Piping Development question & Answer.

Prepared by : V.PSINGH RAWAT

1 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ 1. What are various temporary closures for lines?
■
Ans :- Line blind valve, line blind, spectacle plate, double block and bleed, blind
flanges replacing a removable spool.
2. Where jacked screwed flange is used ?

■ Ans :- For spectacle discs, one flange is jacked screw flange. This flange has two
jacked screws 180 degree apart which are used to create sufficient space between
flange for easy removal and placement of line blind or spectacle blind.

■ 3. What is double block and bleed?

■ Ans :- Two valves with bleed ring in between with a bleed valve connected to the
hole of bleed ring.
4. Where blind flange is used ?

■ Ans :-It is used with view to future expansion of the piping system, or for cleaning,
inspection etc..

Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
2. Where jacked screwed flange is used ?
Ans :- For spectacle discs, one flange is jacked screw flange. This flange
has two jacked screws 180 degree apart which are used to create sufficient
space between flange for easy removal and placement of line blind or
spectacle blind.

Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ 6. What are types of towers?

■ Ans : Stripper, Vacuum tower, trayed, packed towers.

7. What is chimney tray?
■
Ans : It’s a solid plate with central chimney section, used at drawoff
sections of the tower.
■
8. What factors to consider while setting tower elevation?

■ Ans : NPSH, Operator access, Maintenance access, Minimum clearance,

Reboiler type , common area, type of support, Tower dimensions, type of
head, bottom outlet size, foundation details, minimum clearances.
9. How to located tower maintenance/man hole access nozzles?
■
Ans : At bottom, top and intermediate sections of tower, must not be at
the down comer section of tower and in front of internal piping.
10. How to located feed nozzle ?

Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ 10. How to located feed nozzle ?

■ Ans : Must be oriented in specific area of tray by means of internal

piping.
11. How to located temperature and pressure instruments ?
■
Ans : Temperature in liquid space, at down comer side and pressure in
vapor space, in area except down comer sector.
■
12. What are the types of compressors?
■
Ans : Positive Displacement, Centrifugal and Axial, rotary screw, rotary
vane, rotary lobe, dynamic, liquid ring compressors.
13. What are types of compressor drives?
■
Ans : Electric motor, gas turbine, steam turbine and gas engine.

Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ 17. What are the auxiliary equipments of compressor?
■
Ans : Lube oil consoles, Seal oil consoles, Surface condensers, Condensate pump, Air
blowers, Inlet air filters, Waste heat system, compressor suction drum, knock out pot,
Pulsation dampers, volume bottles, Inter and after coolers.
19. What factors to be considered while designing compressor house?
■
Ans : Operation, Maintenance, Climate conditions, Safety, Economics.
Floor elevation, building width, building elevation, hook centerline elevation. Open sided
structure with a roof, Curtain wall structure (Temperate climates), Open elevated installation,
Elevated multi compressor structure.

21. What are compressor suction line requirements?

■
Ans : Minimum 3D straight pipe between elbow and inlet nozzle, increase based on inlet
piping layout.5D
22. What are necessary parts of inlet line of compressor?
■
Ans : Block Valve, Strainer, Break out flanges in both inlet and outlet to remove casing
covers, Straightening vane in inlet line if not enough straight piece in inlet line available, PSV
in interstate line and in discharge line before block valve.

Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■
23. What points to be considered for reciprocating compressor piping
layout?
Ans : High pulsation, simple line as low to grade as possible for
supporting, analog study, all branches close to line support and on top,
Isolate line support from adjacent compressor or building foundations
25. What are drum internals?
Ans : Demister pads, Baffles, Vortex breakers, Distribution piping.
26. What are drum elevation requirements?
Ans : NPSH, minimum clearance, common plat forming, maintenance,
operator access.
27. What are drum supports?
Ans : Skirt for large drums, legs, lugs, saddles for horizontal drums.
29. What are necessary nozzles for pressure vessel?
Ans : Inlet, outlet, manhole, drain, pressure relief, agitator, level gauge,
pressure gauge, temperature element, vent and for stea mout

Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ 30. What is preferred location for level instrument nozzles?
Ans : Away from the turbulence at the liquid outlet nozzle, although the
vessel is provided with a vortex breaker, instrument should be set in the
quiet zone of the vessel for example on the opposite side of the weir or
baffle or near the vapor outlet end.
31. What is preferred location for process nozzles on drum?
■ Ans : Minimum from the tangent line opposite to out line.
■
32. What is preferred location for steam out nozzle on drum?
Ans : At the end opposite to the maintenance access.
33. What is preferred location for vent ?
Ans : AT the top section of drum at the end opposite the steam out
connection.

34. What is preferred location for pressure instrument nozzle on drum?

Ans : Must be anywhere in the vapor space, preferable at the top section
of drum.

Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ 35. What is preferred location for temperature instrument?
Ans : Must be in liquid space, preferably on the bottom section of drum..
■
37. What are functions of valves?
Ans : Isolation, regulation, non-return and special purposes.
■
38. What are isolating valves?
Ans : Gate, ball, plug, piston, diaphragm, butterfly, pinch
■ .
39. What are regulation valves?
Ans : Globe, needle, butterfly, diaphragm, piston, pinch.
■
40. What are non-return valves?
Ans : check valve,
45. What are butterfly valve types?
Ans : Double flange type, wafer lug type and wafer type.
■
46. What are types of check valve?
Ans : Lift check valves and swing check valves.

Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ 62. What are uses of exchangers.?
■ Ans: heat exchangers transfer heat one media to another.
■ 63. What are the type of exchangers.?
■ Ans: Shell and Tube group, fin type single tubes with jacketed
group, and Air fins flat box type. Exchangers, Condenser, Chiller,
Heater, Reboiler, Waste Heat Boiler, Coolers.)
■ 64. How we fixed the location of fire Heaters in lay out.
■ Ans :Heater are always located at a safe distance 15 meters away
from other hydrocarbon equipment and preferably upwind; Fire
Heater is to supply all heat required by the process in one from or
another.
■ 65. 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 range.

Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Q. Why prevailing wind rose direction is required in the Plot Plan?

■ Q. How many levels maintaining the process unit pipe rack, and defined the
teirs of Process feed, product, Utilities Lines, Electrical, Instrument cable tray
and air cooled heat exchangers.
■ Ans. Piping on elevated racks shall run at different elevations designated for
north-south and east-west banks, and change elevation when changing
direction.
■ Q. What is a minimum pipe size ---- to be routed on piperack/ pipeway.
■ Q. Piping located in paved areas to be elevated ------/------ to bottom of
pipe.e.g. Control valve sets and manifold sets.

■ Q. Fire Heater shall be positioned -------------------- of process equipment and

storage tank. (upwind)

11 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Q. Process equipment shall be located a minimum ---------- from fire heater.
( 15m ) And from pipe main rack positioned --------- (6m)
■ Q: cooling tower shall be positioned-------------- of process unit and storage
tanks.
■ Q: Cooling tower shall be at least -------- (30m ) from fire heater and -------
(15m) from other process equipment.
■ Q: How to maintenance /removal Fire Heater horizontal tubes and vertical
tubes?.
■ Ans: Horizontal tubes shall be pulled towards the battery unit and vertical
tubes lift up by the crane access may be necessary.
■ Q: How to comply the space of vertical vessels and reactors, if diameter is
given 2.5M ,3.0m ,5.0mand more than 5.0m ?
■ Ans. For minimum dia 2.5m and 3.0m for---2.5m apart, for dia 3.0m to 5.0m for
---3.0m and larger than 5.0m diameter shall be maintain minimum for--4.0m
apart .

12 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Q: how to fix the vertical vessels and reactors BTL.

■ Q: The minimum distance to be maintained between vessels shell to reboiler

exchangers shell--------- (1.5m)
■ Q: Compressors shall be located ( downwind / upwind ) from heater.
■ Q: compressors shall be located adjacent to…
■ ( power house/ pipe rack/roadway ) for ease maintenance.
■ Q: Space to be allocated for ( drop area/ auxiliary/ knokout drums/ after
coolers)
■ Q: control house shall be located ( downwind / upwind ) process equipment .
■ Q: Unit sub station shall be located ( upwind / downwind ) of process
equipment near to control house and adjacent to roadway.

13 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Q. Pipe sizes 1¼", 2½", 3½", 5" and 9" are (used in process plant / not to be
used in process plant ) except where equipment connections are these sizes.
■ Q. Relief valve tail pipes discharging to atmosphere shall terminate not
less than-----( 3 metres ) above any platform within a radius of ------- (7.5
metres).
■ Q. A -------( 6 mm ) diameter weep hole shall be provided in the bottom of tail
pipes, to prevent liquid accumulation.
■ Q. In steam piping lines branch connection shall be made from the
---------------------------------------( Top / Bottom / Side )
■ Q. Steam piping shall be designed for complete condensate removal by
------------- (drip legs/ steam traps ) at all low points and dead ends.
■ Q. Steamout connection are required for purging ------------------ (containing
hydrocarbon and hazardous ) fluids.

14 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Access Walkways.___ 
■ Headroom over platforms, walkways, passageways and working areas
■ ---------------(2150mm)
■ Headroom height for projections over platforms, walkways, passageways and
working areas. ------------- (2150mm)
■ Headroom height over stairs. ---------------------(2100mm)
■ Walkway width of stairways (Inside stringers) For Access --------- (750mm)
Main Access -------- (1000mm)
■ Walkways Width of Landings. -------- (1200mm)
■ Walkway width of walkways (At grade and elevated) For Access ---------
(750mm to 850mm) Main Access --------- (1000mm to 1200 )
■ Maximum vertical rise of stairways (One flight) ----------- (3040mm)
■ Maximum horizontal distance from any point on platform to a primary or
auxiliary exit ------------ ( 23M ) 

15 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Vertical_Distance of platform below vessel manhole centreline ----------
■ 600-1500mm 
■ Vessel Width of manhole platform (Minimum) ---------- 900mm 
■ Top Head Width of platform from three sides of manhole---------
■ 750mm
■ Fired Heater platform width at sides of horizontal and vertical tube
furnaces minimum-------------- ( 750mm to 1250mm) 
■ Maximum vertical rise of operational ladders (Single run)-------9M

16 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Q. If a pressure safety valve has a downstream block valve, excluding accessibility, how
is the vale hand wheel to be oriented and why?
■ Ans. The handwheel is to be located within the lower 180 degrees - horizontal to
horizontal. <horizontal or downward>, This is to prevent the disc falling into the port if the
stem corrodes - thereby closing the valve and preventing the free release of pressure.
■ Q. If a pressure safety valve has a rupture disc upstream, what is the purpose of the
rupture disc?
■ Ans. The rupture disc isolates the relief valve from the potentially corrosive atmosphere
of the system to be protected - protecting the stem from corrosion.
■ Q. When a pressure safety valve discharges vertically to atmosphere, what must be
added to the lowest part of the tail pipe, what size is it and why is it added?
■ Ans.  A weep hole. • 1/4" diameter, To drain the collection of rain water in the open
tailpipe that if allowed to collect could obstruct the free release of pressure
■ Q. What is the Standard rule for establishing the height of a tailpipe of a pressure safety
valve that discharges to atmosphere?
■ Ans. The top of a tailpipe discharging to atmosphere must be a minimum of 3.0M (10'-
0“) above any platform within a 7.5M (25'-0“) radius of the tailpipe.

17 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Q. If you are establishing the overall length of a control valve main fold for allocation of
space and you do not have a vendor drawing giving the face to face dimension of the
control valve, what valve will you use as a substitute face to face dimension (assume the
control valve is 6”-3003RF)?
■ Ans. 6"-300# GLOBE VALVE for space allocation.
■ Q. When a control valve and its downstream block valve are the same size and rating,
they can be bolted together. What possible problem can occur when these two valves
are bolted together?
■ Ans. No, If bolted together the hand wheel of the block valve may interfere with the top
works of the control valve actuator.
■ Q. There is a steam piping with low pocket but without steam trap. What will be worst
consequence of this layout?
■ Ans. 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.

18 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Q. 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? 
■ Ans. Use the Gasket and bolts from the SS spec.
■ Q. Explain what is a “Double block & Bleed” valve? Why we need a bleed valve? When do
we use this? 
■ Ans. 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.
■ Q. How do we decide the anchor / cross guide and guide for offsite rack piping?
Ans. Anchor is provided to restrict all the axial and rotational movements of Pipe, whereas
Cross Guide is provided to restrict displacements of Pipe along with the axis perpendicular
to it’s center line and Guide is provided to restrict the longitudinal movements of pipes
along with it’s axis.
■ Q. Where do you provide Anchor and Slotted Support of Heat Exchanger?
Ans. Anchor support of Heat exchanger is provided on the side from which Tube Bundle
will be pulled out for the purpose of Maintenance work also it is based on the growth of the
connecting piping, as exchanger should grow with the piping.

19 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Q. What is the purpose of expansion bellows?
Ans. Expansion bellows are used absorb axial compression or extension, lateral shear
or angular torsion developed in the pipes (specially near nozzles)
Q. What are two reasons for using lap joint construction?
■ Ans. To reduce the cost of components - a less expensive carbon steel flange may be
used in lieu of a stainless steel flange.
■ Q. Explain the type of control valve ?
■ Ans. Types of control valves are, Pcv – Pressure Control Valve
■ Tcv – Temperature Control Valve
■ Fcv – Flow Control Valve
■ Lcv – Level Control Valve
■ Xv – Isolation Valve
■ Xcv – High Pressure Control Valve

20 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Q. How the Centrifugal Force Generated in the Centrifugal Pump?

■ Ans. The process liquid enters the suction nozzle and then into the eye (center) of the
revolving device known as an Impeller. When the impeller rotates, it spines the liquid
sittings in the cavities between the vanes outward and provides centrifugal acceleration.
As the liquid leaves the eye of the impeller allow – pressure area is created causing
more liquid to flow towards the inlet. Because the impeller blades are curved, the fluid is
pushed in a tangential and radial direction by centrifugal force. The figure below depicts
a side cross-section of a centrifugal pump indicating the movement of the liquid.

21 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
22 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ 16. What care shall be taken while routing piping for instruments?
■
Ans. Following points shall be taken care of while routing piping for instruments.
■
A. Flow measuring instrument needs certain straight length on upstream & downstream
of the instruments. Normally, 15D on the upstream and 5D on the downstream is kept.
■ B. The pipe line in which flow meters such as magnetic flow meters, vortex meters,
turbinemeters etc are located shall be routed in such a way that the line must be filled
with liquid all the time. The pipe line shall be supported with robust support on both side
of the meter.
C. Control valves are located at grade e.g. at about 500/600mm height from finished
ground to provide convenient access for operation and maintenance. Block and bypass
valve shall be located to have easy operation/ access from the grade. Locating control
valve on the vertical line shall be avoided.
D. Isolation valves for level gauges and pressure gauges shall be made accessible. All
primary and secondary indicators of pressure, temperature, flow, level, petitioners etc
shall be visible from the operating area.
E. Rotameter shall be placed on vertical line and the inlet shall be from the bottom of the
instrument

23 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ Q. How much space is kept in between column of pipe rack?
Ans. Normally, 4M to 6 Mtrs. spacing is kept in between the column shell of pipe rack or
use client design basis requirements.
■ Q. How much space is kept in between Vessels to vessels and of pipe rack?
Ans. Normally, 4 Mtrs .from rack and adjacent horizontal vessel shells be 2M or
min.900 mm clear aisle whichever is higher spacing is kept, or use client design basis.
■ Normally pump shall be kept outside of the pipe rack with pump discharge nozzle kept at
a distance of-------- from rack column centre and motor shall be towards ----------------.
■ Q. How much space is kept in between two horizotal Exchangers and of pipe rack?
■ Ans. Normally, 4M spacing is kept away from rack, Adjacent horizontal exchangers shall
be 2m or 900mm clear whichever is higher. Or meet the client design basis
requirements

24 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
25 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
26 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
27 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment
■ In the flare lines, sulpher lines, polymers lines and blowdown lines shall not be.
 Pockets
 Low points
 High point
 Not applicable any points.
■ Branch connection lines from steam headers in the pipe rack (if any isolation valves) to
be located where was the position of isolation valves.
 Vertical lines runs position on the Pipe rack
 Edge of pipe rack in horizontal lines runs
 Out side the pipe rack horizontal pipe rack.
 The approach of utility station shall be considered all around the station.
 30 Mtrs
 25 Mtrs
 15 Mtrs
 20 Mtrs

28 Pump Piping Air Liquide, world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment