metengr,
Sorry about the delay. The vessel is a vert. Fractionator tower 20'ID x 103's/s x 28psig. The bottom has a cone and the top has an elliptical head. The cone and 50' of the bottom shell is lined with 0.10"ss and operates at 700oF, designed for 750oF. Most of the vessel is about 1/2" thick with the section above the lining at 1/4" corrosion allowance and designed for 650oF. We are the owners agent and the owner requires us to do the calculations before the Coded shop does theirs. We are working close together with the shop so we have continuity and avoid ommissions and/or errors. The rest of the tower temperature drops as the fluid rises to the top of the tower with a final temperature of 281oF. We are adding numerous connections and re-rating the pressure of the vessel. All the internals are being replaced also to the latest technology. After reviewing you last comment, we regrouped with the team engineers and some of us took your view while others still held on to the belief that somehow UG-20(f) applies to the 750oF case. However, we were not able to prove how it applies or how it does not apply. The Owner takes the path that it does not apply. Well, to get to the meat of the question, we are still concerned about the 56 year old vessel section operating at 700oF. We make reference to NBIC RB-9100 (b)(3) which states "The lower temperature limit for the creep range for carbon steel is at least 700oF." We have expressed our opinion that the material should be tested for creep during the vessel alteration and the results included in predicting the service life left of the vessel. We also believe they should allow a metallurgist to review the material for this vesssel. Personally, I don't think they will, even though some of us believe it would be the safe thing to do. We have not seen anything that states we do not have to check the existing material stated above for creep after 56 years of service at 700oF. If you know of a published document that would help with this old material concerning this subject, it would be appreciated. I would go to the library here and look it up. Well, metengr thanks again for your comments. I really like the Engtips site forum.