×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

A Fundamental Question Regarding Weep Holes

A Fundamental Question Regarding Weep Holes

A Fundamental Question Regarding Weep Holes

(OP)
Design Code: ASME Section VIII
==============================

Can someone please tell me if the weep holes at the reinforcing plate is sealed after the vessel is put into operation? Or should it be left open? Why?

I understand the weep hole is to detect leakages in welds during hydrstatic testing but does it serve any purpose after the vessel is put into operation?

Thanks.


RE: A Fundamental Question Regarding Weep Holes

Angsi,
Weep holes serve more than one function.  You noted one, others are to aid in release of gases produced during welding  of the nozzle/rpad and another is to aid in detection of leakage from the nozzle/shell welds while under pressure.  They should not be sealed while under operation.
Regards,
RLS

RE: A Fundamental Question Regarding Weep Holes

(OP)
Thanks.

RE: A Fundamental Question Regarding Weep Holes

If I remember correctly, ASME actually states that they can be sealed, provided the seal isn't adequate to hold pressure.  IE, seal it to keep air and moisture out.

RE: A Fundamental Question Regarding Weep Holes

Yes, see UG-37(g) (or UW-15(d) if you don't have the latest Div1 Addenda).
Cheers,
John

RE: A Fundamental Question Regarding Weep Holes

In our drawings, we mention a note that,

"X nos. of 1/4 inch NPT tell-tale holes (what you mentioned as weep holes)" to be provided. The holes shall be sealed with grease after pnuematic testing."

I hope this sounds adequate.

RE: A Fundamental Question Regarding Weep Holes

I had thought one of the reasons not to seal up the weep hole was that if there were leakage behind the reinforcing plate (at the nozzle), it could change the loading on the plate attachment welds.

The attachment plate provides additional strength in the longitudinal and circ directions to the shell (compensation) and the welds take that load. If there was a leak in the nozzle then you'd have fluid pressure acting on the reinforcing pad directly and the welds would have to take that force too (pressure times area of reinfocing pad) in a different direction (tending to force the pad radially off of the vessel).

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources