Design Consideration for Internal Welding Attachments in Clad Pressure Vessels

Abstract Process equipment which employs a corrosion resistant alloy (CRA) layer cladded to steel is common in refineries, petrochemical plants and other plants processing highly corrosive media. There are two regularly employed methods for welding attachments and internals to clad process vessels. One is to remove the CRA cladding for welding the attachment to the steel base metal assuming dissimilar welds and restoring CRA by weld overlay. The other eliminates the step of removing the cladding, simplifying the attachment process by direct welding of the internals onto the clad layer. With the lack of data to prove the integrity of direct welding attachment onto the clad layer, designers frequently demand the cladding be removed or allow only a conservatively low stress limit for what can be attached directly to the clad surface. It is well understood that eliminating the step of removing clad increases the simplicity, improves the lead-time, and reduces the cost of making these attachments for trays or other internals, but there are concerns about clad disbonding risks. With the aim to provide data around the integrity of direct welding attachments for better risk assessments, a technical study was undertaken. In this study, it will be shown that the bond between clad material and the base steel is robust enough to withstand the heaviest attachments and harshest conditions. The theory behind the technical study will be presented along with the results of this study