Unlock-B31.3 Process Piping Course - 02 Metallic Pipe & Fitting Selection
Unlock-B31.3 Process Piping Course - 02 Metallic Pipe & Fitting Selection
Unlock-B31.3 Process Piping Course - 02 Metallic Pipe & Fitting Selection
Pressure Class
Ratings for above ground metallic systems
are generally governed by their joints.
Frequently these are flanged joints
manufactured in accordance with ASME
B16.1 (iron flanges) and ASME B16.5 (other
metallic flanges).
Ratings for flanges (and some other piping
components) are designated by pressure
class.
30 Class 125,
Pressure (barg)
NPS 14-24
Class 125,
20 NPS 30-48
Class 250,
NPS 1-12
10 Class 250,
NPS 14-24
Class 250,
0 NPS 30-48
0 50 100 150 200
Temperature (C)
6000
Class 300
4000
Class 600
Class 900
3000
Class 1500
Class 2500
2000
1000
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Temperature (F)
400
350
Pressure (barg)
50
0
0 100 200 300 400 500
Temperature (C)
100
80 PN 2.5
PN 6
Pressure (bar)
PN 10
60
PN 16
PN 25
40
PN 40
PN 63
20 PN 100
0
0 100 200 300 400
Temperature (C)
60
50
Pressure (bar)
40 5K
10K
30 16K
20K
20
30K
10
0
0 100 200 300 400 500
Temperature (C)
600
316
Pressure (psig)
Stainless
500 Steel (B16.5)
Nickel Alloy
400 400 (B16.5)
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Temperature (F)
Carbon Steel
50.0
(B16.5)
316
Pressure (barg)
40.0 Stainless
Steel (B16.5)
Nickel Alloy
30.0 400 (B16.5)
Coper Alloy
20.0
B61 (B16.24)
10.0 Aluminum
Alloy 6061-
T6 (B31.3)
0.0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Temperature (C)
Reliability
¾ Robustness
¾ Fire Resistance
¾ Blow-out Resistance
¾ Tendencies to Leak
Robustness
Able to withstand exposure to loads such as:
Being stepped on
Dropped tool
Dropped tool box
Forklift traffic
Truck traffic
Crane booms
Fire
Resistance
Fire Resistance
Fire resistant components are used
¾ where there is a sufficient probability of a
fire, and
¾ where there is a significant consequence
as a result of piping system failure such as
adding fuel to the fire
exposure of fire fighters to danger due to
leaking fluids
Being able to continue operation after a fire is
usually not a consideration.
BECHT ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC. Metallic Pipe & Fitting Selection - 19
Blow-out Resistance
Gaskets and seals able to withstand high pressure
without failing by extrusion or fracture. A short-term
leak could be resealed by tightening the bolting. The
intent is to avoid large leaks
¾ when a flanged joint is not tightened properly
¾ when the piping system is subjected to pressures
much higher than design
¾ when large bending moments are applied to the
flanged joint
Blow-out Resistance
Tendencies to Leak
Some joints are more leak prone than others.
These are usually a strong function of the
construction and maintenance practices at a
particular site. Examples:
Threaded joints
Unions
Elastomeric seals such as o-rings
Corrosion Resistance
¾ Where corrosion is more or less uniform, extra
pipe wall material can be provided in the form of a
“corrosion allowance”.
¾ Where material degradation is localized, either
preventive measures must be used or a more
resistant material must be provided. Examples of
localized material problems:
- Erosion - Intergranular
- Stress-Corrosion Cracking - Microbiological
- Hydrogen Embrittlement
Material Toughness
¾ Measured by energy necessary to suddenly
propagate a crack to failure
¾ Mostly of concern for carbon steels
¾ Generally decreases as temperature decreases
¾ Factors affecting fracture toughness include:
Chemical composition or alloying elements
Heat treatment
Grain size
Cost
CPVC, Sch 80
Carbon Steel, Sch 40
Stainless Steel, 304, Sch 10S
Stainless Steel, 316, Sch 10S
Aluminum, 6061 T6, Sch 40
Fiberglass - Vinyl Ester
Polypropylene Lined Steel
Fluoropolymer Lined Steel
Alloy 20, Sch 10S
Alloy 400, Sch 10S
Alloy C276, Sch 10
Zirconium, Sch 10
0 2 4 6 8 10
Relative Installed Cost - NPS 4 Complex System
Listed Components
Can be used within their pressure-
temperature ratings and any additional
limitations described in the Code.
Piping Components
¾ Pipe
¾ Fittings
¾ Branch Connections
¾ Flanges
¾ Gaskets
¾ Bolting
¾ Flanged Joints
Pipe
“Pipe includes components designated as
‘tube’ or ‘tubing’ in the material specification,
when intended for pressure service.” Para. 305
Pipe - seamless
Pipe - seamless
Pipe – ERW
Pipe - ERW
Fittings
Fittings are selected primarily by the way
they are joined to the pipe.
¾ Threading
¾ Socket Welding
¾ Buttwelding
¾ OD Tubing (Compression fitting, Flare)
¾ Water Tubing (Solder, Braze)
¾ Others
Fittings: Threaded
¾ Common materials
Gray iron
(ASME B16.4)
Malleable iron
(ASME B16.3)
Steel (ASME B16.11)
Fittings: Buttwelding
¾ Common materials
(ASME B16.9)
Carbon Steel
Stainless Steel
Nickel alloys
¾ Used in most piping systems
~NPS 2 and larger
¾ Use generally not restricted
¾ Welding is difficult in small sizes,
especially for thin wall
BECHT ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC. Metallic Pipe & Fitting Selection - 49
Fittings: OD Tubing
¾ Common materials
Copper
Steel
Nickel alloys
¾ Compression Fittings
¾ Flared Fittings (ASME B16.26)
¾ Generally not used in most severe
services because of leak potential
Must be safeguarded for Severe Cyclic Service
Fittings: Grooved
Fittings that use grooves in pipe –
elastomeric seal required
Pressfit by Victaullic
(B16.51 draft for copper)
Lokring
(metal-to-metal seal)
Branches
¾Generally many choices NPS 3
and larger
¾Choices include:
Tee
Unreinforced Fabricated Tee
Reinforced Fabricated Tee
Branch Connection Fitting
Branches
Tee
Fabricated Branches
Unreinforced Reinforced
Stub in
Stub on
Branches
Basis for selection:
¾ Cost: depends on material, sizes &
fabricator
¾ Resistance to external moment
¾ Ability to examine fabrication
See table on page 19 in the supplement.
Flat
• Standard for gray iron flanges
• More gasket has to be compressed, so only
“softer” gaskets can be used
• Less likely to break flange when bolting
(applicable to brittle materials like gray iron)
Gaskets
Important Gasket Characteristics
¾ Resists deterioration in normal service
Chemical resistance
Temperature resistance
¾ Low enough leak rate
¾ Blowout resistance
¾ Fire resistance
Gaskets – Rubber
Chemical OK for
Resistant most
Approximate 200ºF
Max. Temp. (95ºC)
Leak Best
Performance
Blowout No
Resistant
Fire No (Thermoseal)
Resistant
Bolt Strength Low
Needed
Gaskets – Fluoropolymer
Chemical OK for
Resistant almost all
Approximate 350ºF
Max. Temp. (180ºC)
Leak Good (Gore) (Teadit)
Performance
Blowout No
Resistant
Fire No
Resistant
Bolt Strength Low
Needed
(Garlock)
BECHT ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC. Metallic Pipe & Fitting Selection - 69
Flexible
graphite tends
to stick to
flanges, but
special coatings
can help.
Gaskets - Kammprofile
Chemical Both metal &
Resistant sealing material
must be OK
Approximate 1500ºF (820ºC)
Max. Temp.
Leak Good
Performance
Blowout Yes
Resistant
Fire Resistant Depends on
(Garlock)
sealing material
Bolt Strength Medium
Needed
BECHT ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC. Metallic Pipe & Fitting Selection - 79
Bolting
¾ Has to be strong
enough to seat the
gasket
¾ Consider need to be
corrosion resistant to
process fluid
¾ Studs versus bolts
Flanged Joints
“A flanged joint is composed of three
separate and independent, although
interrelated components: the flanges, the
gasket, and the bolting, which are
assembled by yet another influence, the
assembler. Proper controls must be
exercised in the selection and application for
all these elements to attain a joint which has
acceptable leak tightness.” [B16.5]
Flanged Joints
Flange A Flange B Fire Blow-out Facing Gaskets Bolting
Resist? Resist? Strength
Class 125 Class 125 No No
gray iron gray iron