MAINTENANCE ENGINEERING: CASE STUDY OF FITNESS FOR SERVICE ASSESSMENTS
Year: 2011
Editor: Culley, S.J.; Hicks, B.J.; McAloone, T.C.; Howard, T.J. & Dong, A.
Author: Giacobbe, Francesco; Biancuzzo, Emanuele; Albino, Mirko; Geraci, Domenico
Series: ICED
Section: Design Methods and Tools Part 1
Page(s): 335-344
Abstract
The current needs of the industrial market, such as the increasing production capacity, the conservation of the plant property, the reduction of the probability of plant shutdown, strongly lead to the discipline of Maintenance Engineering. As part of the pressure equipment, such as pressure vessels, piping, and tanks, the maintenance processes must be managed with a risk management logic. Through, Fitness For Service (FFS) method, pressure equipment presenting a structural degradation can be maintained in operation, with close monitoring. This study illustrates the application of the design code for FFS according to API RP 579 and BS 7910 in the case of a longitudinal defect (crack-like flaw) on a pipe in pressure conditions. The comparison is carried outusing both codes in order to assess the stability of the defect. The calculation shows that the defect is stable, if the pipe is stressed with a steady load equal to the maximum admissible load in operation. The most conservative result has been obtained from BS 7910.
Keywords: RISK MANAGEMENT; FITNESS FOR SERVICE; CRACK-LIKE FLAW; BS 7910; API RP 579