Is it necessary to obtain the consent of the original design firm when increasing the design pressure for pressure pipelines?
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Is it necessary to obtain the consent of the original design firm when increasing the design pressure for pressure pipelines? For example, increasing the design pressure from GB1-3 to GB1-1 class. Is it not acceptable to find a design firm with the necessary qualifications to issue a design change order? Are there any clear regulatory standards for such situations?
It’s estimated to be necessary; even if you turn to a qualified design firm, they might not provide it, as it needs to be determined based on various factors such as the material of the pipes, the type of medium, and the processes involved before and after
Some can; increasing the design pressure will affect many things, and this requires analysis on a case-by-case basis. For example, at 3.2 MPa and 25°C for hydrogen, when the pressure is increased to 4 MPa, the proportion of pipeline inspection rises from 10% to 20%. It may be necessary to select new types for all the valve gaskets and other components on the pipelines.
The gasket is correct. I ignored it.
Are there any specific regulations to follow?
Pressure pipelines and pressure vessels must be registered with the local pressure vessel inspection agency; they cannot be modified privately. You can find a qualified design firm, assign them the task, and have them make the necessary changes. It involves redesigning rather than making minor alterations. Changes can only occur when the original design institute makes adjustments on site before commissioning due to design-related or non-design-related reasons. If the device is already running. If the omission or malfunction is not caused by design issues, the design institute generally will not make any further changes; in that case, it falls under the category of technical upgrades for the device. I’m just an ordinary designer, not part of management, so my understanding might be incorrect. In the past, it was common for the client to complete the construction first and then ask the designers to provide additional drawings based on the actual conditions on site.
What you say makes a lot of sense; the voltage increase after commissioning should no longer be referred to as a design change order, but rather as a technical modification. It should be redesigned, rather than using a design change order. These are gas pipelines, and the boiler inspection agency has suspended registration for them. It’s become a no-man’s-land!
Find a company with the qualifications for pressure pipeline design to assess whether the conditions for upgrading are met. If the wall thickness of the pipes meets the requirements, then upgrading is possible; otherwise, it isn’t.