Rule Thumb on Retiring Boilers/Pressure Vessels
Rule Thumb on Retiring Boilers/Pressure Vessels
(OP)
Hi,
New to forum, so if this has been discussed forgive me (did a search and didn't find anything).
Essentially we have some very old boilers/pressure vessels here on site (approaching 60 years in service), and I am wondering if there is a general rule of thumb on when they should be retired/taken out of service?
Obviously we are conducting all the required inspection/testing, which they are passing, thus we keep them in service. But as stated above was wondering if at a certain point it is just recommended to retire/replace boilers/pressure vessels?
Thank you,
Brian
New to forum, so if this has been discussed forgive me (did a search and didn't find anything).
Essentially we have some very old boilers/pressure vessels here on site (approaching 60 years in service), and I am wondering if there is a general rule of thumb on when they should be retired/taken out of service?
Obviously we are conducting all the required inspection/testing, which they are passing, thus we keep them in service. But as stated above was wondering if at a certain point it is just recommended to retire/replace boilers/pressure vessels?
Thank you,
Brian





RE: Rule Thumb on Retiring Boilers/Pressure Vessels
At 60 years, they should be checked for fatigue cracking [probably at least every 5 years, if no cracks are being found.]
RE: Rule Thumb on Retiring Boilers/Pressure Vessels
I agree with Duwe6.... there seems to be no general ruled of thumb for the retirement of pressure vessels or boilers.
Older, water-tube boilers that repeatedly crack at the steam drum are frequently candidates for retirement simply because of the cost of repair.
Older boilers and vessels are commonly found in abandoned process facilities. It is frequently cheaper to abandon equipment than to refurbish and replace.
Firetube boilers are somewhat easier to refurbish and retube than watertube boilers.
The Cleaver Brooks (firetube boiler) people claim: "average life exceeds 25 years with many cases exceeding 50"
Pressure Vessels seem to go on forever..... or at least until the new owner loses all of the documentation..!!
MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer
RE: Rule Thumb on Retiring Boilers/Pressure Vessels
RE: Rule Thumb on Retiring Boilers/Pressure Vessels
RE: Rule Thumb on Retiring Boilers/Pressure Vessels
www.abma.com/specification-design-life-requirement...
There are several firms that will perform a "life assessment" on an existing boiler and give you a report on their "best guess" for a remaining life.
Bottom line: boilers can be abused, neglected and operated at temperatures and pressures far too high.... these all decrease the owner's useful life.
MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer
RE: Rule Thumb on Retiring Boilers/Pressure Vessels
2014 - 60 = 1954. Welding was pretty reliable by then on the common alloys, but had only been in common use since the mid-40's.
RE: Rule Thumb on Retiring Boilers/Pressure Vessels
This is tough to answer. How well have they been taken care of. Do you have any refractory issues? Are you looking for better efficiency or do you have emission requirements to meet. Sometimes installing a better control system is all that is necessary.
I've worked on so many boilers as old as 1940 that are going strong. Great Lakes Naval comes to mind. GLN has a 100kpph saturated four burner boiler that runs rock solid...
Darrell Collins
http://www.collinscombustion.com