Tentative piping interview question -

The functions of some commonly used waterworks pipes and fittings are described below:-

Fitting Function

a valve in a water service that opens to admit air if the pressure

Anti-vacuum Valve
within the water service falls below atmospheric pressure.

a valve that controls the entry of water into a storage cistern or

flushing cistern, closing off the supply when the water level in the
Ball Valve
cistern has reached a predetermined level. It is sometimes called a

ball cock or float-operated valve.

an enclosed vessel in which water is heated by the direct application

Boiler
of heat

a valve in which a disc is rotated about a diametric axis of a cylinder

Butterfly Valve to vary the aperture. It is used where space is limited or more

sophisticated control is required.

a storage vessel, not open to the atmosphere, in which a supply of

water is heated. The vessel contains an element, such as a coil of

Calorifer pipe, through which is passed a supply of hot water or steam, in

such a way that the two supplies do not mix, heat being transferred

through the walls of the element.

a closed vessel for accommodating the thermal expansion of water

Expansion Vessel
in a pressurized hot water heating system

a device incorporating a float that operates a switch in response to

Float Switch
changes in the level of a liquid.

a valve that provides a straight-through passage for the flow of fluid

and in which the passage can be closed by a gate. It is used where

the water pressure is low and on distribution pipework from a

Gate Valve
storage cistern. This valve is sometimes referred to as a fullway gate

valve because when it is fully open, there is no restriction of flow

through the valve.

Loose Jumper a screwdown pattern valve with horizontal inlet and outlet
 Type Stopcock connections. It incorporates a loose jumper valve permitting flow in

one direction only. It is used for isolating the supply of water in a

high pressure pipeline. In case the supply main is shut off and

drained down for any reason, the ‘non-return’ action of the loose

valve plate will stop any backflow from the service pipe.

a valve that prevents reversal of flow in the pipe of a water supply

by means of the check mechanism, the valve being opened by the

Non-return Valve flow of water and closed by the action of the check mechanism

when the flow ceases, or by back pressure. It is also known as check

valve.

a valve that reduces the pressure of a fluid immediately downstream

Pressure Reducing
of its position in a pipeline to a preselected value or by a
Valve
predetermined ratio.

A self-acting valve that automatically opens to prevent a

Pressure Relief Valve
predetermined safe pressure being exceeded.

A self-acting valve that automatically opens to prevent a

Temperature
predetermined safe temperature being exceeded.
Relief Valve

Positioning Radial Nozzles

Method 1
1. Create and then position the nozzle to the correct Up coordinate only. P1 should point in the correct
direction, i.e. E 45 N.
2. From the application menu bar, choose:
Position > Move > Distance
The direction of movement is the same as P1. The distance is the PROJECTION DISTANCE. Note: If the
nozzle’s height is set from face to centerline, you might use
Position > Relatively (BY)
and define the relative movement as the offset from P2 to P1.

Solid line nozzle shows position after Step 1. Dashed line nozzle shows position after Step 2.

Method 2
1. Create and then position the nozzle at the correct Up coordinate and position it to an orthagonal
direction the PROJECTION DISTANCE away from the equipment centerline, i.e. E 2’9. P1 should
point in the orthagonal direction, i.e. E.

2. From the application menu bar, choose:

Orientate > Rotate

 The rotation axis should pass through any point on the equipment centreline, i.e. CYLI origin,
DISH origin, EQUI origin, etc. Change the ‘wrt’ to WORL, SITE, ZONE, or EQUI if
required.

Typical Questions For Piping Engineer’s Knowledge Testing

(With Answers)

Note: Each answer will appear to be wrong to some readers and right to others. Some questions will have
what seems to be an absolute right answer. Others will not. So if you have got any good answer for below
questions, leave us a comment. Find more details see at the end of article.

1. Can you explain in detail three or more major differences between code ANSI B31.1 and code ANSI
B31.3?

Answer: There is only one major difference between the two, B31.1 is for Power Piping and B31.3 is for
Refinery/Chemical Plant Piping.

2. There is a power plant inside a Process refinery. Where exactly the ANSI B31.1 & ANSI B31.3 scope break
occurs?

Answer: Based on my experience there were two cases. Case #1, B31.1 stopped at the Power Plant Unit block
valves. Thus all piping inside the Power Plant was B31.1. Case #2, B31.1 stopped at the equipment (Boiler)
isolation block valves and then all other piping was B31.3. This is normally the choice of the
owner/operator/client.

3. Which of the following piping system is more health hazardous. A) Fuel oil piping b) Process piping with
Caustic c) process piping with HF acid d) Sulphuric acid piping.

Answer: c) process piping with HF acid

4. There is a steam piping with low pocket but without steam trap. What will be worst consequence of this
layout?

Answer: There will be a build up of condensate to the point that a slug will be pushed by the steam flow.
This slug of condensate will cause “water hammer” and could rip the piping apart.

5. In what circumstance, the reducer of a pump suction piping will be in bottom flat position. Explain why
the reducer should be so.

Answer: When reducers are placed in pipe Rack they are generally bottom side flat to maintain BOP to
facilitate supporting. (Answer Credit: Samir Kumar)

6. A P&ID shows a spec break (at Flange) between carbon steel & stainless steel specification. What
additional arrangements you have to make for that dissimilar material flange joint?

Answer: Use the Gasket and bolts from the SS spec.

7. A stainless steel piping specification mentions Galvanized carbons steel bolts. What is your first reaction
to this and how do you rectify it?

Answer: If that is what the Spec call for then that is what I am supposed to use. But, I would ask the Piping
Material Engineer (PME) why he/she specified galvanized bolts.

8. How many types of piping specialty items do you know? Why it is called a piping special? Why not we
include them in standard piping specification.

Answer: I could possibly count 50 or more depending on the PME and how the piping material specs were
developed. They are called them SP items because they are NOT written into the normal Piping Material
(Line Class) Specifications. They are not included because they are normally of limited use, purchased from
a limited product line vendor and are often after thoughts.

9. Draw a typical steam trap station layout and explain why the existence of a by-pass line around the trap
is not a good idea, when the condensate is returning to a condensate header?

Answer: (No drawing) It is not advisable to have a bypass around a steam trap because the block valve
could be left open and defeat the purpose of the trap.

10. Explain what is a “Double block & Bleed” valve? Why we need a bleed valve? When do we use this?

Answer: The primary purpose of a “Double Block & Bleed” is Safety. However it is not fail safe. The next
better “Safety” set-up would be Double Block Valve with a Spec Blind between the valves. The higher level
of safety would be double block valves with a removable spool for absolute isolation.

11. In a typical tie-in where should the spectacle blind be inserted? a) after block valve and towards existing
plant b) before block valve and towards new plant. Explain why.

Answer: The Spec Blind shall be placed on the Unit side of the Unit Block valves. This placement allows for
the closing of the Unit isolation block valve, the unit side is depressured and drained. Then the spec blind
can be installed for isolation of the unit.

12. “Stress intensification factor (SIF)” Where do we use this? Explain this term. How many types of these
SIF’s exist?

Answer: Stress Intensification Factor (SIF) is a multiplier on nominal stress for typically bend and
intersection components so that the effect of geometry and welding can be considered in a beam analysis.
Stress Intensification Factors form the basis of most stress analysis of piping systems. As for the quantity,
ask a Stress Engineer.

13. When all design parameters are same, whose thermal expansion is higher among the following? A)
Carbon steel b) Stainless steel c) Duplex steel d) Cast Iron e) Galvanized Carbon steel.

Answer: b) Stainless steel

14. In a hose station the hose couplings used for water, air & steam should be different type. Do you agree?
Explain your view.
Answer: I agree. If they are all the same then the hoses can be connected to the wrong services and could
result in the injury of an operator (i.e.: thinking the hose is connected to water when it is connected to
steam).

15. What is your view on the usage of Metallic expansion joints? When they become necessary and when
they could be avoided?

Answer: I do everything I can as a piping designer to avoid the use of all types of expansion joints.
Expansion joints are always the weakest point in any system where they are used.

16. A water cooler heat exchanger, located on a 20 m high structural platform. Water header is located u/g.
What precaution do you take, in case of Pressure loss in cooling water header?

Answer: I do not understand this question it does not appear to be a piping issue. I would assume that the
cooling water system has a (loss of) pressure sensor and the plant shut-down alarms and sequence would be
activated.

17. In what order do you arrange the pipes in the Pipe rack and why? How much % of area should be
reserved for Future expansion? Specify a range.

Answer: The largest hottest lines on the outside edge of the pipe rack working in with cooler lines in
towards the middle of the rack. This allows the longer loop legs as you lay the loops back over the other
lines to the other side of the rack and back. The lower temperature loops would be “nested” inside the
larger, hotter loops.

“Future rack space” is normally at the direction of the Client. It may be anything from 0% to as much as
25%.

18. When a utility line (like condensate or water etc) is connected permanently to a process piping what
precaution we have to take to avoid cross contamination?

Answer: Option #1, double block valve with a drop-out spool.

Option #2, Double block valve with a spec blind.
Option #3, double block valves with a bleed valve.

19. A air fin cooler (2 air coolers with each having 2 inlet nozzles) needs a Typical piping arrangement. How
many types of piping arrangement is possible.

Answer: There are a number of ways to pipe a Fin-Fan cooler depending on what the P&ID call for?

Thanks to (for the answers)