API 510 Pressure vessel inspection

1 Table of Contents
1 Table of Contents..........................................................................................................................1
1. Inspection Plan..............................................................................................................................2
2 Safety Precautions and Preparatory Work Before Vessel Entry.....................................................2
2.1 Safety Precautions.................................................................................................................2
2.2 Preparatory Work..................................................................................................................2
3 Equipment.....................................................................................................................................2
4 Previous Records Review...............................................................................................................2
5 Inspection for Types of Damage Modes of Deterioration and Failure...........................................3
6 General Types of Inspection..........................................................................................................3
6.1 External Inspection................................................................................................................3
6.2 Internal Inspection.................................................................................................................4
7 Surface Preparation.......................................................................................................................4
7.1.1 Preliminary Visual Inspection.........................................................................................4
7.1.2 Inspection of Internal Components...............................................................................5
8 Testing...........................................................................................................................................5
8.1 Metallurgical Changes and In-situ Analysis of Metals............................................................5
8.2 Hammer Testing....................................................................................................................5
8.3 Pressure and Vacuum Testing................................................................................................5
9 Thickness Inspection......................................................................................................................5
10 CUI Inspection............................................................................................................................5
11 Material Verification and Traceability (PMI)..............................................................................6
12 Inspection of Welds and Joints..................................................................................................6
13 Pressure-relieving Devices.........................................................................................................6
14 INSPECTION DATA EVALUATION, ANALYSIS, AND RECORDING.................................................6
14.1 Corrosion Rate Determination...............................................................................................6
14.1.1 Existing Pressure Vessels................................................................................................6
14.1.2 Newly Installed Pressure Vessels or Changes in Service................................................6
14.2 Required Thickness Determination........................................................................................6
14.3 Evaluation Of Existing Equipment with Minimal Documentation..........................................6
14.4 Remaining Life Calculations...................................................................................................7
14.5 Maximum Allowable Working Pressure Determination.........................................................7
14.6 Fitness-for-Service Evaluations of Corroded Regions.............................................................7
14.7 Reports and Records..............................................................................................................7

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 Annex-11
Pressure Vessel Inspection Guideline
Procedure

1. Inspection Plan
An inspection plan shall be established for all pressure vessels and pressure-relieving devices
according to API 510.

The inspection plan is developed from the analysis of several sources of data. The methods and the
extent of NDE shall be evaluated to assure they can adequately identify the damage mechanism and
the severity of damage. Examinations must be scheduled at intervals that consider the:
a. Type of damage;
b. Rate of damage progression;
c. Tolerance of the equipment to the type of damage;
d. Probability of the NDE method to identify the damage; and

2 Safety Precautions and Preparatory Work Before Vessel Entry

2.1 Safety Precautions

Safety precautions must be taken before entering a vessel, including consulting and complying
with all applicable safety regulations.
The use of NDE devices for inspection is subject to safety requirements customarily met in
gaseous atmospheres, which are listed in API 2214.

2.2 Preparatory Work

The tools needed for vessel inspection, including tools and equipment needed for personnel
safety, should be checked for availability and proper working condition prior to the inspection.

3 Equipment
All tools, equipment, and personal protective equipment used during vessel work (inspection, NDE,
pressure testing, repairs, and alterations) should be checked prior to use. Other equipment that might
be needed for the vessel work, such as planking, scaffolding, and portable ladders, should be checked
before being used.
Other related equipment that might be provided for inspection includes planking, scaffolding, boson’s
chairs, chain or rope ladders, safety devices for climbing flares or ladders without cages, stages for
lifting by cranes, radios, and portable ladders. If external scaffolding is necessary, it may be possible
to erect it before the inspection starts. The vessels should be cleaned prior to inspections.

4 Previous Records Review

Before performing any of the required API 510 inspections, inspectors shall familiarize themselves
with prior history of the vessels for which they are responsible. In particular, they should review the

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vessel's prior inspection results, prior repairs, current inspection plan, and/or other similar service
inspections.

5 Inspection for Types of Damage Modes of Deterioration and Failure

Pressure vessels are susceptible to various types of damage by several mechanisms. Typical damage
types and mechanisms are as follows.
a) General and local metal loss:
(1) Sulfidation;
(2) Oxidation;
(3) Microbiologically induced corrosion;
(4) Naphthenic acid corrosion;
(5) Erosion/erosion-corrosion;
(6) Galvanic.

b) Surface connected cracking:

(1) Fatigue;
(2) Caustic stress corrosion cracking;
(3) Sulfide stress corrosion cracking.
c) Subsurface cracking:
(1) Hydrogen induced cracking.
d) Micro fissuring/micro void formation:
(1) High temperature hydrogen attack;
(2) Creep.
e) Metallurgical changes:
(1) Graphitization;
(2) Temper embrittlement.
f) Blistering:
(1) Hydrogen blistering.
g) Dimensional changes:
(1) Creep and stress rupture;
(2) Thermal.
h) Material Properties Changes:
(1) Brittle fractur.

Detailed information concerning common damage mechanisms (critical factors, appearance,

and typical inspection and monitoring techniques) is found in API 571. Additional
recommended inspection practices are described in API 572.

6 General Types of Inspection

Different types of inspections and examinations are appropriate depending on the circumstances and
the pressure vessel. These include the following:

 Internal inspection.
 External inspection.
 On-stream inspection.
 Thickness inspection.
 Corrosion under insulation (CUI) inspection.

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6.1 External Inspection
The persons performing the external inspection in accordance with API 510 shall be qualified with
appropriate training.
External inspections are performed to check the condition of the outside surface of the vessel,
insulation systems, painting and coating systems, supports, associated structure; and to check for
leakage, hot spots, vibration, the allowance for expansion and the general alignment of the vessel on
its supports.
The following external items should check carefully.

(a) Ladders, Stairways, Platforms, and Walkways

(b) Foundations and Supports
(c) Anchor Bolts
(d) Concrete Supports
(e) Rivets
(f) Guy Wires
(g) Nozzles
(h) Grounding Connections
(i) Auxiliary Equipment
(j) Inspection for CUI

API 572 provides more information on pressure vessel inspection and should be used when
performing this inspection mentioned above items. Any personnel who observe vessel deterioration
should report the condition to the inspector.
6.2 Internal Inspection
All necessary inspection equipment (including tools, ladders, and lights) should be assembled in
advance to minimize downtime for the vessel. The internal inspection shall be performed by an
inspector in accordance with the inspection plan. An internal inspection is conducted inside the vessel
and shall provide a thorough check of internal pressure boundary surfaces for damage. A primary goal
of the internal inspection is to find damage that cannot be found by regular monitoring of external
CMLs. Specific NDE techniques, e.g., WFMT, AUT, PAUT, TOFD, ET, PT, etc., may be required
by the owner/user to find damage specific to the vessel or service conditions.

API 572, provides more information on pressure vessel inspection and should be used when
performing this inspection.

7 Surface Preparation
The degree of surface preparation needed for internal inspection will vary with several factors.
Foremost among these factors are the following:
 the type of deterioration expected,
 the location of any deterioration.

7.1.1 Preliminary Visual Inspection

If this is not the first inspection, the initial step in preparation for an internal inspection is to review
the previous records of the vessel to be inspected. When possible, a preliminary general visual
inspection is the next step.
The preliminary inspection of the vessel interior may indicate that additional cleaning is needed. If
large areas are deeply corroded, abrasive blasting may be necessary.

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The preliminary inspection may reveal unsafe conditions, such as those due to loosen internals that
may fall or due to badly corroded or broken internal ladders or platforms. These parts must be
repaired or removed immediately before a more detailed inspection may proceed.

7.1.2 Inspection of Internal Components

The supports for trays, baffles, screens, grids, piping, internal stiffeners, and other internal equipment
should be inspected carefully. Most of this inspection will be visual. Light tapping with a hammer can
be used as a check for soundness. If there appears to be any metal loss, the thickness of the support
should be measured and checked against the original thickness.
The following external items should check carefully.

 Trays
 Internal Components
 Nozzles
 Linings (Metallic & Non-metallic) Linings

API 572 provides more information on pressure vessel inspection and should be used when
performing this inspection mentioned above items.

8 Testing

8.1 Metallurgical Changes and In-situ Analysis of Metals

In-situ metallography can be used to detect metallurgical changes with portable polishing equipment
and using replica transfer techniques. Hardness, chemical spot, and magnetic tests are three methods
of detecting metallurgical changes. More details are found in API 572.
8.2 Hammer Testing
In hammer testing, an inspector’s hammer is used to supplement visual inspection. The hammer is
used to do the following jobs:

 to locate thin sections in vessel walls, heads, etc.;

 to check tightness of rivets, bolts, brackets, etc.;
 to check for cracks in metallic linings;
 to check for lack of bond in concrete or refractory linings;
 to remove scale accumulations for spot inspection.

8.3 Pressure and Vacuum Testing

For code rules concerning tests of vessels in service, see API 510. The ASME BPVC, although a new
vessel fabrication code, may be followed in principle in many cases.

9 Thickness Inspection
Thickness measurements are taken to verity the thickness of vessel components. This data is used to
determine the corrosion rates and remaining life of the vessel. Thickness measurements shall be
obtained by the inspector or examiner.

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10 CUI Inspection
Inspection for CUI shall be considered for externally-insulated vessels and those that are in
intermittent service or operate between:

 10°F (-12°C) and 350°F (l75°C) for carbon and low alloy steels
 140°F (60°C) and 400°F (205°C) for austenitic stainless steels.

With carbon and low alloy steels, CUI usually causes localized corrosion. With austenitic stainless-
steel materials, CUI usually is in the form of stress corrosion cracking.

11 Material Verification and Traceability (PMI)

During repairs or alterations of pressure vessels, the inspector shall verify that all new materials
(including carbon steel) are consistent with the specifications. Material testing can be done by the
inspector or the examiner using suitable methods such as optical spectrographic analyzers, or x-ray
fluorescence analyzers. API 578 has additional guidance on material verification programs.

12 Inspection of Welds and Joints

Inspection for weld quality is normally accomplished as a part of the requirements for new
construction, repairs, or alterations. However, welds and weld heat-affected zones are often inspected
for corrosion and/or service-induced cracking as part of the in-service inspections. When preferential
weld corrosion or cracking is noted, additional welds of the pressure vessel should be examined. API
577 provides additional guidance on weld inspection.

13 Pressure-relieving Devices
Pressure-relieving devices shall be tested and repaired by a repair organization experienced in valve
maintenance. Pressure-relieving devices should be inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance
with API 576.

14 INSPECTION DATA EVALUATION, ANALYSIS, AND RECORDING

14.1 Corrosion Rate Determination

14.1.1 Existing Pressure Vessels
Corrosion rate for thinning damage mechanisms is determined by the difference
between two thickness readings divided by the time interval between the readings.
The determination of corrosion rate may include thickness data collected at more than
two different times. Suitable use of short-term versus long-term corrosion rates shall
be determined by the inspector.

14.1.2 Newly Installed Pressure Vessels or Changes in Service

For a new vessel or for a vessel for which service conditions are being changed, one
of the following methods shall be used to determine the vessel's probable corrosion rate.
The remaining life and inspection interval can be estimated from this rate.

14.2 Required Thickness Determination

The required thickness shall be based on pressure, mechanical, and structural considerations using the
appropriate design formulae and code allowable stress.

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14.3 Evaluation Of Existing Equipment with Minimal Documentation
For pressure vessels that have no nameplate and minimal or no design and construction
documentation, the following steps may be used to verify operating integrity:

 Perform inspection to determine condition of the vessel.

 Define design parameters and prepare drawings.
 Perform design calculations based on applicable codes and standards.

14.4 Remaining Life Calculations

The remaining life of the vessel (in years) shall be calculated from the following formula:

Where,
taclual =the actual thickness of a CML, in in. (mm), measured during the most recent inspection.
tequired = the required thickness at the same CML or component, in in. (mm), as the t aclual measurement.
It is computed by the design formulas (e.g., pressure and structural) and does not include corrosion
allowance or manufacturer's tolerances.
14.5 Maximum Allowable Working Pressure Determination
The MAWP for the continued use of a pressure vessel shall be based on computations that are
determined using the latest applicable edition of the ASME Code or the construction code to which
the vessel was built.
14.6 Fitness-for-Service Evaluations of Corroded Regions
Pressure containing components found to have damage that could affect their load carrying capability
(pressure loads and other applicable loads, e.g., weight, wind, etc., per API 579) shall be evaluated for
continued service.
Fitness-for-service evaluations may be used for this evaluation and must be applicable to the specific
following damage observed.

 To evaluate metal loss in excess of the corrosion allowance,

 To evaluate blisters and laminations
 To evaluate weld misalignment and shell distortions,
 To evaluate crack-like flaws,
 To evaluate the effects of fire damage,

A fitness-for-service assessment should be performed in accordance with API 579.

14.7 Reports and Records

Pressure vessel owners and users shall maintain permanent and progressive records of their pressure
vessels and pressure relieving devices. Permanent records will be maintained throughout the service
life of each equipment item; progressive records will be regularly updated to include new information
pertinent to the operation, inspection, and maintenance history of the equipment.
Pressure vessel and pressure-relieving device records shall contain four types of information pertinent
to mechanical integrity as follows:

a. Construction and design information.

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 b. Inspection history.
c. Repair, alteration, and rerating information.
d. Fitness-for-service assessment documentation requirements are described in API 579

Specific documentation requirements for the type of flaw being assessed are provided in the
appropriate part of API 579

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