thick section (up to 140mm) vessels, for cracks lying on or close to
the weld-to-vessel fusion face.Such cracks can be difficult to inspect by conventional
compression probe due to problems in resolving crack signals from the inner surface
(backwall echo).The technique employed is based on use of special focused probes
which produce very narrow beam widths at the range of interest which significantly
improves the ability to resolve signals from defects near to the weld fusion face.
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For further details contact .............

Alan Gorvett
Materials & Inspection Engineering
Engineering Shared Service
Dyce Ext: 4826

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