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Gussets on 2" steam drum for level gauges

Gussets on 2" steam drum for level gauges

Gussets on 2" steam drum for level gauges

(OP)
At work the steam drums are running. During a vibration survey I found that some of the 2" nozzles that had the gussetts on them had the gussetts cut off. The are supporting level gauges and teh 2 pipe is sch 160.
Looking in the code to find and verify if that is a code violation or were they merely for shipping but can not find anything for sure.
No notes on the vendor documents stating one thing or the other.
Any one got a clue as to the code on this?
thanks a lot

RE: Gussets on 2" steam drum for level gauges

The gussets were in place for nozzle support, not as shipping bars. Most likely the designer anticipated the vibrations as excessive loads for the shell-nozzle joint and supplemented the reinforcement with gussets. It is very common procedure, particularly for the small nozzles where the calculations are very difficult. Perhaps you could ask the manufacturer for advice on those gussets, but my suggestion would be to reinstate the gussets for added safety.
gr2vessels

RE: Gussets on 2" steam drum for level gauges

(OP)
I agree with you but now the problem is commissioning and the client has the steam drums running and to re-weld on a ASME pressure vessel with a U stamp I think? is a big issue. In the meantime I am highlighting the issue by writing and NCR for it.

RE: Gussets on 2" steam drum for level gauges

Largely you are right, you cannot weld without a repair code in place. However, if you have to weld on the existing 'stub' ends of the former gussets, that is not necessarily a repair job.
Cheers,
gr2vessels

RE: Gussets on 2" steam drum for level gauges

redfishromeo,

The gussets were cut off for a reason. I believe the guy who cut them off did the right thing, considering that the steam drum would be operating at a temperature above 20 °C. The differential thermal expansion could cause cracks on the nozzle or gusset welds.

If the nozzles and the level gauge are doing fine without the gussets, just leave them as they are. I would totally cut off the gussets and remove them from sight so that inspectors or operators would not be wondering why the gussets were cut off. ponder

Cheers!

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