Background and General Information

This book is based on the 2020 Edition of ASME B31.3, Process Piping [Code]. Because changes, some very significant, are made to the Code every edition, the reader should refer to the Code for any specific requirements. This book should be considered as providing background information and not specific current Code rules. The equations in this book are numbered sequentially in each chapter. When equations from ASME B31.3 are reproduced herein the latter equation numbers are given as well.

Process Piping: The Complete Guide to ASME B31.3, Fourth Edition

Fully updated for the 2020 Edition of the ASME B31.3 Code, this fourth edition provides background information, historical perspective, and expert commentary on the ASME B31.3 Code requirements for process piping design and construction. It provides the most complete coverage of the Code that is available today and is packed with additional information useful to those responsible for the design and mechanical integrity of process piping. The author and the primary contributor to the fourth edition, Don Frikken are a long-serving members, and Prior Chairmen, of the ASME B31.3, Process Piping Code committee. Dr. Becht explains the principal intentions of the Code, covering the content of each of the Code's chapters. Book inserts cover special topics such as calculation of refractory lined pipe wall temperature, spring design, design for vibration, welding processes, bonding processes and expansion joint pressure thrust. Appendices in the book include useful information for pressure design and flexibility analysis as well as guidelines for computer flexibility analysis and design of piping systems with expansion joints. From the new designer wanting to known how to size a pipe wall thickness or design a spring to the expert piping engineer wanting to understand some nuance or intent of the code, everyone whose career involves process piping will find this to be a valuable reference.

Inspection and mitigation for pitting corrosion on stainless steel process piping to prevent process safety event and loss production opportunity in Medco E&P

Stainless steel piping has excellent corrosion resistant properties, both internal or external piping surface. In humid circumstances, sea vapor containing chlorine will be trapped on the pipe surface, especially pipes below deck with minimum sun exposure (more humid). Chlorine on the external pipe surface will damage the passive layer of stainless steel pipe. Damage speed is faster than recovery of passive layer stainless steel. This condition lead to a lot of localized pitting corrosion spread. The corrosion was detected visually and carried out with dye penetrant inspection to assure pitting condition. Actual dimension of pitting (depth, diameter) cannot be measured due to limitation of the NDE technique. This pitting corrosion can result hydrocarbon leakage as a process safety event that contributes loss of production opportunity. Without modification circumstances, this condition can be stopped immediately by application of a viscos elastic coating to prevent pitting corrosion propagation. Application of viscos elastic coating is simpler and faster when compared to conventional coating. Viscos elastic coating will protect stainless steel piping surface against oxygen and chloride in humid circumstances so that stainless steel can recover passive layer and stop pitting corrosion.

Failures of Pressure Vessels and Process Piping

This article discusses pressure vessels, piping, and associated pressure-boundary items of the types used in nuclear and conventional power plants, refineries, and chemical-processing plants. It begins by explaining the necessity of conducting a failure analysis, followed by the objectives of a failure analysis. Then, the article discusses the processes involved in failure analysis, including codes and standards. Next, fabrication flaws that can develop into failures of in-service pressure vessels and piping are covered. This is followed by sections discussing in-service mechanical and metallurgical failures, environment-assisted cracking failures, and other damage mechanisms that induce cracking failures. Finally, the article provides information on inspection practices.

Assessment of Dynamic High Momentum Slug Loads on Piping Following STHE Tube Rupture

Transient fluid loads in process piping have gained renewed focus recently with the design and construction of many LNG plants. The case of the shockwave (waterhammer) in piping following the rupture of a tube in a STHE has been well studied. Less attention has been paid to the high momentum slug flow which can occur when liquid slugs are accelerated in the piping by the gas. This paper will examine some of the practical considerations for assessing the dynamic loads resulting from this high momentum slug flow. A method to obtain the force vector for any 3-dimensional change in direction will be presented. The use of DLFs for loads where a detailed time history profile is available will be discussed. The possibility of taking credit for simultaneously acting forces will be investigated. The applicability of the B31.3 allowable stress for occasional loads will be examined and compared against advanced finite element models using shell elements.

Limit Loads of Bolted Flange Connections

High-pressure applications such as process piping, pressure vessels, risers, pipelines, and subsea production systems use bolted flange connections. Design of flanged joints may be done by design by rules and design by analysis. This paper presents a design by rules method applicable for flanges designed for face-to-face make-up. Limit loads are used to calculate the structural capacity (resistance) of the flanges, bolts, and metallic seal rings. Designers can use the calculation method to size bolted flange connections and calculate the structural capacity of existing bolted flange connections. Finite element analyses have been performed to verify the analytically based calculation method. The intention is to prepare for an ASME code case based on the calculation method presented in this paper.

NORM Scale Removal Using a High-Power Fiber Laser Beam Delivery

In oil and gas operations, there is a potential for NORM scale to accumulate on process piping and equipment. This scale can be removed prior to recycling or disposal of the material, yet common removal methods may be costly, time consuming, or create large volumes of secondary waste streams that must be managed. The feasibility of using a laser beam delivery to remove NORM scale was investigated because of its potential to reduce the time and cost associated with scale removal without creating large secondary waste streams. Results from this study indicate that a laser beam delivery could be an effective method to remove NORM scale from a steel surface. Background levels of alpha and beta surface contamination and gamma exposure rate were achieved for certain pipe sections when applying a laser power of at least 5 kW. Alternative laser powers, linear speeds, or incident angles may optimize the removal efficiency for thicker scales or scales with higher surface contamination or gamma exposure rates.