COMPANY: CLOUTIER'S MACHINE SHOP LIMITED

Project: Redesign and Replace Expansion Joint

Our client experienced a rupture in the side wall of the expansion joint on one of their liquor heaters. This rupture was, in most likely hood, the culmination of a number of coincidental events. Since this vessel was of European design and manufacture, the material of construction for the shell and expansion joint was SA 515 Gr. 70. In 1989, the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Ontario Branch, issued Circular T3-80 which indicated that there were serious concerns regarding the use of this material. The circular mentioned that the material has been manufactured in accordance with a course grain practice and as such is highly susceptible to brittle fractures, even at ambient tempertures.

Our retained engineer for pressure vessels, Maria Toth P. Eng., of M. Toth Engineering Ltd, redesigned the expansion joint with a few changes as follows:

• The material was changed from SA 515 Gr. 70 to SA 516 Gr. 70.
• The corner radius between the ring and end plates was changed from 1" to 1.5"
• The corner radius between the shell and the end plates was changed from 1" to 2.5"

All work was done in accordance with A.S.M.E. Section VIII, Division 1.

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