Steam pipe plug issues
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Pipeline medium: steam; temperature: 320°C; pressure: 1.2 MPa. This plug is a small steel plate with a thickness of 8 mm. Is there any potential safety hazard in this situation? Is there any basis for it?
The standard practice is to use pipe caps or flange covers.
It differs little from ordinary welds; a thickness of 8 mm is sufficient. It can be used after passing a hydrostatic test prior to use, and its thickness can be checked regularly. Of course, this is only regarding its use, and whether it falls under the regulations for special pressure pipeline equipment must be determined in accordance with relevant rules.
Practices like this are common among ordinary companies and are very widespread. Suppose, just for example, something goes wrong with such a processing method – what would happen then? Shoot the welded blind flange out like a bullet? Or create an opening to let steam escape? ? ? These are the *usual methods* for why this approach is taken. :Lol, if it’s to meet the standards, a standard end cap needs to be welded on, a pressure test must be conducted, and flaw detection is also necessary,,,,,
Temporary solution: During inspection and repair, it is necessary to replace it with a proper pipeline
As the previous speakers mentioned, a pressure of 1.2 MPa is not high, so this treatment method is acceptable. But it is essential to ensure that the welding depth of your steel plates is sufficient; it is best to prepare proper grooves and use TIG welding, as this reduces the likelihood of brittle fracture. It is recommended to replace it with a cover during the annual inspection.
This post was last edited by longziyun on 2020-7-13 00:09. I don’t quite agree with the suggestion above to use pipe caps or flange covers; that is more of a temporary solution rather than a proper fix. In my opinion, it would be better to replace the pipeline in that area with an elbow fitting – it’s far more reasonable than making such a cut and then trying to weld on extra pipe fittings. The welds around right-angle bends are prone to leakage due to exposure to high-temperature steam, which causes corrosion. If a leak occurs, not to mention the high costs of replacing boxes and clips, a careful calculation will show that just the loss of steam alone will be enormous, far beyond what one might expect; it’s better to replace them ahead of time.
For use, there’s no problem at all – just take the insulated bag back and that’s it; no need to worry.
Make proper records and markings; replace them during the next major repair, and also check similar pipes
The immediate problems can be solved, but as for whether it’s standardized or not, that’s like lice on a bald head
It’s better to calculate the strength.