Stainless steel for cryogenic service (ASU network: oxygen, nitrogen, argon etc..

) For work on equipment or piping for cryogenic service made of SS, the PQR must meet the specific requirements and the additional constraints laid down in the codes concerning the cryogenic service, i.e. (non exhaustive list):

Referenced and compatible filler products < 10% on all the weld seam and measurement of ferrite contents. Ferrite contents is measured with ferritoscope ref. Fischer M30 or similar.

Stainless steel for hydrogen service: The nickel content in the filler metals must be 10.5%

Requirements for Oxygen service : Its consider oxygen service if: (mixture 23.5% oxygen) For carbon steel piping, backing ring are prohibited. The welds will be full penetration and as regular as possible. For austenitic steel, see Error! Reference source not found.. Welds on A 335 Gr P11 & P22 : For pipes with temperature service < 375C o Resilience test shall be done at 20C the result shall not be less than 30 J and none of the value of the three results shall be less than 27 J

Qualification of Welders, Welding Operators :

The welders and operators must not modify the approved welding procedures. The Subcontractor's operators and welders already have experience in this similar welding work and have passed the qualification tests required to weld the materials specified in the procedures. The welders and operators are qualified in compliance with the contractual codes and standards. The certificates, valid and signed by a third party authorized inspection, must be presented to the Air Liquide representative before execution of the work. The qualification costs are borne by the Subcontractor. He gives the Air Liquide representative the list of welders' names with their personal numbers. Air Liquide reserves the right to request qualification of the welders in workshop or on site (non destructive test according to E-GS-9-5-4) specific for the project The Subcontractor is responsible for the supply and inspection of "qualification spool" pipes. In the event of doubt regarding the skill of welders or operators, Air Liquide reserves the right to request new qualification tests and/or refuse at any time any of the Subcontractor's welders. It is the subcontractor's responsibility to ensure that the welders and operators are employed according to their qualifications (materials, thicknesses, diameters, positions, etc.). A welding supervisor is strongly recommended. Inspectors must have sufficient experience and knowledge of welding. They must be able to give clear, unambiguous work instructions to the welders and take the measures required to obtain and maintain the necessary welding quality. The Subcontractor must ensure traceability (on the as built isometric drawings) of the WPS, PQR, weld number and welder who executed each weld. Welding consumable storage :

Filler metal :
The filler metals (electrode or wire) are delivered with the manufacturer's certificates showing, in compliance with the applicable provisions, the chemical and mechanical characteristics per lot and per diameter. They are stored in their original packaging.

The filler metals and the auxiliary products used must be traced.

Welding rods :
The electrodes with basic or rutilo-basic coatings and the welding fluxes must be oven dried, in workshop and on worksite (at the temperatures and durations indicated in the supplier's specifications).

Tack welding :
Preparation: The sections can be correctly positioned through the use of flanges, with no tension or stress on the parts to be assembled. Whether or not the parts to be assembled are positioned or adjusted using temporary parts, the edges are assembled and prepared according to the welding procedure by qualified personnel. Hammering is not permitted during the tack welding. Securing devices around the pipes can be used. Temporary or permanent tack welding : Temporary or permanent tack welds are made with the same filler metals as those used to weld the parts to be assembled, by a qualified welder or operator. Arc tack welds with electrode are prohibited on the edges to be welded, since, according to the welding process, the first welding passes must be carried out using the TIG process.

Tack welds with bubbling on austenitic steel are not permitted. Permanent tack welding :
If permanent tack welds are made, the tack welds must be fused with the root pass during the root pass welding While welding the root pass, any cracked tack weld must be ground off completely before continuing the weld. The tack welding must necessarily consist of several centimeters long of weld .

Temporary tack welding :

The temporary tack welding is carried out using temporary bridges made from the same material as the parts being assembled. The temporary bridges or clamps must be tack welded with electrode. Temporary tack welding carried out with mounting pieces in the groove or on the weld line is permitted if the grade of the material used is the same as that of the metal to be welded. Tack welding of mounting parts on tube must be minimized and no internal bubbling at the position of the tack weld is permitted. The mounting pieces must be removed by grinding off the welds. No other method is permitted. Tack welding on thin austenitic steels (SCH 5) : The tack welding must be as tight as possible to avoid any overlap of the edges during the welding. It must be carried out with gas shielding. The edges to be welded must not be brought together with clamps or local hammering, the edges must be calibrated before tack welding the parts. Temporary tack welding using bridges or inserts in the welding area is prohibited for this type of thickness (SCH 5 and 10).

Socket welds :
For the sockets welds a gap shall be kept between end of the pipe and the fitting, this to allow expansion. See Appendix 4 a).

Dear Bert, I saw some observation during inspection of welding and fit-up for SS pipes, 1. There was some oxidation at the root, 2. Rusts over the welding joints, 3. And some joints doing trimming after tack weld finished. To minimize oxidation, the joint to be brazed must be raised to the correct temperature as quickly as possible without excessive overheating. The rusts must be clean properly with the approval procedure. Rough or irregular grinding Trim grinding(after tack) Local breaks Under thickness of the weld seams are prohibited during fit-up, so confirm the joints before welding. And also I saw without welder id a welder doing weld. These kinds of activities are unacceptable during on site. For all this kind of welding jobs, Air Liquide asks for welder qualification. So submit the welder qualification record for the welder as quick.