CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO PIPING
ENGINEERING
1.1 Fundamentals of Piping Engineering
• There are seven fundamentals areas of competence in
mechanical engineering relating with piping which are:

Materials
Design
Construction
Inspection
Testing
Maintenance
Operations
1.2 Roles of Piping Engineer
• A Piping Engineer has the responsibility to deal with the
various aspects of piping such as installation, repair and
maintenance and replacements.
• Others specific task (responsibilities) for piping engineer:
i. Study and understand the blueprints of designs prepared by
planners.
ii. Supervise the supervising installation works properly.
iii. Responsibility to plan and schedule the work within the given
deadlines.
iv. Ensure the safety measures and procedures at the work place
and needs to implement them as well.
1.2 Roles of Piping Engineer
1.3 Piping
• Piping includes pipe, flanges, fittings, bolting, gaskets,
valves, and the pressure containing portions of other piping
components.
• It also includes pipe hangers and supports and other items
necessary to prevent over pressurization and overstressing
of the pressure-containing components.
• Therefore, when joined with other mechanical equipment
and properly supported by hangers and supports, are called
piping.
1.4 Piping Classification
• The rating must be governed by the pressure-temperature
rating of the weakest pressure containing item in the piping.

• It may be classified by class ratings covered by other ASME

standards, such as ASME B16.1, B16.3, B16.24, and B16.42.
• Pression nominal (PN) is the rating designator followed by a
designation number, which indicates the approximate
pressure rating in bars.
1.5 Pipe Products
• The purpose with a pipe is the transport of a fluid like water,
oil or similar, and the most import property is the capacity or
the inside diameter.
• The internal cross-sectional area (defined by the ID) is
important.
• It is common to identify pipes in inches by using NPS or
"Nominal Pipe Size". The metric equivalent is called DN or
"diameter nominal".
1.6 CALCULATION OF PIPE INTERNAL DIAMETER
• The purpose with a pipe is the transport of a fluid like water,
oil or similar, and the most import property is the capacity or
the inside diameter.
• The internal cross-sectional area (defined by the ID) is
important.
• It is common to identify pipes in inches by using NPS or
"Nominal Pipe Size". The metric equivalent is called DN or
"diameter nominal".
Example
• For example, for a 12 NB (DN 300 mm) pipe, schedule 40, the
OD and wall thickness are respectively 12.75 inches (324 mm)
and 0.406 inches (10.4 mm).

Thus: Pipe ID = 12.75 inches - 2 x 0.406 inches = 11.94

inches, or Pipe ID = 324 mm - 2 x 10.4 mm = 303.2 mm
1.8 Pipe Standard Sizing
• Nominal pipe size (NPS) is a dimensionless designator of pipe
size. It indicates standard pipe size when followed by the
specific size designation number without an inch symbol.
• Diameter nominal (DN) is also a dimensionless designator of
pipe size in the metric unit system, developed by the
International Standards Organization (ISO).
1.9 Tube Products
• Tube is a hollow product of round or any other cross section
having a continuous periphery.
• Round tube size may be specified with respect to the
following: outside diameter, inside diameter, and wall
thickness.
• Tubing is more used in structures, so the outside diameter
(OD) is the important number. The strength of a steel tube
depends on the wall thickness.
1.9 Traps
• The function of a steam trap is to discharge condensate from
steam piping or steam heating equipment without permitting
live steam to escape. Some principal types of steam traps are:
 Float
 Thermostatic
 Thermodynamic
 Inverted bucket
1.9.1 Float Traps
• The float type consists of a chamber containing a float-and-
arm mechanism.
• As the level of condensate in the trap rises, the valve is opened
to emit the condensate.
• Because the discharge valve is below the waterline, float-type
steam traps must employ a venting system to discharge non-
condensable gases.
1.9.2 Thermostatic Traps
• The thermostatic steam trap contains a thermostatic element
which opens and closes a valve in response to fluid
temperature.
• When the cooler condensate is discharged and the incoming
condensate temperature approaches the saturation
temperature, the thermostat closes the discharge port.
• The thermostatic trap operates intermittently under all but
maximum condensate loads.
1.9.3 Thermodynamics Traps
• In this type of trap, flashing of the hot condensate tends to
force a small piston into the discharge opening when the
temperature of the condensate approaches within about 30F
(15◦C) of the saturation temperature.
• As soon as the condensate collected in the drain system cools
sufficiently below the flash temperature, the trap opens and
discharges the accumulated water until the temperature of the
condensate once more approaches the saturation temperature.
1.9.3 Application of Thermodynamics Traps
1.9.4 Inverted Bucket Traps
• The inverted bucket steam trap consists of a chamber
containing an inverted bucket (the opening at the bottom)
which actuates a discharge valve through a linkage.
• When steam enters the trap, it fills the bucket, causing the
bucket to float so it rises and closes the valve. The steam
slowly escapes through the bucket vent and condenses, thus
allowing the bucket to sink and reopen the valve for
condensate flow.
1.10 Strainers
• Strainers are used in piping systems to protect equipment
sensitive to dirt and other particles that may be carried by the
fluid.
• Strainers may be placed upstream of pumps to protect them
from construction debris that may have been left in the pipe
during flushing.
1.10 Strainers
• Strainers are used in piping systems to protect equipment
sensitive to dirt and other particles that may be carried by the
fluid.
• Strainers may be placed upstream of pumps to protect them
from construction debris that may have been left in the pipe
during flushing.
1.10 Expansion Joint
• Expansion joints are used in piping systems to absorb thermal
expansion where the use of expansion loops is undesirable or
impractical.
• Expansion joints are available in slip, ball, metal bellows, and
rubber bellows configurations.
Type Description
Slip Suited for lines having straight-line (axial) movements of
large magnitude
Ball The joints are capable of absorbing angular and axial rotation
Metal Bellows To provide the requisite flexibility that is considerably
thinner than the associated piping
Rubber Bellows Most suitable for use in cold water service where large
movements must be absorbed
1.10 Expansion Joint

SLIP BELLOWS RUBBER BELLOWS

BALL BELLOWS METAL BELLOWS

1.11 Threaded Joint
• Threaded joints are normally used in low-pressure small-bore,
non-flammable service.
• Dimensional standards for threads are established in ASME
Standard B1.20.1.
• Because cut-thread surfaces are somewhat imperfect, thread
sealants (pipe dope) and lubricants are often used to ensure a
leak-tight joint.
1.11 Types of Threaded Joint
DIRECT JOINT
 The component parts to be joined have internal or external thread and are
directly screwed together. No additional fastening elements are needed.

INDIRECT JOINT
 Component part has a female thread, the joint may be made without a nut.
The walls of the work-piece must be sufficiently thick for this kind of joint.
1.11 Types of Threaded Joint
FASTENING JOINT
• The component parts are to be joined directly or indirectly only for the
purpose of connecting them. The vee-thread, ISO metric vee-thread are
the preferred types of thread.

ADJUSTABLE JOINT
 The component parts are joined for the purpose of connecting them and
transmitting movements or forces. The preferred types of thread are round
thread, acme standard screw thread or saw-tooth thread
1.12 Welded and Brazed Joints
• Welded and brazed joints are the most commonly used
methods for joining piping components because these joints
are stronger and more leak- tight than threaded and flanged
joints.
• The most common type of joint employed in the fabrication of
welded pipe systems is the circumferential butt joint. It is the
most satisfactory joint from the standpoint of stress
distribution
1.13 Joining Ductile and Cast Iron Pipe
• Proper engineering design of a system will take into
consideration the type and effectiveness of the techniques
used to join the piping.
• There are several techniques for ductile and cast iron pipe
joining such as bell and spigot joint, mechanical joint, tyton
joint, mechanical lock type joint, ball socket joint and
universal joint.
1.13.1 Bell and Spigot Joint
• The joint may be made up with lead and oakum, sulphur
compounds, or cement.
• Lead and oakum constitute the prevailing joint sealer for
sanitary systems. Bell and spigot joints are usually reserved
for sanitary sewer systems.
• These joints are not used in ductile iron pipe.
1.13.2 Mechanical (Gland Type) Joint
• This joint is commonly used for low and intermediate-
pressure gas distribution systems, particularly those
conveying natural gas or dry manufactured gas.
• In addition to making an inherently tight joint even under
considerable pressure, this arrangement has the advantage of
permitting relatively large lateral deflections, as well as
longitudinal expansion or contraction.
1.13.3 Ball and Socket Joint
• Ductile cast-iron pipe can be obtained with ball-and-socket
joints of the mechanical-gland types for river crossings,
submarine lines, or other places where great flexibility is
necessary.
• Ball and socket joint can accommodate as much as 15 angular
deflection without leakage.
1.13.4 Universal Pipe Joint
• This type of cast-iron pipe joint has a machined taper seat
which obviates the need for caulking or for a compression
gasket.
• The joint is pulled up snugly with two bolts, after which the
nuts are backed off slightly, thus enabling the lock washers to
give enough strength in order to avoid overstressing the socket
or lugs.
1.14 Joining Concrete
• Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate
bonded together with a fluid cement which hardens over time.
• Concrete can be formulated with high compressive strength,
but always has lower tensile strength. For this reason it is
usually reinforced with materials that are strong in tension,
often steel.
• The joining concrete consists of non-reinforce concrete pipe
and reinforce concrete pipe.
1.14.1 Reinforce Concrete Pipe

• Reinforced concrete pipes last a long time, keep their shape,

can take heavy loads and are robust.
• They are resistant to abrasion and are suitable for flow rates
of up to 10 m/s.
• The diamater of reinforced concrete pipe between DN250 to
more than DN4000.
1.14.1 Non-Reinforce Concrete Pipe
• Non-reinforced-concrete drain tile is used for land drainage
and for subsurface drainage of highways, railroads, airports,
and buildings.
• Non-reinforced-concrete irrigation pipe for use with rubber-
type gasket joints is made for conveyance of irrigation water
at water pressures of 1 bar (35 ft of head) or higher depending
on the diameter.