Usage of welded pipes for CRH line - SUMMARY

Majority of the cases of failure of CRH piping had cracks initiated from the seam weld toe. The
cracks have initiated from seams located in the bottom side and on 2-3’O Clock positions due to
corrosion assisted fatigue or due to High stresses caused.

Using CRH Piping can lead to periodic inspections of the longitudinal weld seam as advised by
various Licensors, thus increasing the downtime and addition of recurring inspection costs

As per EPRI -1009863

Vulnerability can be avoided by specifying seamless piping spools.
Alternatively, if seam-welded pipe is used, vulnerability can be mitigated by:
• Specifying that the internal and external weld caps are to be ground flush with the base
metal
• Specifying the orientation of the seam weld in each piping spool or fitting based on a
complete finite-element stress analysis. This should include effects of elbows and other
fittings and support attachments along with bending stress that may result due to ovalization
on the neutral axis of an elbow. The seam weld should not be placed at the six o’clock
position in horizontal pipe spools or fittings, where it may be vulnerable to corrosion.
• Specifying weld materials, weld techniques, and pre- and post-weld heat treatment to
minimize conditions that could make the weld metal or heat-affected zone more vulnerable to
corrosion or fatigue mechanisms

As per IBR-Regulation-234
Plates over 2” in thickness before being fabricated, shall be uniformly heat treated to produce
grain refinement. Heat treatment involving quenching in a liquid medium is not permitted.