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)
Answer to qustion 5- Normally Flat side bottom reducer used for
slurry pump suction line so as to avoid the accumulation of
solids inside the suction lines.

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.
The right answer is "Insulating gasket kit".
Reason: It is used in order to avoid stray currents generated
due to contact of dissimilar metals which would result in
galvanic corrosion on the flanges. this may lead to the failure of
the piping system
The answer to no. 6 is not wrong and is the usual practice in the
process piping industry globally-the bolts and gaskets of the
higher grade material, i.e. stainless steel material, should be
used. Why? Though galvanic corrosion could set in because of
dissimilar metals, the use of insulating kits may not be feasible
at all times especially when higher temperatures are
concerned. Insulating kits are made of composite materials
(phenol or fiberglass) and have limited usage at higher
temperatures normally encountered in process plants
7. A stainless steel piping specification mentions Galvanized
carbons steel bolts. What is your first reaction ti 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.
Answer to no.7: The combination of zinc and carbon on the
galvanized carbon steel bolts are not good for use on stainless
steel piping and would result in iron particle contamination
and/or zinc attack on the stainless steel items. The bolts should
be replaced with stainless steel bolts to prevent dissimilar
metal contamination.
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.
For Question 9 : I don't agree with the answer, we do require a
by-pass around the steam trap. this serves 2 Purposes.
1. During start-up we would close the valve before the steam
trap and use the bypass valve until the line comes up to
temperature, then close the bypass valve (which is a Globe
Valve) and open the flow through the Steam Trap.
2. We would use the By-pass to do maintenance on the steam
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 setup 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 SIFs 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.
answer to question no 16
please to be put loop for liquid holdup at discharge side if
pressure drop in header then sufficient amt of liquid hold are
there in cooler.

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?
Answer to no.19: The answer is quite honest. One basic fact
regarding aircooler piping design is to know how it is
constructed, how it is supported and knowing the allowable
loads per API 661. Most aircoolers are constructed (there are
other ways that may need verification with equipment
engineer) very much like how a cassette tape slides into a slot.
The whole aircooler box (containing the finned tubes) are
installed on huge C-shape slots permitting the aircooler to slide
a few inches lengthwise, sideways and even upward (usually
1/4" or 6 mm) with thermal expansion caused by attached
piping. For the most part, a "waterfall" piping arrangement or
what I call a "piano" arrangement wherein pipes flow down
from a header to the nozzles, is the most ideal for airfin coolers.
The routing has to be reasonably arranged with a few elbows

and pipe length for pipe flexibility to ensure nozzle loads on

airfin coolers (which are commonly low) are not exceeded.
Some companies would require that aircoolers be at least twice
or three times the allowable loads per API 661.
Thanks to (for the answers)
35 Common Question on Piping Interview
1.Which of the following is fully killed steel?
a)ASTM A 53
b)ASTM A 106
c)ASTM A 333
d)All of the above
Ans. b
2.What is the mills tolerance to be considered for the thickness
calculation of smls pipe as per ASME B31.3
a)12
b)12.25
c)12.5
d)None of the above
Ans. c
3.Butt welded fittings (upto 600#) are generally used in which
Size range
a)1/2 & above
b)2 & above
c)Both a & b
d)None of the above
Ans. b
4.ASME B16.10 describes about
a)Face to face & end to end dimensions of non-ferrous valves
b)Face to face & end to end dimensions of ferrous valves
c)Both a & b
d)None of the above
Ans. b
5.ASTM Std. for 6 C.S welded pipe is

a)A106 Gr.B
b)A53 Gr.B
c)API 5L Gr.B
d)All of the above
Ans. b
6.ASTM Std. for 8 C.S 150# flange
a)A234Gr WPB
b)A216Gr WCB
c)A105
d)None of the above
Ans. c
7.Usually the ASTM Std. for 30 L.T.C.S. EFW pipe is
a)A333 Gr.6
b)A106 Gr.B
c)A671 Gr.CC60 Cl.32
d)All of the above
Ans. c
8.Which of the fluid Service is non-toxic in nature?
a)Category D
b)Category M
c)High Pressure fluid service
d)Normal fluid service
Ans. a
9.All Pipe bends in CS are ____________
a)hot formed
b)cold formed
c)both a & b
d)none of the above
Ans. b
10.What is the Size range in NPS for ASTM A106 Smls.Pipe
a)1/8 to 46
b)1/8 to 44

c)1/8 to 48
d)None of the above
Ans. c
11.What is the dmn.std. for S.B. gate valve?
a)API-602
b)API-600
c)API-609
d)None of the above
Ans. a
12.What is the dmn.std. for L.B. gate valve?
a)API-602
b)API-600
c)API-609
d)None of the above
Ans. b
13.What is the dmn.std. for S.B. globe valve?
a)BS-5351
b)BS-5352
c)BS-1873
d)API-602
Ans. b
14.What is the dmn.std. for L.B. globe valve?
a)BS-5351
b)BS-5352
c)BS-1873
d)API-602
Ans. c
15.What is the dmn.std. for check valve?
a)BS-5352
b)BS-1868
c)BS-1873
d)Both a & b

Ans. d
16.What is the dmn.std. for Ball valve?
a)BS-5351
b)BS-5352
c)BS-1873
d)None of the above
Ans. a
17.Steam pipe lines are usually _________________
a)ERW
b)EFW
c)Seamless
d)None of the above
Ans. c
18.Low temp. carbon steel shall be used below which temp. in
0C
a)-20
b)-30
c)-29
d)-40
Ans. c
19.What is the std. used for Welded and seamless wrought
steel pipe?
a)ASME B36.10
b)ASME B36.19
c)ASME B16.11
d)ASME B16.9
Ans. a
20.Small bore fitting are covered under which American std.?
a)ASME B36.10
b)ASME B36.19
c)ASME B16.11
d)ASME B16.9

Ans. c
21.Large bore fittings are covered under which American std.?
a)ASME B36.10
b)ASME B36.19
c)ASME B16.11
d)ASME B16.9
Ans. d
22.Which Std. is used for large dia. flanges ?
a)ASME B16.5
b)ASME B16.47
c)ASME B16.48
d)None of the above
Ans. b
23._________is used as the fitting material in LTCS for Sizes
usually 2 & above
a)ASTM A420 Gr.WPL6
b)ASTM A350 Gr.LF2
c)Both a & b
d)None of the above
Ans. a
24._________is used as the fitting material in LTCS for Sizes
usually 11/2 & below
a)ASTM A420 Gr.WPL6
b)ASTM A350 Gr.LF2
c)Both a & b
d)None of the above
Ans. b
25._____________ is a non-return Valve.
a)Gate Valve
b)Globe valve
c)Ball Valve
d)Check Valve

Ans. d
26.What is the dmn.std. for Plug valve?
a)BS-5352
b)BS-5351
c)API-599
d)API-602
Ans. c
27._________ is the maximum temp. till which Carbon Steel can
be used as per B31.3
a)4200C
b)4290C
c)4250C
d)4270C
Ans. c
28._________ is the minimum temp. till which Carbon Steel can
be used as per B31.3
a)-300C
b)-280C
c)-450C
d)-290C
Ans. d
29.Under which p group is Carbon Steel Considered?
a)1
b)3
c)6
d)7
Ans. a
30.Generally _____________ is used as a by-pass Valve
a)Gate Valve
b)Butterfly Valve
c)Ball Valve
d)Globe Valve

Ans. d
31.Types of Ball Valve:
a)Full Port
b)Regular Port
c)Soft Seat & Metal Seat
d)All of the above
Ans. d
32.Types of Check Valve:
a)Lift type
b)Swing type
c)Wafer type
d)All of the above
Ans. d
33.Gate & Ball Valve are ________________ valves
a)Isolating
b)Regulating
c)Non-return
d)None of the above
Ans. a
34.Globe Valve is a ________________ valve
a)Isolating
b)Regulating
c)Non-return
d)None of the above
Ans. b
35.What is the minimum thickness required for CS pipe which
needs PWHT requirement?
a)18 mm
b)20 mm
c)19 mm
d)21 mm

PIPING INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE

1. What factors to consider for site selection?
Ans : District classification, Transportation facilities, Manpower
availability, industrial infrastructure, community infrastructure,
availability
of raw water, effluent disposal, availability of power, availability
of
industrial gas, site size and nature, ecology and pollution.
2. What are different standards?
Ans : Most commonly use standards are as follows:
Sr. Standard Description
1. ANSI B18.2 Square and hexagola head bolts and nuts
2. ANSI B16.3 Malleable iron threaded fittings
3. ANSI B16.4 Cast iron threaded fittings.
4. ANSI B16.9 Steel buttwelding fittings
5. ANSI B16.11 Forged steel socketwelding and threaded
fittings
6. ANSI B16.25 Buttwelding ends
7. ANSI B16.28 Short elbow radius and returns
8. MSS-SP-43 Stainless steel buttweld fittings
9. MSS-SP-83 Pipe Unions
10. API 605 Large diameter carbon steel flanges
11. ANSI B16.1 Cast iron pipe flanges and flanged fittings
12. ANSI B16.5 Steel pipe flanges and flanged fittings
13. ANSI B16.47 Large diameter steel pipe flanges and flanged
fitts.
14. ANSI B16.20 Ring joint gaskets and grooves for pipe flanges
15. ANSI B16.21 Non metallic gaskets for pipe flanges
16. API 601 Metallic gasket for refinery piping.
17. API 5L Specification for line pipe.
18. ANSI B16.10 Welded and seamless wrought steel pipes
19. ANSI B36.19 Welded and seamless austenitic stainless steel
pipe
20. ANSI B16.10 Face to face and end to end dimensions of
valves
21. ANSI B16.34 Steel valves, flanged and buttwelding ends.
3. 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.

4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Where blind flange is used ?
Ans : It is used with view to future expansion of the piping
system, or for
cleaning, inspection etc.
TOWERS
7. What are crude oil ranges?
Ans : Crude oil BP Range: 100F-1400F, lightest material: Butene
below
100F, Heavier materials- upto 800F, Residue above 800F.
8. What is batch shell process?
Ans : feed, heat,condense,heat more,condense, low quality.
9. What are types of towers?
Ans : Stripper, Vacuum tower, trayed, packed towers.
10. What is chimney tray?
Ans : Its a solid plate with central chimney section, used at
drawoff
sections of the tower.
11. 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.
12. How to located tower maintenance access nozzles ?
Ans : At bottom, top and intermediate sections of tower, must
not be at
the downcomer section of tower and in front of internal piping.
13. How to located feed nozzle ?
Ans : Must be oriented in specific area of tray by means of
internal
piping.
14. How to located temperature and pressure instruments ?
Ans : Temperature in liquid space, at downcomer side and
pressure in
vapor space, in area except downcomer sector. - See more at:
http://piping-info.blogspot.ca/2009/05/piping-interviewquestionnaire.html#sthash.fwBUTKiB.dpuf
PIPING INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE
1. What are the steps in selection of valve?
Ans : What to handle, liquid, gas or powder, fluid nature,
function,
construction material, disc type, stem type, how to operate,
bonnet type,
body ends, delivery time, cost, warranty.
2. What are functions of valves?
Ans : Isolation, regulation, non-return and special purposes.
3. What are isolating valves?
Ans : Gate, ball, plug, piston, diaphragm, butterfly, pinch.
4. What are regulation valves?
Ans : Globe, needle, butterfly, diaphragm, piston, pinch.
5. What are non-return valves?
Ans : check valve,
6. What are special valves?
Ans : multi-port, flush bottom, float, foot, pressure relief,
breather.
7. What materials are used for construction of valves?
Ans : Cast iron, bronze, gun metal, carbon steel, stainless steel,

alloy
carbon steel, polypropylene and other plastics, special alloys.
8. What is trim?
Ans : Trim is composed of stem, seat surfaces, back seat
bushing and
other small internal parts that normally contact the surface
fluid.
9. Which standard specifies trim numbers for valve ?
Ans : API 600.
10. What are wetted parts of valve?
Ans : All parts that come in contact with surface fluid are called
wetted
parts.
11. What is wire drawing?
Ans : This term is used to indicate the premature erosion of the
valve
seat caused by excessive velocity between seat and seat disc,
when valve
is not closed tightly.
12. What is straight through valve?
Ans : Valve in which the closing operation of valve is achieved
by
90degrees turn of the closing element.
13. What pressure tests are carried out on valves?
Ans : Shell-hydrostatic, seat-hydrostatic, seat-pneumatic
14. What are available valve operators?
Ans : Handlever, handwheel, chain operator, gear operator,
powered
operator likes electric motor, solenoid, pneumatic and hydraulic
operators, Quick acting operators for non-rotary valves (handle
lift).
15. What are two types of ball valve?
Ans : Full port design and regular port design, according to type
of seat,
soft seat and metal seat.
16. What are ball valve body types?
Ans : Single piece, double piece, three piece, the short pattern,
long
pattern, sandwitch and flush bottom design.
17. Why ball valves are normally flanged?
Ans : Because of soft seat PTFE which can damage during
welding.

18. What are butterfly valve types?

Ans : Double flange type, wafer lug type and wafer type.
19. What are types of check valve?
Ans : Lift check valves and swing check valves.
20. What are non-slam check valves?
Ans : Swing check valve, conventional check valve, wafer check
valve,
tilting disc check valve, piston check valve, stop check valve,
ball check
valve.
21. Where stop check valve is used ?
Ans : In stem generation by multiple boilers, where a valve is
inserted
between each boiler and the main steam header. It can be
optionally
closed automatically or normally.
22. Where diaphragm valves are used ?
Ans : Used for low pressure corrosive services as shut off
valves.
23. What is Barstock Valve?
Ans: Any valve having a body machined from solid metal
(barstock).
Usually needle or globe type.
24. What is BIBB Valve?
Ans: A small valve with turned down end, like a faucet.
25. What is Bleed Valve?
Ans: Small valve provided for drawing off liquid. - See more at:
http://piping-info.blogspot.ca/2009/04/piping-questionnairevalve-part-1-of-3.html#sthash.Vo3sBTDe.dpuf
26. What is BlowDown Valve?
Ans Refers to a plug type disc globe valve used for removing
sludge and
sedimentary matter from the bottom of boiler drums, vessels,
driplegs
etc.
27. What is Breather Valve?
Ans: A special self acting valve installed on storage tanks etc.
to release
vapor or gas on slight increase of internal pressure ( in the
region of to
3 ounces per square inch).
28. What is Drip Valve?

Ans: A drain valve fitted to the bottom of a driplet to permit

blowdown.
29. What is Flap Valve?
Ans: A non return valve having a hinged disc or rubber or
leather flap
used for low pressure lines.
30. What is Hose Valve?
Ans: A gate or globe valve having one of its ends externally
threaded to
one of the hose thread standards in use in the USA. These
valves are
used for vehicular and firewater connections.
31. What is Paper-Stock Valve?
Ans: A single disc single seat gate valve (Slide gate) with knife
edged or
notched disc used to regulate flow of paper slurry or other
fibrous slurry.
32. What is Root Valve?
Ans: A valve used to isolate a pressure element or instrument
from a line
or vessel, or a valve placed at the beginning of a branch form
the
header.
33. What is Slurry valve?
Ans: A knife edge valve used to control flow of non-abrasive
slurries.
34. What is Spiral sock valve?
Ans: A valve used to control flow of powders by means of a
twistable
fabric tube or sock.
35. What is Throttling valve?
Ans: Any valve used to closely regulate flow in the just-open
position.
36. What is Vacuum breaker?
Ans: A special self-acting valve or nay valve suitable for
vacuum service,
operated manually or automatically, installed to admit gas
(usually
atmospheric air) into a vacuum or low-pressure space. Such
valves are
installed on high points of piping or vessels to permit draining
and

sometimes to prevent siphoning.

37. What is Quick acting valve ?
Ans: Any on/off valve rapidly operable, either by manual lever,
spring or
by piston, solenoid or lever with heat-fusible link releasing a
weight which
in falling operates the valve. Quick acting valves are desirable
in lines
conveying flammable liquids. Unsuitable for water or for liquid
service in
general without a cushioning device to protect piping from
shock.
38. What is diverting valve ?
Ans : This valve switch flow from one main line to two different
outlets.
WYE type and pneumatic control type with no moving part.
39. What is sampling valve?
Ans : Usually of needle or globe pattern, placed in branch line
for the
purpose of drawing all samples of process material thru the
branch.
40. What are blow off valve?
Ans : It is a variety of globe valve confirming with boiler code
requirements and specially designed for boiler blowoff service.
WYE
pattern and angle type, used to remove air and other gases
from boilers
etc.
41. What is relief valve?
Ans : Valve to relieve excess pressure in liquids in situations
where full
flow discharge is not required, when release of small volume of
liquid
would rapidly lower pressure.
42. What is safety valve?
Ans : Rapid opening(popping action) full flow valve for air and
other
gases.
43. What is foot valve?
Ans : Valve used to maintain a head of water on the suction
side of sump
pump, basically a lift check valve with integrated strainer.

44. What is float valve?

Ans : Used to control liquid level in tanks, operated by float,
which rises
with liquid level and opens the valve to control water level. It
can also
remove air from system, in which case, air flows out of system
in valve
open condition, but when water reaches valve, float inside
valve raises to
close the valve and stop flow of water. Used in drip legs.
45. What are flush bottom valves?
Ans : Special type of valves used to drain out the piping,
reactors and
vessels, attached on pad type nozzles.
46. What are types of flush bottom valves?
Ans : Valves with discs opening into the tank and valves with
disks into
the valve.
47. What are the uses of three-way valve?
Ans : Alternate connection of the two supply lines to a common
delivery
vise versa, isolating one safety valve, division of flow with
isolation
facility.
48. What are uses of four way valve?
Ans : Reversal of pump suction and delivery, By pass of strainer
or
meter, reversal of flow through filter, heat exchanger or dryer.
49. What is metal seated lubricated plug valve?
Ans : A plug valve with no plastic material, where grease is
applied to
contacting surfaces for easy operation.
50. What are three patterns of plug valve design?
Ans : Regular pattern, short pattern and ventury pattern. - See
more at: http://piping-info.blogspot.ca/2009/04/pipingquestionnaire-valve-part-2-of-3.html#sthash.Bh0ktYKF.dpuf