Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels

& Tanks
MP 14-P-04
March 1998

Scope
This ExxonMobil Engineering Practice (EMEP) defines basic requirements for the design,
fabrication, erection, inspection and testing of cylindrical, above-ground vessels and tanks for both
hand lay-up and filament wound fabrication, constructed of glass-fiber reinforced thermoset plastic
(RTP). It is limited to the design of vessels/tanks intended for 103 kPag (15 psig) internal pressure
plus the hydrostatic head imposed by the contents and/or for 103 kPag (15 psig) external pressure.

ExxonMobil Data Sheets for this Master Practice

Version 0

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 MP 14-P-04 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels & Tanks March 1998

Table of Contents

Scope.................................................................................................................................................. 1

1. References ................................................................................................................................. 3

1.1. Master Practices Engineering Practices ..................................................................... 3

1.2. ExxonMobil Data Sheets ............................................................................................... 3

1.3. ASCEAmerican Society of Civil Engineers .............................................................. 3

1.4. ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers ................................................. 3

1.5. NFPANational Fire Protection Association............................................................... 3

2. General........................................................................................................................................ 4

3. Documentation.......................................................................................................................... 4

4. Design.......................................................................................................................................... 4

4.1. External Loadings........................................................................................................... 5

4.2. Corrosion Barriers .......................................................................................................... 5

4.3. Shell and Heads.............................................................................................................. 5

4.4. Supports ........................................................................................................................... 6

5. Material........................................................................................................................................ 6

5.1. Resin................................................................................................................................. 6

5.2. Laminate Construction................................................................................................... 6

6. Fabrication ................................................................................................................................. 7

7. Inspection and Testing ........................................................................................................... 7

8. Cleaning and Shipment .......................................................................................................... 8

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 MP 14-P-04 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels & Tanks March 1998

1. References
The following publications form a part of this Master Practice . Unless otherwise specified herein,
use the latest edition.

1.1. Master Practices Engineering Practices

MP 01-P-02 Structures & Equip. -External Loading Design Basis

1.2. ExxonMobil Data Sheets

ExxonMobil Data ExxonMobil Data Sheet Home Page
Sheets
T1404C01 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels & Tanks - Corrosion-Resistant
Equipment - Customary Units
T1404M01 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels & Tanks - Corrosion-Resistant
Equipment - Metric Units
D1404C01 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels & Tanks - Documentation
Requirements Sheet
I1404C01 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels & Tanks - Inspection & Testing
Requirements Sheet

1.3. ASCEAmerican Society of Civil Engineers

ASCE 7 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures

1.4. ASMEAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASME RTP -1 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Corrosion Resistant Equipment

1.5. NFPANational Fire Protection Association

NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code (Includes Tentative Interim

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 MP 14-P-04 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels & Tanks March 1998

Amendment - 1996) (National Fire Codes, vol. 1)

2. General
The design, fabrication, assembly and erection, inspection and testing of reinforced thermoset plastic
vessels and tanks shall be in accordance with requirements of ASME RTP-1 and this EMEP, unless
superceded by more stringent local regulations.

For combustible hydrocarbon service, only Class IIIB combustible liquids, as defined by NFPA 30,
may be processed or stored in vessels or tanks designed and constructed to the requirements of this
Master Practice .

3. Documentation
The user or the user's agent shall complete the User's Basic Requirement Specification (UBRS) in
ASME RTP -1 Table 1-1 for each item of equipment.

Exceptions to ASME RTP-1 and this EMEP shall be made at the quotation stage and shall be
subject to The Companys approval.
Prior to the start of fabrication, the fabricator's general assembly, detail and applicable standard
drawings shall be submitted for The Company to review. When required, these drawings shall
also be submitted to local governmental authorities.
Design calculations shall be submitted to The Company . If calculations are computer printouts,
input and output data shall be included, with necessary explanatory notes for interpretation.
The vendor's Quality Assurance Manual shall be submitted in accordance with the requirements of
ASME RTP -1 Appendix NM-6. This manual shall inc lude Quality Control Procedures, as required
by ASME RTP-1.

4. Design
The stresses at the intersection of conical and torispherical sections with cylindrical shells shall be
calculated with due consideration of local discontinuities.

This EMEP and ASME RTP -1 do not contain rules covering all details of design and construction.
The manufacturer shall provide such details of design and construction that will be safe and reliable.
These details shall be subject to The Companys approval.

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 MP 14-P-04 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels & Tanks March 1998

For design temperatures above 82C (180F), the vendor shall submit data substantiating the design
strength used for the design calculations.

4.1. External Loadings

4.1.1. Wind
The design for wind loading shall be in accordance with MP 01-P-02.

4.1.2. Earthquakes
Designs for earthquakes shall be based on the applicable provisions of the
ICBO Uniform Building Code or on local codes if more stringent. The zone
numbers given on the UBRS shall be used.

4.1.3. Snow and Ice Loads

Minimum snow loadings shall be as specified in ASCE 7.

4.1.4. Shipping Loads

Vessels/tanks shall be designed to adequately withstand transportation and
erection loads. The fabricator shall provide lifting and tailing lugs, as
required, with an impact factor of not less than 1.5.

4.2. Corrosion Barriers

Corrosion barriers shall be as specified on the UBRS.
A corrosion barrier shall be added to all surfaces of pressure parts, of non-removable
internals and of major internal structural parts that are exposed to the process.
Corrosion barriers shall not be used in any design calculations.

4.3. Shell and Heads

The stresses in the knuckle region of torispherical heads, with a thickness-to-diameter
ratio less than 0.002, shall be calculated to assure stability against buckling.

In vacuum service, adequate reinforcement and moment of inertia shall be provided for a
cone-to-cylinder junction, including toriconical transitions. Wind, seismic and other loads
shall also be added, if applicable.

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 MP 14-P-04 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels & Tanks March 1998

4.4. Supports
Skirts shall have two access openings.

For vessels under 3050 mm (10 ft) in diameter, these openings shall be at least 610
mm (24 in) in diameter or 430 mm x 915 mm (17 in x 36 in) obround.
For larger vessels, the minimum size access opening shall be 760 mm (30 in) in
diameter.
All access openings shall be suitably reinforced, with no piping passing through them.
A minimum of four 50 mm (2 in) diameter nipples shall be located near the top of the skirt
to vent the space at the bottom head intersection. Similar nipples shall be located at the
bottom of the skirt, if the skirt cannot otherwise drain.

5. Material
The material specification for RTP Laminates shall be in accordance with Appendix M-1 of ASME
RTP-1 and the following guidelines.

The resin and reinforcement to be used shall be as specified on the UBRS. Substitution may not be
made without prior written approval from The Company. A request for any substitution of resin shall
be made at the time of bid, giving the following information:

1. Name of Manufacturer
2. Specific name of each product
3. Technical literature, including supporting corrosion test data for the specific resin and service at
temperature

5.1. Resin
Flame retardants, if required , shall be specified on the UBRS.
Only catalysts and promoters recommended by the resin manufacturer shall be used.
Pigments, dyes and colorants shall not be used in the laminate.

5.2. Laminate Construction

The inner surface layer, exposed to the content, shall be followed with an interior
layer composed of additive-free resin. This resin shall be reinforced only with non-
continuous glass fiber strands and applied with a minimum of two plies of 458g/m2 (1
1
/2 oz/ft2 ) chopped strand mat.

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 MP 14-P-04 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels & Tanks March 1998

Outer surfaces shall be protected from UV degradation through the use of UV

inhibitor in the resin.
Vessels/tanks shall not be painted. However, stenciling for identification purpose is
permitted.

6. Fabrication
During fabrication, measures and checks shall be performed to assure uniform total thickness and
glass-to-resin ratio. Laminates shall be dense with uniform reinforcement distribution.
All materials used in the fabrication shall be new. Resins and curing agents shall be stored in
strict accordance with manufacturer recommendations and shall be used prior to expiration dates.
All cut edges shall be coated with resin, so that no glass fibers are exposed and all voids are
filled. Structural elements with edges exposed to a chemical environment shall be reinforced
with veil.
Metal impingement plates shall be provided to avoid erosion of internal resin surface, when
specified on the UBRS.
All nozzles up to 100 mm (4 in) in diameter shall be reinforced using conical gussets, unless
otherwise specified on the UBRS.
Boltholes in flanged nozzles shall straddle the vessel/tank or connecting piping natural
centerlines.
Each vessel shall have a drain of at least 76 mm (3 in) diameter, except for vessels with diameters
610 mm (24 in) and smaller which may have a 75 mm (1 1 /2 in) diameter drain.
The minimum size nozzle for vents shall be 50 mm (2 in) in diameter. Vents shall be located at
the highest point at one end of each separate compartment.
Only integral flanged nozzles are permitted, as shown in ASME RTP-1.
All connections with diameters 76 mm (3 in) and larger shall be flu sh mounted.

7. Inspection and Testing

All phases of work shall be subject to inspection by The Company. Evidence of poor workmanship
or failure to meet the requirements of this Master Practice shall be considered cause for rejection.

When acoustic emission testing is required on the UBRS, the test shall be witnessed by The
Company.
Dimensions shall be verified to be within the tolerances described in ASME RTP-1.

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 MP 14-P-04 Reinforced Thermoset Plastic Vessels & Tanks March 1998

The Companys's inspector shall be present for nozzle cutouts.

Sample cutouts furnished without the presence of The Company during the actual cutout shall
not be accepted.
The fabricator shall measure and record the wall thickness at all cutouts.
Each sample cutout shall be marked to identify the vessel/tank and nozzle location and shall
be retained by the vendor for future reference for a minimum of five years.
A hydrostatic test shall be performed on all vessels/tanks in the vendor shop.
The test pressure and procedure shall be in accordance with ASME RTP-1 requirements.
When a vertical shop test is impractical, the vessel shall be shop tested in the horizontal
position and a subsequent field test shall be performed by the vendor.

8. Cleaning and Shipment

The equipment shall be protected in accordance with ASME RTP-1 requirements for shipping and
storage protection until ready to be operated.

At least four weeks prior to shipment, the fabricator shall submit complete drawings or sketches for
all vessels/tanks showing the loading arrangement and all shipping supports, bracings, tie -down, etc.
for The Companys's review.

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