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)

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 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.
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 bypass 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?
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.
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.
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?
PIPING INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE

COMPRESSORS

1. What are the types of compressors?

Ans : Positive Displacement, Centrifugal and Axial, rotary screw, rotary
vane, rotary lobe, dynamic, liquid ring compressors.
2. What are types of compressor drives?
Ans : Electric motor, gas turbine, steam turbine and gas engine.
3. How Centrifugal compressors work ?
Ans : Highspeed impellers increase the kinetic energy of the gas,
converting this energy into higher pressures in a divergent outlet passage
called a diffuser. Large volume of gas at moderate pressure.
4. What are types of steam turbine and why are they popular?
Ans : Condensing and non-condensing, Popular because can convert
large amounts of heat energy into mechanical work very efficiently.
5. Where gas turbine drive is used ?
Ans : Desserts and offshore platforms where gas is available, for gas
transmission, gas lift, liquid pumping, gas re-injection and process
compressors.
6. What are the auxillary equipments of compressor?
Ans : Lube oil consoles, Seal oil consoles, Surface condensers,
Condensate pump, Air blowers, Inlet air filters, Wast heat system,
compressor suction drum, knock out pot, Pulsation dampner, volume
bottles, Inter and after coolers.
7. What are the types of seal oil system?
Ans : Gravity and pressurized.
8. What factors to be considered while designing compressor housing?
Ans : Operation, Maintenance, Climate conditions, Safety, Economics.
9. What are the compressor housing design points?
Ans : Floor elevation, building width, building elevation, hook centerline
elevation.
10. What are the types of compressor cases?
Ans : Horizontal split case, Vertical split case.

11. What are compressor suction line requirements ?

Ans : Minimum 3D straight pipe between elbow and inlet nozzle,
increases based on inlet piping layout. 4D

12. 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 interstage line and in
discharge line before block valve.
13. 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
14. What are the types of compressor shelters?
Ans : On ground with no shelter, Open sided structure with a roof,
Curtain wall structure (Temperate climates), Open elevated installation,
Elevated multicompressor structure.
DRUMS

15. What are drum internals?

Ans : Demister pads, Baffles, Vortex breakers, Distribution piping.
16. What are drum elevation requirements?
Ans : NPSH, minimum clearance, common platforming, maintenance,
operator access.
17. What are drum supports?
Ans : Skirt for large drums, legs, lugs, saddles for horizontal drums.
18. What are necessary nozzles for non-pressure vessel?
Ans : Inlet, outlet, vent, manhole, drain, overflow, agitator, temperature
element, level instrument, and steamout connection.

19. What are necessary nozzles for pressure vessel?

Ans : Inlet, outlet, manhole, drain, pressure relief, agitator, level guage,
pressure gauge, temperature element, vent and for steamout.
20. 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.
21. What is preferred location for process nozzles on drum?
Ans : Minimum from the tangent line.

22. What is preferred location for steam out nozzle on drum?

Ans : At the end opposite to the maintenance access.
23. What is preferred location for vent ?
Ans : AT the top section of drum at the end opposite the steam out
connecton.
24. 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
25. What is preferred location for temperature instrument?
Ans : Must be in liquid space, preferably on the bottom section of drum.
26. What is preferred location for drain?
Ans : Must be located at the bottom section of drum.

PIPING INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE

valves
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.
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.
51. What is regular pattern plug valve?
Ans : Rectangular port, area almost equal to pipe bore, smooth transition
from round body to rectangular port, for minimum pressure loss.
52. What are short pattern plug valve?
Ans : Valves with face to face dimension of gate valve, as a alternative to
gate valve.
53. What are ventury pattern plug valve?
Ans : Change of section through the body throat so graded to have

ventury effect, minimum pressure loss.

54. What are inverted plug design valve?
Ans : Plug valve with taper portion up of plug. For 8 and higher size.
55. What is pressure balanced plug valve?
Ans : With holes in port top and bottom connecting two chambers on top
and bottom of plug, to reduce turning effort.
56. What are Teflon sleeved plug valve?
Ans : PTFE sleeve between plug and body of valve, low turning effort,
minimum friction, temperature limitation, anti static design possible.
57. What are permasil plug valve?
Ans : Plug valves with Teflon seat instead of sleeves, for on off
applications, can handle clean viscous and corrosive liqiuids, Graphite seat
for high temperature applications. Drip tight shut off not possible.
58. What are eccentric plug valve?
Ans : Off center plug, corrosive and abrasive service, on off action,
moves into and away from seat eliminating abrasive wear.
59. What is dimensional standard for plug valve?
Ans : API 599.
60. What is pinch valve?
Ans : Similar to diaphragm valve, with sleeves of rubber or PTFE, which
get sqeezed to control or stop the flow, Cast iron body, for very low
service pressures like isolation of hose connections, manufacture
standard.
61. What is needle valve?
Ans :Full pyramid disc, same design as globe valve, smaller sizes, sw or
threaded, flow control, disc can be integral with stem, inside screw,
borged or barstock body and bonnet, manufacturers standard.
62. How to install a globe valve ?
Ans : Globe valve should be installed such that the flow is from the
underside of the disk, Usually flow direction is marked on the globe valve.
63. What are globe valve port types?
Ans : Full port: More than 85% of bore size, Reducer port: One size less
than the connected pipe.
64. What are globe valve disk types?
Ans :Flat faced type for positive shutoff, loose plug type for plug renewal
or needle type for finer control.
65. What are characteristics of globe valve stem?
Ans : Always rising design, with disk nut at the lower end and handwheel
at upper end.
66. What are types of globe valve?

Ans : Angle globe valve, plug type disc globe valve, wye-body globe
valve, composite disc globe valve, double disc globe valve.
67. What is angle globe valve?
Ans : Ends at 90 degree to save elbow, higher pressure drop.
68. Where plug type disc globe valve is used?
Ans : For severe regulating service with gritty liquids such as boiler
feedwater and for blow off service.
69. Where WYE body globe valve is used ?
Ans : In line ports with stem emerging at 45 degree, for erosive fluids
due to smoother flow pattern.
70. What is double disc globe valve ?
Ans : Has two discs bearing on separate seats spaced apart, on a single
shaft, for low torque, used for control valves.
71. What are port types for gate valves?
Ans : Full port and reduced port. Default is reduced bore. Full port has to
be specified in bom.
72. How to close a gate valve ?
Ans :Turn the handwheel in clockwise direction.
73. What is lantern ring?
Ans : Its a collection point to drain off any hazardous seepages or as a
point where lubricant can be injected, it is in the middle of packing rings.
74. What are types of gate valves?
Ans : Solid plane wedge, solid flexible wedge, split wedge, double disc
paralles seats, double disc wedge, single disc single seat gate or slide,
single disc parallel seats, plug gate valve.
75. What are the types of bonnets?
Ans : Bolted bonnet, bellow sealed bonnet, screwed on bonnet, union
bonnets, A U-bolt and clamp type bonnet, breechlock bonnet, pressure
seal bonnet.

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://pipinginfo.blogspot.ae/2009/05/piping-interviewquestionnaire.html#sthash.G11YYUj3.dpuf