Pressure Vessel Safety

Paul Brindza March 27, 2007

Pressure Vessels
Pressure Greater than 15 PSI differential Diameter greater than 6 inches Metallic (welded, bolted , riveted) ASME section VIII Division 1 or 2 for unfired vessels applies (PVC) Other sections of ASME PVC apply to materials, welds, brazing, inspections Safety factor of 3.5 Div 1 Test pressure of 125% Div 1

Pressure Piping
Pressure greater than 15 PSI differential Diameter greater than inch ANSI B31 Chemical Plant and Refinery Pressure Piping Code applies ( PPC)

Pressure Safety at JLAB before 10CFR851 Feb. 9, 2006

All JLAB Super Conducting Magnets that were procured thru Design-Build Contracts had the following language in the specification: This SC magnet shall be designed , fabricated and tested to the intent of ASME PVC Section VIII for unfired vessels, but No Code Stamp was required. JLAB EH&S Manual required use of ASME PVC for design guidance in a similar manner for JLAB projects.

After 10CFR851
This DOE order requires that all its contractors (JLAB) to be fully compliant with ASME PVC & ANSI B31 PPC. This requires that legacy systems shall be documented to demonstrate compliance or that the contractor shall get a variance from a Committee of experts (JLAB) established to review future and past compliance.

Applicability to 12 GeV Projects

SC Magnets have two pressure systems Helium & Nitrogen where ASME PVC will now apply and magnets must in the future be procured with a PV Code Stamp (U-stamp) and be documented accordingly. SC magnet vacuum systems, other vacuum systems and Cerenkov Counters can be excluded if they have relief devices that prevent positive pressurization over 15 PSI. Cryogenic targets must get a JLAB exception from the Pressure Safety Committee.

IMPACTS
Code compliance requires extensive record keeping involving design documents, calculations, professional peer reviews, and a host of fabrication documents and test and inspection results. Materials certifications, part traceability, weld design, weld & welder certifications must be preserved. Inspectors must be Code certified. JLAB welding & welders have to be code certified so JLAB can build or repair to ASME Sec. VIII or ANSI B31

Conclusions
Compliance is not mission impossible. JLAB has always followed the intent of the CODEs so compliance by documentation or professional review is possible for Legacy systems. It will cost more for JLAB to perform its work due to higher contract costs and staff costs will increase due to requirements for certified staff and inspectors and record keeping.