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API 574
Foreword
1. Scope
API 574 covers the inspection practices for piping, tubing, valves (other than
control valves), and fittings used in petroleum refineries and chemical plants.
2. References
3. Definitions
3.2 CUI:
Corrosion under insulation, which includes stress corrosion cracking under
insulation.
3.3 deadlegs:
Components of a piping system that normally have no significant flow. Examples
include blanked branches, lines with normally closed block valves, lines which
have one end blanked, pressurized dummy support legs, stagnate control valve
bypass piping, spare pump piping, level bridles, relief valve inlet and outlet header
piping, pump trim bypass lines, high point vents, sample points, drains, bleeders,
and instrument connections.
3.4 defect:
In NDE usage, a defect is an imperfection of a type or magnitude exceeding the
acceptable criteria.
3.6 imperfection:
Flaws or other discontinuities rioted during inspection that may be subject to
acceptance criteria on engineering/ inspection analysis.
3.8 in-service:
Refers to piping systems that have been placed in operation as opposed to new
construction prior to being placed in service.
3.9 inspector:
An authorized piping inspector.
3.10 jurisdiction:
A legally constituted government administration that may adopt rules relating to
piping systems.
3.12 NDE:
Nondestructive examination.
3.13 NPS:
Nominal pipe size (followed, when appropriate, by the specific size designation
number without an inch symbol).
3.14 on-stream:
Piping containing any amount of process fluid.
3.15 owner-user:
An operator of piping systems who exercises control over the operation,
engineering, inspection, repair, alteration, testing, and rerating of those piping
systems.
3.16 PT:
Liquid penetrant testing.
3.17 pipe:
A pressure-tight cylinder used to convey a fluid or to transmit a fluid pressure,
ordinarily designated "pipe" in applicable material specifications. (Materials
designated "tube" or "tubing" in the specifications are treated as pipe when
intended for pressure service.)
3.21 PWHT:
Post weld heat treatment.
3.22 repair:
A repair is the work necessary to restore a piping system to a condition suitable
for safe operation at the design conditions. If any of the restorative changes result
in a change of design temperature or pressure, the requirements for rerating also
shall be satisfied. Any welding, cutting, or grinding operation on a pressure-
containing piping component not specifically considered an alteration is
considered a repair.
3.23 rerating:
A change in either or both the design temperature or the maximum allowable
working pressure of a piping system. A rerating may consist of an increase,
decrease, or a combination. Derating below original design conditions is a means
to provide increased corrosion allowance.
3.26 spools:
A section of piping encompassed by flanges or other connecting fittings, such as
unions.
4. Piping Components
4.1 PIPING
Piping can be made from any material that can be rolled and welded, cast, or
drawn through dies to form a tubular section. The difference from traditional
thickness designations and schedules is indicated. Small bore piping (NPS 2
pipe size and less) is also included. See Table 1 for nominal sizes.
ASTM A53 and A106 piping materials are used most commonly in the
petrochemical industry. Piping of a nominal size > 16” is made by rolling plates
to size and welding the seam. Steel piping is manufactured to standard
dimensions in NPS up to 48”. Pipe wall thickness is given schedule number up to
36” For NPS 12” and smaller, the size refers to the internal diameter of standard
schedule (Sch 40). For NPS 14” and larger, the size refers to the outside
diameter.
The actual thickness of seamless piping may vary from its nominal thickness by
a manufacturing tolerance of 12.5%. Cast iron piping is generally not
recommended for pressurized hydrocarbon services. The standards and sizes
for cast iron are differred from those for welded and seamless piping.
4.2 TUBING
Tubing is mainly used for heat exchangers, instrument piping, steam tracing, etc.
the stated size is the actual outside diameter.
4.3 VALVES
The basic types of valves are gate, globe, plug, ball, diaphragm, butterfly, check,
and slide valves. See Figures 1 - 8 for cross section view of each of theses
valves. All of Section 4.3 is general basic information about valves.
4.4 FITTINGS
Fittings are used to connect pipe sections and change the direction of flow or
allow the flow in a piping run to be diverted or added to. The basic types of pipe
fittings, cast, forged, seamlessly drawn, or formed and welded. Fittings may be
flanged, socket-welded, butt welded or threaded. See Figures 9 - 16 for cross
section view of each of theses fittings. All of Section 4.4 and 4.5 is general basic
information about pipe fittings.
Commonly used for piping joining methods are welding, threading and flanging.
5.1 General
5.2 Safety
Federal, state, and local statutes and regulations may apply to piping installation
and inspection.
6.1 GENERAL
The most frequent reason for replacing piping is from thinning due to corrosion.
A good monitoring system is imperative. Things to consider when establishing a
corrosion-monitoring plan:
The basic factors of pipe wall corrosion are listed. As well as, suggestions for
breaking piping systems into circuits, see figure 21 for an example
Corrosion rates are normally increased at areas where increased flow velocity
and turbulent flow is presence. Areas in elbows, reducers, mixing Tee, control
valves and orifices are vulnerable to higher corrosion rate.
General information about the following subjects are found in the rest of this
section:
a. Injection points.
b. Deadlegs.
c. Corrosion under insulation (CUI).
d. Soil-to-air interfaces.
e. Service specific and localized corrosion.
f. Erosion and corrosion/erosion.
g. Environmental cracking.
h. Corrosion beneath linings and deposits.
i. Fatigue cracking.
j. Creep cracking.
k. Brittle fracture.
l. Freeze damage.
m. Corrosion at support points.
n. Dew Point Corrosion.
7.1 General
This section outlines some generic, extremely basic safety precautions which are
probably inferior to your own safety department requirements.
9. Inspection Tools
External visual inspection should focus on pain coating breakdown, check for
sign of misalignment, vibration, leakage and build-up of corrosion product at pipe
support areas.
10.1.1.1 Leaks
Leaks can be safety or fire hazards, and always result in economic loss.
Temporary or permanent repairs can often be made while the lines are in
service.
10.1.1.2 Misalignment
10.1.1.3 Supports
Supports are shoes, hangers, and braces, and should be visually inspected for
problems.
10.1.1.4 Vibration
Defects in the protective coatings and insulation will permit moisture to contact
the piping. This can result in corrosion and metal loss.
Operating piping at higher than design limits may cause bulging, even to the
point of failure. Investigation of these areas is essential.
Inspect the susceptible locations, construction tack welds at other than pressure
welds, heat affected areas joining welds, and points of restraint or excessive
strain. Include locations that are subject to stress-corrosion cracking, hydrogen
cracking, and caustic or amine embrittlement, as well as exposed threads.
General inspection.
10.2.1.4 Valves
Inspection techniques for gate valves including the valves being dismantled at
specified intervals.
10.2.1.5 Joints
Flanged Joints,
Welded Joints,
Threads Joints,
Clamped Joints
All the listed joints should be inspected, the basic technique is visual examination.
10.2.1.6 Misalignment
10.2.1.7 Vibration
The outer surface of piping in high-temperature service – about 427 degree C and
above should be checked for creep or deformation with time under stress.
Pressure tests are leak tests and may be used on the following:
a. Underground lines and other inaccessible piping.
b. Water and other non-hazardous utility lines.
c. Long oil transfer lines in areas where a leak or spill would not be hazardous
to personnel or harmful to the environment.
d. Complicated manifold systems.
e. Small piping and tubing systems.
f. All systems, after a chemical cleaning operation.
Do not over pressure the system! For service testing of Category D piping
systems, ASME B31.3 limits the gauge pressure to 150 psi.
Hammer testing is an old method of testing piping systems, do not use the
hammer on cast iron and stress-relieved lines in caustic and corrosive service.
Refer to API 570, Section 3.10 which will reference ASME B 31.3 for weld quality.
This type of survey is used to locate corrosion cells, galvanic anodes, stray
currents, coating problems, underground contacts, areas of low pipe-to-soil
potentials and other cathodic protection problems.
The Wenner method, the soil bar and soil box methods are discussed. Basically,
each method measures a voltage drop, caused by a known current flow, across a
measured volume of soil. The resistance factor is used in a formula to determine
the resistivity of the soil.
1) Intelligent Pigging
2) Video Cameras
3) Excavation
The basic methods of leak testing underground piping are briefly described in this
section. The methods are:
1. Pressure decay method.
2. Volume in / volume out method.
3. Single-point volumetric methods.
4. A marker chemical (tracer) method.
5. Acoustic emission method.
10.4.1 General
Materials should be checked for conformance with the codes and specifications
that are appropriate for the plant. Checks should be made using material test kits
or a nuclear alloy analyzer, (PMI).
10.4.3 Deviations
No comment.
11.1 Piping
All formulas and data for determining the required wall thickness for piping are
found in ASME B 31.3. ASME B 31.3 also takes into consideration the following:
a. Corrosion.
b. Threads
c. Stresses caused by mechanical loading, hydraulic surge pressure thermal
expansion and other conditions.
The Barlow formula can be used provided that the value is less than D/6, or P/SE
is not greater than 0.385". The Barlow formula is as follows:
PD
t
2SE
Where:
t = pressure design thickness for internal pressure, in inches
P = Internal design gauge pressure of the pipe, in pounds per square inch
D = outside diameter of the pipe, in inches
S = allowable unit stress at the design temperature, in psi
E = longitudinal joint efficiency.
Metallic pipe for which t > D/6 or P/SE > 0.385 requires special consideration.
12 Records
12.1 General
Records should be kept in a detailed and orderly manner. These records will help
in evaluating replacement or repair intervals.
12.2 Sketches
A record of thickness data may provide a means of corrosion or erosion rates for
the piping system. See Figure 34 for an example of sketches and thickness data.
A. new construction
B. new tank construction
C. piping
D. vessels
A. welding
B. compression
C. epoxy resin
D. bell and spigot
3. The primary purpose of inspection is to achieve the desired quality assurance and:
4. Ultrasonic thickness readings at areas with surface temperatures above ______ are
normally higher than actual thickness.
A. 100ºF
B. 200ºF
C. 300ºF
D. 212ºF
5. Flame detectors used to indicate a furnace or boiler fire may give erroneous indications
on control panels during:
7. A leaking threaded joint should not be tightened while the system is in service under
pressure because:
9. Which of the following tests should not be used on cast iron piping:
A. Radiographic test
B. Leak test
C. Ultrasonic test
D. Hammer test
A. ASME IX
B. ASME B31.3
C. API 570
D. ASME B 16.5a
PD
11. t is the formula for:
2SE
A. Code
B. Standard
C. Specification
D. Recommended Practice
13. During the manufacturing of tubing, the tubing may be welded, but is generally:
A. Riveted.
B. Seamlessly drawn.
C. Wire drawn.
D. Forged.
Answer Key
1. C
2. D
3. A
4. B
5. D
6. B
7. D
8. C
9. D
10. C
11. A
12. D
13. B
14. D
15. A