Suggestions to Consider Including as Part of an Appendix to Section 6000 of the ASME High Pressure Systems Standard Available to Purchase

The original planned Scope for Section 6000 of the ASME High Pressure Systems Standard intended including guidance for users of the standard for estimating the amount of confined energy that might be released if there were a sudden and catastrophic failure of a pressure containing chamber; and also to provide information on various ways to confine or at least protect personnel and other equipment from the shock wave resulting from such a catastrophic failure. Unfortunately, such “how to” guidance was not included in the subsequent standard. This paper includes suggestions for creating Appendix type “how to” information for estimating several confined energy release situations and how these energy levels can be used to estimate shock wave frontal pressures that have to be defended against. The examples used herein include release energies of pressurized liquid, pressurized gas, and pressurized vaporizing liquid like fluid.