Standard tolerance for Columns and Flare

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DelioPontes
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Standard tolerance for Columns and Flare

Post by DelioPontes »

Hi everyone!

Lately I've been away from the scan projects..but I hope to return soon! :)

Right now my job is to see uprights and settlements of various equipment. through hydraulic tests (or other tests) for inspection and certification.

Anyone knows what is the standard tolerances for this two equipments?

Flare:
Image


Columns:
Image

I have a hint that the standard tolerances for uprights on this two equipments are 1mm/m.
And the structure that support the columns can go down 3.5mm (with the hydraulic test at 100%)
(also the same for spheres and tanks)

Can anyone confirm me this?
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Re: Standard tolerance for Columns and Flare

Post by danielgadowski »

Hi Delio,
not sure about the building tolerances, but when you survey these types of structures one very important factor is the temperature of the object during the survey. I had a situation when a column scanned over few days at different operating temperatures resulted in up to 100mm defferences between scans! Another thing for columns is if they are operating, they are vibrating and moving depending on the cycle that happens inside the vessel.
Generally speaking these types of verticality surveys should be undertaken during shutdowns, in cold state, as you will get different reasults each time if the vessel is operating.
Daniel
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Matt Young
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Re: Standard tolerance for Columns and Flare

Post by Matt Young »

I can only agree with Dan on that.
If you don't see that there is nothing, then you are kidding yourself.
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DelioPontes
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Re: Standard tolerance for Columns and Flare

Post by DelioPontes »

Thanks for the reply.

The factory stoped 15 May until 15 June for maintenance and equipment certification.
My job is to verify 27 columns, 3 flares and 3 spheres (the certification of this equipments will expire at the end of this year)

The columns and spheres are filled with water to chech the stability.
I need to measure before the test, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% and again after the test with the columns/spheres empty.
Also I need to know the wind speed and weather temperature in all measures

The flares, I need to measure before,during and after the intervention, (I can´t measure if I have wind speed up 5Km/hour on the top).

I would like to know if standard tolerances for the verticality, 1mm/m are correct or no...
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DelioPontes
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Re: Standard tolerance for Columns and Flare

Post by DelioPontes »

How I show my results:

Image


(I did the same measures in 2006)
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DelioPontes
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Re: Standard tolerance for Columns and Flare

Post by DelioPontes »

I understand it is a difficult question ...
I talked to my client and no one could answer my question ..
I saw a lot of old drawings and not found that information ...
Also, I think the company that certify the equipments, look to my reports and think are all ok...

My only problem is, if a column move more than normal I will need to stop hydraulic test ...

But if in 40 years no column go down, will not be today ... :D
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Re: Standard tolerance for Columns and Flare

Post by danielgadowski »

Perhaps you could try getting in touch with the company that has manufactured or designed these vessels? Either they or your client really should state the expected maximum verticality/horizontality offset. Sourly it's not your responsibility to create a spec for your own job... Anyway, i think going with 1mm/1m is a safe bet. And if you nottice anything serious during the test you would know straight away that something is wrong anyway.
Good luck and let us know how you got on.
Daniel
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Re: Standard tolerance for Columns and Flare

Post by DelioPontes »

Thanks for the reply!
I will continue the measures and will try to know where where is the "standard tolerances"!

I only need to measure more 5 equipments during the shutdown..is a huge mess, 2500 people working together 12 hours/day... trying to finish the works on schedule....
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Re: Standard tolerance for Columns and Flare

Post by Matt Young »

Have a look at the Wiki page for this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure_vessel

I think it's the ASME codes you are after.
If you don't see that there is nothing, then you are kidding yourself.
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DelioPontes
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Re: Standard tolerance for Columns and Flare

Post by DelioPontes »

Thanks Matt, I not found the information I needed...
But I found lot of useful information
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