Selecting materials for piping systems
Selecting materials for piping systems
(OP)
My position is Mechanical Piping Engineer in the (Bio, Petro) Chemical industry. My skills are running short with determining the composition of materials for piping and its components. For example: you have a pipe transporting a certain medium (sea water or chloride etc.), then my problem is: what type of materials do I choose for the pipe, valves, gaskets, bolts, etc. Other examples are: the material composition of a valve is specified in a company specification; now this valve is not in stock but there are lookalikes; then they ask me whether these other materials also satisfy. The same counts for a valve that already is supplied and does not meet the specified materials, is it good enough or is it to be send back. I can't answer these questions properly.
I can't describe exactly where I am looking for because I don't know what is available in this field. It is rather specialistic and can be anything: book, essay, tables, index, reference work or ?.
Thanks for helping me.
I can't describe exactly where I am looking for because I don't know what is available in this field. It is rather specialistic and can be anything: book, essay, tables, index, reference work or ?.
Thanks for helping me.





RE: Selecting materials for piping systems
I hope this post serves you to begining your search.
RE: Selecting materials for piping systems
The ASME B31.X codes will tell you which piping materials are acceptable for the code, but will not tell you which materials are acceptable for a certain application.
Thomasjl, unfortunately, you are at the tip of the spear. Your impossible situation is certainly not your fault and you are the resultant of a long string of poor management decisions and cost cutting that has resulted in:
- Dismissal of all senoir staff in "Corporate Engineering"
- Heavy reliance on technical expertise of vendors
- MBA assumption that any engineer is as good as another
- Frenzied re-hiring of select retirees
- Quickly thrown together "mentoring programs"
- Risky reliance on internet advice from strangers
I feel that if you were working for an organized, reasonable company, you would have either company developed piping "line specifications" or senior engineerin staff to consult with.....
Line specifications typically describe and authorize certain piping, gasket and valve materials for a partiular chemical at various pressures and temperatures.....this is what you need
-MJC
Instead, you are put into a bad position with no resources.
To answer your questions
RE: Selecting materials for piping systems
My position is not that bad, it doesn't occur every day and I am not expected to know everything. I do have other people I can fall back on, but it takes time and efford. But above all: I hate black holes in my knowledge, specially when the answers seems to be within reach.
MJC, it looks like you know what I need, but where can I find it?
Thanks, Thomas
RE: Selecting materials for piping systems
ht
Regarding non-compliant materials, that is a bit special and, if you do not have the competence, you should not be in the position of having to judge suitability. The company should have a management of change process to be followed which ensures that competent people assess the safety implications of accepting non-compliant materials.
http://
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Steve Jones
Materials & Corrosion Engineer
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/8/83b/b04
RE: Selecting materials for piping systems
Gasket selection can be found in information from gasket suppliers. Same for casting data, go to Flowserve website for good compatibility information.
Of course never rely on one source and you will always find gaps where there is little to no data for a process.
If all else fails, hire a materials consultant.
RE: Selecting materials for piping systems
For specialty or bulk chemicals, I would consult the supplier, who usually has developed a handling guideline for the particular chemical.
Here is an example:
http://www.sschemical.com/handling.php#
-MJC