Uncommon Hot Tap

Do you know if is possible to make a hot tap connection in a blind flange?

Line service is not so critical, medium condensate (P=7.2 barg@167 oC) but the space around the line has some interference to install the drilling machine.

I'll appreciate if some of you have or have seen this kind of connection before.

 

[reichertc]

I would think you could do this by welding a flat olet and flange onto the blind flange. It would look kind of crazy, but if there's no other way...

I'd recommend you call up your local hot tap subcontractor to see if they've got the ability to do it.

 

[kstaylor]

I have been involved in making these type of connections before on blind flanges via hot tapping.

Prior to doing this work you need to check a couple of things. From a flange standpoint you are changing the bind flange to a reducing flange. This change needs to be analyzed. From a nozzle/branch connection standpoint you are creating a new nozzle and a check for adequate reinforcement is necessary, particularly if the nozzle is not small relative to the nominal size of the blind flange. Both items need to be validated and it may turn out that additional reinforcement is required on the blind flange.

All other hot tap issues must be addressed. There is another thread in these pages that addresses general hot tap issues.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for your help guys.