The Importance of Preventive Maintenance for The Pressure Piping System

February 10, 2016

Pressure pipes are the alloy-reinforced conduits that convey dense volumes of fluid from one part of an operating plant to the next. The metal conduits branch and curve through 90° turns, angling to the far corners of power plants, fuel storage depots, and steam boiler containment enclosures. Starting at 15 PSI (103 Kilopascals) and rising swiftly to unimaginably demanding containment ratings, the pressure piping system encompasses more than a complex network of stout tubes. There are valves and control elements, terminating fixtures and flanges incorporated within the network. And every single intricately engineered part of the network bolts together and welds seamlessly in place to form a high-functioning, exhaustively inspected whole that safely withstands immense stresses. Still, even the strongest link can be weakened over time.

A preventive maintenance strategy inspects these components and evaluates performance to create a big-picture perspective of the operating whole. The piping, when first installed, was certified to operate within specified parameters as set by national and international guidelines. Unfortunately, time and environmental influences do their very best to undermine the virtues of the original installation work. The pressure pipes are exposed to vibrations from other parts of the plant, for example. Internal pressures exert transient loading effects on the pressure piping system, and this stress combines with temperature changes to age components. Risks are high in this structure, with high temperatures driving super dense steam, caustic gaseous products reaching their flash points, and fuels changing state as compression apparatus forces an explosive gas to condense. Even the tiniest structural imperfection, the smallest flaw in a weld joint, could spell disaster.

A planned maintenance program detects issues as they occur and highlights these issues for remedial action before they develop into full-blown problems. Imagine the pressure pipes of a superheated boiler undergoing maintenance in this manner. If a defect is discovered, then the valve or pipe is taken out of commission and replaced so that the system is restored to full functionality before it becomes a hazard. The process must be organized and documented, of course, which involves the implementation of a hierarchical framework. Under this methodology, the valves and external surfaces of the pipes would receive attention on a weekly or monthly basis. The system would then be shut down once a year to implement a full maintenance plan, with the integrity of inner pipe surfaces, the viability of weld points, and other potentially hidden flaws becoming exposed as leak tests and vacuum tests created a detailed snapshot of the current condition of the pipes.

Contact Details

Fusion - Weld Engineering Pty Ltd
ABN 98 068 987619

1865 Frankston Flinders Road,
Hastings, VIC 3915

Ph: (03) 5909 8218

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