Will endure ? Leak on pressuere vessel

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Hi there, The Sathurday a old client call me up... one of their refrigeration units, was unoperable, he said ... some one else was there butnobody was found the leak. So the guys and I came up... and figure whath... their found the leak on the liquid reciber.This thing was hugue... and its for sure a manufacture fail, but was thigth until know... So... I took the piece to the shop... a litte bit of milling ... and I thougth since we are soldering medium metal... the brass alloy will go with this... Any thougths? Thank you.
Reply:I'll let someone else chime in while I get the popcorn ready.Lincoln Idealarc 250 (circa 1962)Lincoln Weldpak 155 w/Mig KitLincoln Squarewave TIG 175
Reply:Originally Posted by papaharley03I'll let someone else chime in while I get the popcorn ready.
Reply:OH BOY!! This is gonna be a BARREL of worms!!                                             MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Pressure Vesel welding requires pressure vesel welding experience, certs and common sense. Out of this list I only have the latest (at least a little bitI) and I think that that soldering is not the way to go. I think that the only kind of repair that fits the bill is welding... but cannot tell you with wich rod, filler or procedure because I have no idea. I recall seeing some bungs soldered... but we were talking about hidraulic lines... and it is not the same animal!I promise you that the next posts are likely to be a succesion of: you shouldn't have touched that, call the client and offer to pay for the screwed up piece of equipment so they can dispose it and buy a new one, some will get injured or killed and you will get sued, etc.Mikel
Reply:Are you speaking English? Because I can't make any sense in what you just typed?
Reply:How high pressure does that system use?
Reply:Was this a U stamped ASME pressure vessel?  Do you have an R stamp and an AI to review your work?How many people could be potentially injured when this fails?
Reply:With that copper pipe on there and being that this is a refrigeration system, I'm going to say it runs between 3-400psi at max. That's fairly typical of at least some part of a commercial cooling system and those are almost entirely plumbed with standard copper pipe and fittings (basic plumbing pipe) the only requirement is that they be silver soldered rather than tin soldered.Not saying if this is safe or not, just giving my $.02 on refrigeration systems. Now if this is a chloride or ammonia system, I have no experience here other than to say that the chloride ones will turn new work boots into elf shoes if it leaks on them. (I know a whole crew of guys that left with elf boots after tearing up a slab with a chloride chiller system in it)
Reply:there is always risk of failure with a preasure vessel. that being said, I would never touch one unless it were to take it appart and turn it into a smoker or other non-presurised project.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:I'd be interested in knowing what the refrigerant in this case is. We run multiple medium temp (35-40F), low temp (0-20F), and very low temp (-20-0F) units. All of the systems run on a vacuum, so the repair failure would simply result in loss of vacuum in the system and leak the refrigerant, not an explosion. In any case, I'll wait for the expert in refrigeration to chime in for this specific case.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:Looks like a receiver tank in the system. It will be under some pressure, so your patch will most likely pop off. Don't weld it, just have your client replace the tank.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:Pictures or it never happened.
Reply:Those pics werent there before and its, a barrel of monkeyes, worms come in cans.
Reply:Originally Posted by G-sonHow high pressure does that system use?
Reply:Originally Posted by manningI'd be interested in knowing what the refrigerant in this case is. We run multiple medium temp (35-40F), low temp (0-20F), and very low temp (-20-0F) units. All of the systems run on a vacuum, so the repair failure would simply result in loss of vacuum in the system and leak the refrigerant, not an explosion. In any case, I'll wait for the expert in refrigeration to chime in for this specific case.
Reply:Originally Posted by manningLooks like a receiver tank in the system. It will be under some pressure, so your patch will most likely pop off. Don't weld it, just have your client replace the tank.
Reply:Originally Posted by mstyerWas this a U stamped ASME pressure vessel?  Do you have an R stamp and an AI to review your work?How many people could be potentially injured when this fails?
Reply:Originally Posted by Mikel_24Pressure Vesel welding requires pressure vesel welding experience, certs and common sense. Out of this list I only have the latest (at least a little bitI) and I think that that soldering is not the way to go. I think that the only kind of repair that fits the bill is welding... but cannot tell you with wich rod, filler or procedure because I have no idea. I recall seeing some bungs soldered... but we were talking about hidraulic lines... and it is not the same animal!I promise you that the next posts are likely to be a succesion of: you shouldn't have touched that, call the client and offer to pay for the screwed up piece of equipment so they can dispose it and buy a new one, some will get injured or killed and you will get sued, etc.Mikel
Reply:Ammonia systems are; how can I say... a bit more forgiving than other systems. I remember just because we ran out of time during a tie in we used a hammer and punch to close a pin hole that was barely leaking. Then when we got to shut that part of the system down again we repaired it. As far as this little vessel goes, for r 22 I dont know the leak testing methods. But normally if theres an issue it will start leaking again right away OR pop off lol.Ive heard of it happening but haven't seen it happen.... yet. I may have missed the post but is his vessel back in service? Any issues?1982 Lincoln SA 2001980 Lincoln SA 2501996 Lincoln SA 2501994 Lincoln Ranger 82005 Lincoln Eagle 10,000Millermatic 211 MIG