Becht Engineering Blog

What Do You Do When There Are No Rules?On July 1, 2019, the 2019 Edition of ASME Section VIII, Division 1 will be published.  Among the 117 changes to this Edition will be a revised paragraph U-2(g), and a new Mandatory Appendix 46.  The new U-2(g) will read:(g) This Division of Section VIII does not contain rules to cover all details of construction. Where complete details of construction are not given, the Manufacturer, subject to the acceptance of the Authorized Inspector, shall provide the appropriate details to be used.   (1) Where design rules do not exist in this Division, one of the following three methods shall be used:      (-a) Mandatory Appendix 46;      (-b) Proof test in accordance with UG-101;      (-c) Other recognized and generally accepted methods, such as those found in other ASME/EN/ISO/National/Industry Standards or Codes. This option shall provide details of design consistent with the allowable stress criteria provided in...

Download/View as PDFSummary - This article assists engineers in selecting ASME XI options for the repair of ASME III nuclear components. In summary, the repair options in ASME XI are dispersed throughout Section XI and Code Cases, while, in contrast, the ASME PCC-2 repair standard (for non-safety related components) lists repair options in a well-structured manner. So, we are going to use the structure of ASME PCC-2 as a road map to cross-correlate the equivalent ASME XI repair, where it exists. Therefore, the Table can be used as a checklist to remind engineers of the many repair options.On one hand …. ASME XI: The repair of safety-related Class 1, 2, and 3 nuclear components is addressed in ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code Section XI and in a series of ASME XI Code Cases. The use of ASME XI and its Code Cases to select a repair technique poses two challenges:The...

Compliance with the Process Safety Management rule, OSHA 1910.119, is a requirement for plants processing certain highly hazardous materials exceeding threshold quantities. The rule requires the owner to demonstrate all equipment has been purchased and installed in accordance with recognized industry standards. Maintenance practices must also be according to Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practice (RAGAGEP). The owner must document this information as part of the Process Safety Information and Mechanical Integrity program for the plant.Use of CodesThe use of codes and standards can help assure compliance with the rule. For example ASME Section VIII is the recognized code for construction of pressure vessels operating in the United States at pressures over 15 psi. It would be difficult to debate vessels could be designed and built to other requirements and still be acceptable under the PSM rule. Codes such as the ASME code have been developed and updated by industry...

Before we tackle environmentally-assisted fatigue (EAF), what is fatigue?In ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Section III Division 1, Subsection NB (in short, ASME III NB) fatigue refers to the damage caused by systems and components as a result of cyclic loads.The qualification of the primary coolant system of light water reactors (ASME III Class 1 components) must address the fatigue damage caused by pressure and thermal cycling of the equipment and piping during their design life.How is fatigue life analysed and qualified for 40 years, 60 years, or more of service?The fatigue analysis and qualification is achieved by following a procedure outlined in ASME III Div.1 Subsection NB for Class 1 piping and components. This procedure can be outlined in five key steps:STEP-1 TRANSIENTS: Developing the thermal and pressure transients, in the form of time-dependent functions Pi(t) and Ti(t). For each transient “i” has a corresponding number of cycles ni. For...