Tabulated ASME B31.3 Category for Common Fluid Services 1

[McDermott1711]

Hi everybody,
I wonder if there is such a table (I should be grateful if someone direct me to a link). Meanwhile, is it ok to consider crude oil as normal fluid service?

 

[Bohlool]

hi McDermott1711,
hope "ASME B31.3 APPENDIX M, GUIDE TO CLASSIFYING FLUID SERVICES, Fig. M300 Guide to Classifying Fluid Services" can help you.
base on the above guide, crude oil can be classified as normal fluid service.
hope to be helpful
Regards
Ashkan

 

[moltenmetal]

If it's more hazardous than water, but not lethal, and in practice not much is (chlorine for example is seldom considered category M lethal) then it's normal fluid service.

 

[georgeverghese]

The H2S partial vapor pressure for this crude oil over the expected operating temp range may have some influence on this calssification.

 

[moltenmetal]

I've seen dry H2S stored and handled in piping without a category M designation. I've never seen a liquid containing H2S in any quantity designated as Category M.

 

[bimr]

A very important point, the ASME B31 Code for Pressure Piping, B31.3, Process Piping does not classify piping systems or any other piping systems. Only the Owner can do that (using the guidance provided in the B31.3 Code). It is the owner's responsibility to determine the fluid service category.

Since it is the owners responsibility for each facility, there is no generic table for fluid services.

Most owners would consider crude oil to be normal fluid service. Crude oil does not meet the definition of Category M.

The definition of Category M Fluid Service is as follows. Note that for purposes of emphasis, it has been broken into subparts, all of which must be satisfied for the service to meet the definition of Category M (ASME B31.3, para. 300.2):
•"A fluid service
•in which the potential for personnel exposure is judged to be significant and
•in which a single exposure of a very small quantity
•of a toxic fluid,
•caused by leakage,
•can produce serious irreversible harm to persons on breathing or bodily contact,
•even when prompt restorative measures are taken."

Note that toxic means, by its dictionary definition, poisonous.

 

[McDermott1711]

Thanks all for your response, especially bimr.

 

[XL83NL]

bimr hit it to the nail. This questions pops up almost every month, yet the first replies are usually never the right one.