Reinforcement Pad Weep hole

From: <harihara.v>
Date: Wed Oct 06 2004 - 05:55:00 EDT

Friends

Weep holes are provided in nozzle reinforcement pads of branch connections in piping and nozzles in pressure vessels, tanks and heat exchangers to vent out the gases during welding. This weep hole is to be kept open during the hydrostatic test of the equipment. What is the practice during normal operation? Is this need to be seal welded, plugged or to be kept open? ANSI 31.3 and API 650 specify that this need to be kept open. As per one designers exchanger standard this need to be seal welded after hydrostatic test. If this is plug welded or plugged how can we find when it is leaking? If this is kept open is it possible that atmosphere get inbetween the shell and pad initiate corrosion? if it is plugged can the pad take the interanal pressure in case of shell failure.

Your view please,

Thanks

HVR

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