Suggested Modifications to API RP 934 Reactor Requirements for Thinner Wall Equipment

Abstract

Cr-Mo steel reactors being purchased for the oil refineries, gasification, and other industries have excellent standards for achieving fit for service designs, material specifications, and fabrication requirements. These standards include the ASME Pressure Vessel Code and API Recommended Practice (RP) 934-A for the 2¼Cr-1Mo alloy family and RP 934-C for 1¼Cr-½Mo. The RPs’ scopes indicate that they were developed for the most severe, high pressure refinery services, which typically require thick wall reactors. However, these standards are also widely used by industry as guidance for thinner Cr-Mo equipment. This paper aims to identify and present the appropriate requirements derived from the RPs that can be justified for less severe services and/or thin wall equipment falling outside the intended scope of API RP 934-A and 934-C.