ASME FLANGE RATING

Flanges used in plant piping for refineries, petrochemical installations, oil and gas installations are manufactured in accordance with ASME B16.5 or ASME B16.47. ASME B16.5 covers pressure-temperature ratings for pipe flanges and flanged fittings from NPS ½ inches to 24 inches. ASME B16.47 covers pressure-temperature ratings for large diameter steel flanges from NPS 26 inches to NPS 60 inches.

Piping Topic: Flange Design
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Piping Material Selection

Material selection

Material selection is an optimization process. Material selection shall be optimized, considering capital cost and operational costs, and minimizing the overall Life Cycle Costs while providing acceptable levels of safety and reliability. The following key factors apply to materials selection:

Piping Topic: Metals General
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Pump Layout

The design of a piping system can have an important influence on the operating efficiency and life expectancy of the centrifugal pump. Hence design of suction and discharge piping including operability, maintainability and flexibility requirements should be taken into consideration in layout of pump piping.

Piping Topic: Process Plant Layout
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Valve Fundamentals

What is a Valve?

A Valve is a device comprising of an obturator or closure member that is used to control flow or pressure in a piping system.

Valves are one the most important component of a piping system and specifying the correct type, design and material of valve is crucial for plant operation. The function of valves in a piping system is  one of the following:

Piping Topic: Valves General
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Gate Valve

What is a Gate Valve ?

A Gate valve is a linear motion on-off or shut-off valve. The gate-valve comprises of a disc or wedge having two seating surfaces that come in contact with the valve seats to form a seal for stopping the flow. The pressure differential between the upstream flow direction and downstream side of wedge causes the wedge or disc to force against the downstream seat creating more effective sealing on the downstream side of the wedge. Gate valve is not used to regulate flow as erosion of disc and seat may cause leakage. A gate valve in partially open or closed position is also susceptible to vibration.

Piping Topic: Gate Valve
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Process Flow Diagram

Process Flow Diagram (PFD) is a schematic illustration of a process flow between major process units or equipment's in a plant. Process Flow Diagram hereafter referred to as PFD is a logical sequence of process operations. PFD's show the relationships between the major process system components. PFD is neither a scaled drawing nor shows the relative locations or elevations of equipment's or process units with respect to each other.

Piping Topic: Process Plant Layout
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Threaded Flange

What is a Threaded Flange ?

Threaded flange is a type of flange that has taper pipe threads conforming to ASME B1.20.1 in its bore and can be used in piping systems where it is not possible to carry out welding of flange on to the pipe such as highly explosive areas where welding can create a potential hazard. The threaded flange is screwed on to a pipe which has external taper pipe threads. Most Engineering Organizations limit their use for a size range from 1/2" to 4" and for utility services such as instrument air, plant air, nitrogen, potable water and raw water up to class 300 rating.

Piping Topic: Flange Design
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Piping Wind Loads

Wind Loads requirements as per ASME B31.3

As per clause 301.5.2 of ASME B31.3, The effect of wind loading shall be taken into account in the design of exposed piping. It may be noted that wind load is considered as an occasional load. The wind loads on small bore piping are usually insignificant and are generally disregarded for any stress analysis. The wind loads on piping systems larger than 10” can be significant and should be considered in the piping stress analysis.

Piping Topic: Stress Theory
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Metallic gaskets rely on deformation or coining of the gasket material into the flange surfaces to provide effective sealing. Coining deforms and yields the gasket hence its reuse will not reliably achieve the required seal.

Piping Topic: Gasket Design
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Gasket M Factor

The initial compression force applied to a joint must serve several purposes.

    • It must be sufficient to initially seat the gasket and flow into the imperfections on the seating surfaces regardless of operating conditions.
Piping Topic: Gasket Design
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Steam Trap

Steam trap is a self contained valve which automatically drains the condensate from a steam containing enclosure while remaining tight to live steam, or if allowing steam to flow at a controlled or adjusted rate. Most steam traps will also pass non-condensable gases while remaining tight to live steam.

Piping Topic: Steam Trap
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Pipe Penetration Seal

Pipe penetration seals are used to achieve a seal for pipes penetrating through walls, floors, pipeline casings etc. Pipe Penetration Seals are used to stop the spread of fire and smoke to adjacent areas. A variety of seals are used in the industry.

Piping Topic: Pipe Penetration Seal
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Pig Launcher

Pig Launchers and Receivers Design

Function of Pigging Launcher and Receiver

Pigging Launchers and receivers also commonly referred to as pig trap assemblies are used to introduce and remove in a safe and effective manner, scraper cleaning pigs, spheres and inspection tools (commonly referred to as Smart Pigs or Intelligent pigs) through liquid, gas and multi-phase hydrocarbon pipelines. The main purpose of a pipeline pig trap system thus is to provide, in a safe manner and without flow interruption, the means to either: 

Piping Topic: Pipeline Design
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Life Saving Equipment

The following discussion applies mainly to Life Saving Equipment's commonly used on Offshore platforms. Some of the Life Saving Equipment's mentioned below are also used in Chemical Plants and Refineries. The location, type and quantity of these units are based on the risk and function of the area, which they serve and on Operators experience. All safety equipment's are required to comply with the local safety regulations.

Piping Topic: Safety in Design
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Cv of Ball Valve

The coefficient of flow or Cv Value is the number of US gallons of water the valve will pass with a differential pressure of 1psi through the valve at 60°F.

Kv is the metric value of Cv and is calculated as Kv=Cv x 0.85.

Piping Topic: Ball Valve
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A globe valve is primarily used to regulate flow.  Though generally not used, a globe valve can also be used for isolation where pressure drop in the line is not critical. The essential principle of globe valve operation is movement of disk towards or away from the seat. The annular space between the disk and seat ring is regulated thereby giving this valve good throttling characteristics.

Piping Topic: Globe Valve
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Flame Arrestors

Flame arrester is a device used to prevent the propagation of flame fronts in process piping. Flame arresters block the propagation of flame by quenching the flame passing through it. Failure to stop a flame propagation can result in extensive damage to personnel,equipment, environment and loss of production.

Piping Topic: Flame Arrestor
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HDPE Piping

Polyethylene(PE) offers many advantages over steel and ductile iron piping. PE is used widely to transport potable water, waste water, slurries, chemicals and effluents.

Piping Topic: PE and HDPE
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Overall Site Plan

Plot plan development in a project goes through several important phases and requires interface between several disciplines to achieve an optimum layout.  The first phase normally involves developing the initial overall plot plan or site master plan. At this stage there are not enough details available to develop a detailed plot plan.

Piping Topic: Process Plant Layout
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Pig signaller or Pig detector is a device installed on a pipeline or pig trap assembly to detect movement of pig. It consists of a mechanism which detects the movement of pig.

Piping Topic: Pig Signaller
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