Typical Questions For Piping Engineer’s

Knowledge Testing (With Answers)

Posted by Ankit Chugh on 10:19 AM26 Comments
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 for below
questions, leave us a comment. Find more details see at the end of article.

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 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?

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 SIF’s 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?

Thanks to (for the answers)

Mahathir Che Ap Piping Designer

SBMOffshore

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.

 GeorgeT • 4 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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Neetaj • 5 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.
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Piping engineer • 5 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.
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 GeorgeT Piping engineer • 4 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.
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Sunday GeorgeT • a year ago

weld overlay with stainless steel material on the carbon steel flange is best practise
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Engr Michael Goodluck Bassey Sunday • a year ago

What are the likely questions for Design coordinator mechanical engineer
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Robert Matthews Sunday • a year ago

Yes agree George, and we only really use Isolation Gasket kits when lines are routed from above
ground to underground.
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Ankit Chugh Mod Piping engineer • 5 years ago

Thanks for correcting us Piping Engineer :) I'll make the proper modifications in post as required now.
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 pinakin mistry • 4 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.
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Amol Parihar • 3 years 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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Robert Matthews Amol Parihar • a year ago

I disagree, all pump suctions should be flat side up to reduce cavitation, if it was flat side down as you say an air
bubble would form at the point where the line reducers. We only use flat side down in a solid service to avoid
particle build-up.
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Dev Anand Robert Matthews • 6 months ago

I agree with you
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GeorgeT • 4 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.
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Halo GeorgeT • 3 years ago

Hi George, I just finished my piping engineering course form hyd, can you guide me as to any job openings? i
am a mechanical engineer graduate n have also done a fire n safety course
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Raju Kandpal • 3 years ago

Ans 1 One major differecne is the safety of Factor 31.1 is more conservative than 31.3

31.1 allowable stresses are based upon a factor of safety of 4 and B31.3 allowable stresses are based upon a factor of
safety of 3

Ans 5. A case where there is no horizontal spool in the suction line which is dropping vertically, . FSB reducer with a
upward elbow will prevent air trapping in the system

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Jandanagger Laterobinson • a year ago

What is the origin of the name "bull plug" ?
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Athar Ali • a year ago

two material having same chemical composition than there hardness value same or different?
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Robert Matthews • a year ago

 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.
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ansari • a year ago

can anyone help me to get a piping designer job with total 18 years experience but 12 years in piping ?
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sunny • 3 years ago

Can any one guide me as to any job openings in piping engineering field for freshers?
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Rui Rosario Colaço sunny • 3 years ago

But Cavitation can still occur.. This question is more pertaining to the Viscosity of material being pumped...
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SALMAN KAMIL • 4 years ago

THANKS ANKIT SIR THIS WILL REALLY HELP ME A LOT.
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Giang • 4 years ago

Does anyone know how to calculate SIF for Y pipe? I mean by using FEM software like ANSYS or Abaqus.
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Varuntyagi • 5 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