1.

What strainer Codes, standards, directives•

Vessel codes: EN 13445, PD 5500, ASME VIII etc.•Piping/valve codes:
ASME B31.3, API 598 etc.•NORSOK standards: M-601, M-630, M-650, R-
001 etc.•97/23/EC: Pressure Equipment Directive.•94/9/EC: ATEX
(Atmosphere Explosive) Directive•98/37/EC: Machinery Directive

2. Why is strainer sizing important?

Undersized strainers can lead to the following problems:
• Strainer Element/Basket Collapse.
• Pump Cavitation/Pump Shutdown.
• Heat Exchanger Blockage
.• Deluge Blockage.

3. Types of Strainer Element•

Perforated plate.
•Wire mesh.
• Wedge wire

4. Design Standards for Ball Valves are as follows -

a) API6D/ISO14313 - This is for Trunnion Mounted Ball Valves for sizes 1/2" to
60".
b) ISO17292 - This is for Trunnion mounted valves as well as floating ball valves
for sizes 1/4" to 20".
 
What is a criteria to select design standard, when valves are of 150, 300 or 600
rating and of size 1/2" to 20"?

4. Types of CRA

 Austenitic Stainless Steel  (ASS)

 Highly-alloyed Austenitic Stainless Steels (SASS)
 Solid-solution Nickel-based Alloys (Ni Alloys)
 Ferritic Stainless Steels (FSS)
 Martensitic Stainless Steels (MSS)
 Duplex Stainless Steels (DSS)
 Precipitation-Hardenable Stainless Steels (PH-SS)
 Precipitation-Hardenable Nickel-based Alloys (PH-Ni Alloys)
 Cobalt-based Alloys 
 Titanium and Tantalum Alloys

There are different reasons to PWHT.

a) Brittle fracture / low temperature issue. b) Lethal substances. c)
Process reasons, • Stress Corrosion Cracking: H2S, Caustic, Liquid
NH3 , Amines • Corrosion fatigue: eg Deaerators
 .WHY PWHT PERFORMS??
  (a) To reduce the residual stresses(b)Soften the steel partially(c)Soften
the heat affected zone 
 2.WHEN REQUIRED PWHT
  A) More than 20mm Carbon & low alloy steel buttwelds requiring PWHT
for Process Conditions &Services are as listed in.B) All caustic soda
(NaOH) solutionsC) .B) All monoethanolamine (MEA) solutions
(alltemperatures).D) All diglycol amine (DGA) solutions above
138°Cdesign temp.E) Rich amino diisoprop (ADIP) solutions above
90°Cdesign temp.F) All lean ADIP solutions above 60°C
designtemperature.G) Boiler Deaeratorserv (ambient temp
vacuumdeaerator = exempt)H) Hydrogen service for P-No. 3, 4, and
5A/B/C basematerials.I) All diethanolamine (DEA) solutions. 
 3.WHAT IS THE INTERNATONAL STANDARD FOR PWHT?
  A) ASME 31.3
 4.What are the documents required for PWHT INSPECTION?
 A)
 Drawing, line, machine certificate, calibration certificates, Checklist  
 5.WHAT ARE THE HEATING/COOLING RATES /SOACKING TIME?
  A) Heating and cooling rates > 316°C shall not exceed 222°C/hr. ÷ weld
thickness in inches, but in no case > 222°C/hr.Andmin soaking temp is
1hr. 
 6.Area to be insulated?
  A). each side 300mm. below 150 °C should not remove insulation. 
 7.WHAT ARE THE HEAT SOURCES?
  A). Electric resistance heaters, Induction heaters, semi-permanent or
permanent furnace s using, gas or oil heaters. 
  What is the difference between PWHT and Stress Relieving?
 Stress-relieving is a process to reduce residual stresses in an object. Heat
treatments like normalizing, annealing, quench and tempering, etc are some
of the processes to relieve the residual stresses generated due to welding.
PWHT is also a process in which stress relief is achieved. However, the main
difference between Stress relieving and PWHT is that the stress-relieving can
be made at temperatures below the minimum transformation temperature of
the steel where no micro-structural change of the material occurs.

How to calculate PWHT temperature?

PWHT temperature is not calculated. The range of PWHT temperatures is
mentioned in tabular formats in the governing codes. So, the PWHT temperature is
selected from the tables of the governing code. For example, table 331.1.1 of ASME
B31.3 for process piping systems

What are the ASME B31.3 PWHT requirements?

The ASME B31.3 PWHT requirements for piping materials are established in clause
331.1.1 along with Table 331.1.1, 331.1.2, and 331.1.3.

When is PWHT required?

Most of the conventional welding processes generate residual stresses in the
welding regions. These stresses in certain conditions can approach the yield
strength of the material. Such joints are prone to failure and can not be used directly.
PWHT is applied to such welded steel assemblies to reduce the likelihood of brittle
failure. PWHT significantly reduces the residual stresses in the weld joints and
thereby reduces the failure potential. So, wherever there is a risk of environmentally-
assisted cracking, PWHT is required

Stainless Steel PWHT

PWHT for stainless steel is usually not required. However, to increase the corrosion
resistance or reduce stress corrosion cracking susceptibility, stainless steel PWHT
may be used depending on the service conditions encountered.

When PWHT is required for Carbon Steel?

Post Weld Heat Treatment or PWHT of Carbon Steel must be performed after every
welding in order to ensure the material strength of the part is retained. The exact
criteria for PWHT of carbon steel are mentioned in the ASME BPVC code. PWHT
ensures the reduction of residual stresses, controlling material hardness, and
enhancement of mechanical strength.

What is PWHT?
The full form of PWHT is Post-weld heat treatment. PWHT is a controlled
process that involves reheating the metal below its lower critical
transformation temperature, following a welding process. The material is then
held at the elevated temperature for a predetermined period of time to alleviate
residual stresses, increase the strength, increase or decrease the hardness,
and reduce the risk of cracking by microstructural changes. An array of
heating processes can be used to carry out post-weld heat treatment.

This article shall cover PWHT of welded butt joints, branch joints in Carbon
Steel and Low Alloy Steel Materials, as well as all types of welded joints in
killed carbon steel materials for Low-Temperature Service to guide
technicians, supervisors, and other persons involved in the safe execution of
PWHT activity so that final result is acceptable.

Codes and Standards for Cryogenic valves

Codes and standards used for cryogenic valves are:

 BS 6364
 BS EN 12567
 BS EN 1626
 BS EN 12300
 MSS SP-134
 ISO 28921-1
 ISO 21011
 ISO 10497
 ASME B16.34

Why do cryogenic valves have long stems? | Design Consideration of Cryogenic

Valves
All cryogenic valves for liquid natural gas, methane, oxygen, ammonia, etc
applications are specially designed. Cryogenic valves usually have extended
bonnets so that the valve stem seals are kept away from the cold source. This will
serve two important purposes:

 The valve stem seals will have a relatively higher temperature.

 There will be sufficient space to provide insulation between the pipeline and the
lever/handwheel operating the valve.

Where are cryogenic valves used? | Applications of Cryogenic Valves

Cryogenic valves are widely used in

 LNG liquefaction plants

 LNG terminals
 LNG transportation systems
 Food and beverage industries
 Air separation plants
 Steel production plants
 Research laboratories
 Chemical and petrochemical plants
 Aerospace storage facilitie

Types of Bolt Coatings

 Hot Dip Galvanized: ASTM A 153/ ASTM F 2329/ ISO 10684

 Zinc Plating: ASTM B633/ ISO 2081
 Zinc‐Aluminum: ASTM F 1136/ EN ISO 10683/ EN 13858
 Zinc‐Nickel: ASTM B 841/ ISO 15726
 Cadmium: ASTM B 766/ ISO 2082
 Phosphate: ASTM F1137/ ISO 9717
 Aluminum particle Filled (Ceramic): ASTM F 1428
 PTFE: Normally Manufacturer Standard

Types of Flange Insulating Gaskets

Four major types of gasket isolation kits are available in the market those are
designated as F, E, D, & O. Each type of flange kit fits flanges with a specific type of
flange faces (RF, FF, RTJ).

F Type Gasket
Type F type gaskets are produced to fit the raised face flanges. The inside diameter
of the bolt hole circle is made slightly smaller than the external diameter of the
gasket which assures automatic positioning of the gasket. To avoid the accumulation
of foreign materials, Special band protectors can be used to the joint assembly to
strengthen the cathodic isolation further.  These are manufactured from 1/8″ thick
fabric-based phenolic sheet either without coating or a with a nitrile rubber coating on
the two faces. Type F gaskets are also available in non-asbestos fibers with high
isolation capacity.

E Type gasket
In full-face type, Type “E” Gaskets, the outside diameter of gasket matches with
an external diameter of the flanges. So the gasket completely covers the whole
flange surface.  There are produced with precision-located bolt holes and easy to
position in the center. This design will prevent foreign material accumulation between
the flange faces and thus enhances the isolation properties of the kit. Type E flange
insulation kits are available in phenolic, neoprene-faced phenolic, and high-
temperature materials.

D Type Gasket
Type “D” Gaskets are manufactured to fit into the ring groove of RTJ flanges (style
R, RX, and BX). They are available in medium weave reinforced phenolic and other
materials are sized to ANSI specifications available in a basic oval as well as an
octagonal shape. This type of gasket is known as an “API ring joint”.

O Type gasket
Type O Gaskets are extra special as they feature an additional sealing element on
both sides of the device, generally, PTFE, Nitrile or Viton Rubber, and are available
in both ring and full-face design (type E and F).

What is a material selection diagram?

A material selection diagram often called MSD in engineering terminology is
basically an engineering drawing that shows the basic scheme of a process along
with the information for material selection & specification of all the equipment, lines
associated with the process as well as utilities & offsite.

What is the purpose of the material selection diagram?

As we know, in a project, the cost of the materials contributes a major part to the
overall project cost. So selection of proper material is a very important parameter.
Besides, the important parameter of a project like the overall design, stability, and
sustainability also depends on material selection.

As MSD summarizes the related information that is required for material selection of
the equipment & piping in process industries so MSD is a necessary document for
developing piping material specification (PMS). The piping material specification is
an important document by material engineers and it is used for assigning line class/
specification to each line on the P&IDs.

How to develop a material selection diagram?

In the simplest form, an MSD is a drawing that consists of a marked-up or overlaid
version of PFD (process flow diagram). So to develop an MSD you need to have the
following documents,

 a) Basic Engineering Design Data (BEDD)

 b) Simplified Process Flow Diagram (PFD),
 c) Material selection information developed by process team,
 d) PFD marked up with proper operating pressure, temperature and design
temperature, pressure.
The content, format, use, and updating philosophy of a material selection diagram
must be in agreement with the client and contractor/fabricator/licensor in the
preliminary phase of the project.

Besides above all main documents some other suitable standards like API, NACE,
corrosion curves, and company standards shall be used as necessary documents for
developing MSD

Who develops the material selection diagram?

In general, MSD is prepared by a material engineer or metallurgist in collaboration
process engineer. The material engineer responsible for developing MSD must be
familiar with the corrosion mechanism of the material particularly the type of unit
being designed.

Joining HDPE Pipes

HDPE Pipes and fittings are joined to each other by Welding or by mechanical
fittings. There are two types of welding methods used to join HDPE pipes. They are

 Electrofusion Welding: Electrofusion is a simple and quick method to permanently

join individual pipes and HDPE fittings or prefabricated sections in tight places. This
method is suitable for on-site joints.
 Butt Welding: Butt-welding homogenously joins HDPE pipes and fittings into
prefabricated sections using heat and pressure without using additional connection
fittings.
Various types of mechanical joints can be used for joining HDPE pipes to HDPE or
dissimilar pipes. They are

 Plug-in joint
 Snap joint
 Screw-thread joint
 Flanged joint
 Contraction sleeve
 Sleeve coupling
 Metal coupling
 Rubber collar joint