TREKANT GRUPO INDUSTRIAL S.A. DE C.V.

CODE: PQC-03
REVISION:2
QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM PROCEDURE DATE: 02/24/20
POSTWELD HEAT TREATMENT PROCEDURE FOR CODE
ITEMS

POSTWELD HEAT TREATMENT PROCEDURE FOR CODE ITEMS

Change Record

Revision Date Responsible Person Description of Change

ING. JOSE ALBERTO GAMIÑO GARCIA
FEB 24, 2020 MODIF SEC 1
QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER
PARAGRAPH
ING. JOSE ALBERTO GAMIÑO GARCIA 6.NUMBER,PLACEMENT
JAN 02, 2014
QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER AND REMOVAL OF
THERMOCOUPLES
ING. JOSE ALBERTO GAMIÑO GARCIA
FEB 21,2011 RELEASE
QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER

Prepared & Approved by: ING. JOSE ALBERTO GAMIÑO GARCIA

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 TREKANT GRUPO INDUSTRIAL S.A. DE C.V.
CODE: PQC-03
REVISION:2
QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM PROCEDURE DATE: 02/24/20
POSTWELD HEAT TREATMENT PROCEDURE FOR CODE
ITEMS

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION.

2 METHODS OF HEATING

3 TEMPERATURES AND RATES OF HEATING AND COOLING

4 TOTAL TIME AT TEMPERATURE.

5 NOMINAL THICKNESS SELECTION.

6 NUMBER, PLACEMENT AND REMOVAL OF THERMOCOUPLES.

7 CALIBRATION OF FURNACE CONTROLS AND RECORDING INSTRUMENTS.

8 REPORTS

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 TREKANT GRUPO INDUSTRIAL S.A. DE C.V.
CODE: PQC-03
REVISION:2
QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM PROCEDURE DATE: 02/24/20
POSTWELD HEAT TREATMENT PROCEDURE FOR CODE
ITEMS

1 INTRODUCTION.

Post Weld Heat Treatment defined as any heat treatment after welding, is often used to improve the
properties of a weldment. In general, when PWHT is required, the goal is to increase the resistance to
brittle fracture and relaxing residual stresses. Other desired results from PWHT may include hardness
reduction, and material strength enhancements.
The operation of post weld heat treatment required by Section I and Section VIII, Div. 1 of the ASME
Code, later referred as the Code, shall be performed before the hydrostatic test and after any welded
repairs in accordance with the requirements given in this procedure.
Post weld heat treatment will be performed by the Company or an approved subcontractor, according to
instructions issued by QCM

2 METHODS OF HEATING.

In-house or subcontracted post weld heat treatment shall be carried out using one of the following
methods:

a) Heating the Item Code as a whole in an enclosed furnace is preferable and shall be used
whenever practicable.

b) Heating the Item Code in more than one heat in a furnace provided the overlap of the heated
sections of the Item Code is at least 5 ft. When this method is used, the portion outside of the
furnace shall be shielded so that the temperature gradient is not harmful.

c) Heating the shell sections and/or portions of Item Codes to post weld heat treat longitudinal
joints or complicated welded details before joining to make the completed Item Code. When the
Item Code is required to be post weld heat treated, and it is not practicable to post weld heat treat
the completed Item Code as a whole or in two or more heat as provided in (b) above, any
circumferential joints not previously post weld heat treated may be thereafter locally post weld
heat treated by heating such joints by any appropriate means that will assure the required
uniformity. The width of the heated band on each side of the greatest width of finished weld shall
be not less than two times the shell thickness. The portion outside the heating device shall be
protected so that the temperature gradient is not harmful.
This method may also be used to post weld heat treat portions of new Item Codes after repairs.

d) Heating the Item Code internally by any appropriate means and with adequate indicating and
recording temperature devices to aid in the control and maintenance of a uniform distribution of
temperature in the Item Code wall. Previous to this operation, the Item Code should be fully
enclosed with insulating material, or the permanent insulation may be installed provided it is
suitable for the required temperature.

e) Heating a circumferential band containing nozzles or other welded attachments that require post
weld heat treatment in such a manner that the entire band shall be brought up uniformly to the

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 TREKANT GRUPO INDUSTRIAL S.A. DE C.V.
CODE: PQC-03
REVISION:2
QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM PROCEDURE DATE: 02/24/20
POSTWELD HEAT TREATMENT PROCEDURE FOR CODE
ITEMS

required temperature and held for the specified time. The circumferential band shall extend
around the entire Item Code, shall include the nozzle or welded attachment, and shall extend at
least six times the plate thickness beyond the welding which connects the nozzle or other
attachment to the Item Code. The portion of the Item Code outside of the circumferential band
shall be protected so that the temperature gradient is not harmful.

f) Heating the circumferential joints of pipe or tubing by any appropriate means over a band having
a width on each side of the center line of not less than three times the greatest width of the
finished weld. The portion outside of the heated band shall be protected so that the temperature
gradient is not harmful.

3 TEMPERATURES AND RATES OF HEATING AND COOLING.

Post weld heat treatment of materials, Item Code and pressure parts shall be carried out by one of the
methods given in 2.0 in accordance with the following requirements:

1) The temperature of the furnace shall not exceed 800°F (425 °C) at the time the Item Code or part
is placed in it.

2) Above 800°F (425 °C) the rate of heating shall be not more than 400°F/hr (222 °C/hr.) divided
by the maximum metal thickness of the shell or head plate in inches, but in no case more than
400°F/hr.(222 °C/hr) During the heating period there shall not be a greater variation in
temperature throughout the portion of the Item Code being heated than 250°F (140 °C) within
any 15 ft (4.6 m) interval of length.

3) The Item Code or Item Code part shall be held at or above the temperature specified in the Code
such as Tables as UCS-56, During the holding period, there shall not be a greater difference than
150°F (83 °C) between the highest and lowest temperature throughout the portion of the Item
Code being heated, except where the range is further limited in the Code.

4) During the heating and holding period, the furnace atmosphere shall be so controlled as to avoid
excessive oxidation of the surface of the Item Code. The furnace shall be of such design as to
prevent direct impingement of the flame on the Item Code.

5) Above 800°F (425 °C), cooling shall be done in a closed furnace or cooling chamber at a rate not
greater than 500°F/hr (278 °C) divided by the maximum metal thickness of the shell or head
plate in inches, but in no case more than 500°F/hr. (278 °C). From 800°F (425 °C) the Item Code
may be cooled in still air.

ASME Section I
1) Full Penetration Butt and Groove Welds - The nominal thickness is the thickness of the weld,
pressure retaining material, or the thinner of the members being joined, whichever is least.
2) Partial Penetration Butt and Groove Welds - The nominal thickness is the depth of the weld

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 TREKANT GRUPO INDUSTRIAL S.A. DE C.V.
CODE: PQC-03
REVISION:2
QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM PROCEDURE DATE: 02/24/20
POSTWELD HEAT TREATMENT PROCEDURE FOR CODE
ITEMS

groove or preparation.
3) Fillet Welds - The nominal thickness is the throat thickness of the weld.
4) Repair Welds - The nominal thickness is the depth of the preparation or cavity to be repaired.
5) When nonpressure parts are welded to pressure parts, the post weld heat treatment temperature
of the pressure parts shall be used.
6) When parts of two different P-number groups are joined by welding, the post weld heat
treatment shall be that specified in the Welding Technique Sheet for the material requiring the
higher post weld heat treatment temperature, except as noted in g. below.
7) Partial penetration and fillet welds attaching P-No. 5x tubes and pipe headers of lower P-number
material may be post weld heat treated at the temperature specified for the lower P-number
material provided the tubes or pipe attached to the header comply with all of the following
conditions:
• a maximum specified chromium content of 3.0%
• a maximum nominal outside diameter of 4 in. (100 mm)
• a maximum thickness of ½ in. (6 mm)
• a maximum specified carbon content of 0.15%

4 TOTAL TIME AT TEMPERATURE.

a) The minimum temperature for post weld heat treatment given in the Code shall be the minimum
temperature of the plate material of the shell or head of any Item Code.

b) Except where prohibited in the Code, holding temperatures and/or holding times in excess of the
minimum values given may be used. The holding time at temperature as specified need not be
continuous. It may be an accumulation of time of multiple post weld heat treatment cycles.

c) When pressure parts of two different P-Number groups are joined by welding, the post weld heat
treatment shall be that specified in the Code, with applicable notes, for the material requiring the
higher post weld temperature. When no pressure parts are welded to pressure parts, the post weld
heat treatment temperature of the pressure part shall control.

5 NOMINAL THICKNESS SELECTION.

Nominal thickness is the thickness of the welded joint as defined herein. For pressure vessels or
parts of pressure vessels being post weld heated treated in a furnace charge, it is the greatest weld
thickness in any vessel or vessel part which has not previously been post weld heat treated.
1) When the welded joint connects parts of the same thickness, using a full penetration butt-
weld, the nominal thickness is the total depth of the weld exclusive of any permitted weld
reinforcement.
2) For groove welds, the nominal thickness is the depth of the groove.
3) For fillet weld, the nominal thickness is the throat dimension. If a fillet weld is used in
conjunction with a groove weld, the nominal thickness is the depth of the groove or the

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 TREKANT GRUPO INDUSTRIAL S.A. DE C.V.
CODE: PQC-03
REVISION:2
QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM PROCEDURE DATE: 02/24/20
POSTWELD HEAT TREATMENT PROCEDURE FOR CODE
ITEMS

throat dimension, whichever is greater.

4) For stud welds joint connects parts of unequal thicknesses, the nominal thickness shall be
the diameter of the stud.
5) When a welded joint connects parts of unequal thicknesses, the nominal thickness shall be
the following:
a) The thinner of two adjacent butt-welded parts including head to shell connections;
b) The thickness of the shell or the fillet weld, whichever is greater, in connections to
intermediate heads of the type shown in Fig. UW-13.1 sketch (f) of the Code.
c) The thickness of the shell in connections to tubesheets, flat heads, covers, flanges
(except for welded parts depicted in Fig.2-4 (7) in the Code, where the thickness of
the weld shall govern), or similar constructions;
d) In Figs. UW-16.1 and UW-16.2 of the Code, the thickness of the weld across the
nozzle neck or shell or head or reinforcing pad or attachment fillet weld,
whichever is the greater;
e) The thickness of the nozzle neck at the joint in nozzle neck to flange connections;
f) The thickness of the weld at the point of attachment when a nonpressure part is
welded to a pressure part;
g) The thickness of the weld in tube-to-tubesheet connections.

5) For repairs, the nominal thickness is the depth of the repair weld.

ASME Section I
1) Full Penetration Butt and Groove Welds - The nominal thickness is the thickness of the weld,
pressure retaining material, or the thinner of the members being joined, whichever is least.
2) Partial Penetration Butt and Groove Welds - The nominal thickness is the depth of the weld
groove or preparation.
3) Fillet Welds - The nominal thickness is the throat thickness of the weld.
4) Repair Welds - The nominal thickness is the depth of the preparation or cavity to be repaired.
5) When nonpressure parts are welded to pressure parts, the post weld heat treatment temperature
of the pressure parts shall be used.
6) When parts of two different P-number groups are joined by welding, the post weld heat
treatment shall be that specified in the Welding Technique Sheet for the material requiring the
higher post weld heat treatment temperature, except as noted in g. below.
7) Partial penetration and fillet welds attaching P-No. 5x tubes and pipe headers of lower P-number
material may be post weld heat treated at the temperature specified for the lower P-number
material provided the tubes or pipe attached to the header comply with all of the following
conditions:
• a maximum specified chromium content of 3.0%
• a maximum nominal outside diameter of 4 in. (100 mm)
• a maximum thickness of ½ in. (6 mm)a maximum specified carbon content of 0.15%

6 NUMBER, PLACEMENT AND REMOVAL OF THERMOCOUPLES.

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 TREKANT GRUPO INDUSTRIAL S.A. DE C.V.
CODE: PQC-03
REVISION:2
QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM PROCEDURE DATE: 02/24/20
POSTWELD HEAT TREATMENT PROCEDURE FOR CODE
ITEMS

Where more than one pressure vessel or pressure vessel part are post weld heat treated in one
furnace charge, thermocouples shall be placed on vessels at the bottom, center, and top of the
charge, or in other zones of possible temperature variation so that the temperature indicated shall
be true temperature for all vessels or parts in those zones. Thermocouple shall be firmly attached
to the weld zone using a capacitance-discharge type thermocouple welder in vessel surface
assigned location, according to the following procedure.
-Surface to be heat treated shall be prepared free of greases, dust and coatings.
- Strip 0.25”-0.5" of insulation from both ends of the thermocouple cable. Thermocouples shall
be of the type “K” i.e. nickel-chromium.
- Hold the paired wires in the electrode pliers and touch them to the carbon block electrode while
pushing the firing switch to produce a freestanding junction.
- Stripped wire pairs should be positioned in the pliers electrode with wires in contact.
- Different energy settings may be used to suit the individual operator, wire type, and desired
result (5 to 50 W/sec).
-Energy output for welding should not be greater to 125 W/sec.
After the completion of PWHT remove the thermocouples and ground smoothly the area, to
clean and we thus achieve sound metal.

Furnace gas temperature measurement alone is not considered sufficiently accurate.

7 CALIBRATION OF FURNACE CONTROLS AND RECORDING INSTRUMENTS.

The Quality Control Manager is responsible for verifying that all in-house and subcontracted
equipment used for heat treatment operations of Code items are maintained in calibration.

8 REPORTS.

Upon completion of the heat treatment operation, the Quality Control Manager shall review the
heat treatment records and charts for compliance with this procedure and the Code, if acceptable,
he shall sign and date these documents and keep them in file.

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