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Typical Questions For Piping Engineers Knowledge

Testing (With Answers)
Posted by Ankit Chugh on 1 0:1 9 AM

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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
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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)

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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

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Typical Questions For Piping Engineers Knowledge Testing (With Answers) | PIPING GUIDE

reaction ti this and how do you rectify it?

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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?

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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.

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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?

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Still some answers are not so much satisfactory with total explanation, so if any of you does not agree
with any of the above answers, give me feedback by leaving comments on this article or mail me the
answers at ankit@pipingguide.net When i would receive the answers from any source, i would publish it
here & would update the article accordingly.
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GeorgeT

2 years ago

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.

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Typical Questions For Piping Engineers Knowledge Testing (With Answers) | PIPING GUIDE

prevent dissimilar metal contamination.

5
Neetaj

Reply Share
2 years ago

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.
4

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pinakin mistry

2 years ago

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.
3

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Piping engineer

2 years ago

For Question number: 6 - the answer is wrong.

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.
2

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GeorgeT

Piping engineer 2 years ago

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.
1

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Ankit Chugh

Mod

Piping engineer 2 years ago

Thanks for correcting us Piping Engineer :) I'll make the proper modifications in post as
required now.
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GeorgeT

2 years ago

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.
1

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Krishna_wilva

2 years ago

Thank you very much Mr.Ankit. Do you have SP3D softwere.

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Amol Parihar

5 months ago

Ans For que. No. 5: Actually at the pump inlet reducers are flat site down to avoid the cavitation at
the pump inlet which would damage impellers and gives abnormal sound and leads to damage of
pump casing too.
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SALMAN KAMIL

2 years ago

THANKS ANKIT SIR THIS WILL REALLY HELP ME A LOT.

Reply Share

Giang

2 years ago

Does anyone know how to calculate SIF for Y pipe? I mean by using FEM software like ANSYS or
Abaqus.
Reply Share

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Varuntyagi

Typical Questions For Piping Engineers Knowledge Testing (With Answers) | PIPING GUIDE

2 years ago

I like it,the answers are almost satisfactory and i hope this type of articles will be
posted continuously.It helps me a lot and i am very thank full to you.
Keep it up
Reply Share

Ankit Chugh

Mod

Varuntyagi 2 years ago

Thank you Varun for your appreciation. If you can also some material which you would like
to share with all, please do send us that to ankit@pipingguide.net . That would be really
helpful and you would be given full credit for that. Thanks
Reply Share

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,it's more help to me.please keep posting like

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