A Guide to Piping Design and Engineering

Book excerpt: One of the most important components of the infrastructure is the vast network of pipelines and process piping-literally millions and millions of miles. The term "pipelines" generally refers to the network of pipelines that transport water, sewage, steam, and gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons from sources (e.g., reservoirs, steam plants, oil and gas wells, refineries) to local distribution centers ("transmission pipelines"), and to the network of pipelines that distribute such products to local markets and end users ("distribution" pipelines). The term "process piping" generally refers to the system of pipes that transport process fluids (e.g. industrial gases, fuels, chemicals etc.) around an industrial facility involved in the manufacture of products or in the generation of power. It also is used to describe utility piping systems (e.g., air, steam, water, compressed air, fuels etc.) that are used in, or in support of the industrial process. Also, certain drainage piping--where corrosive or toxic fluids are being transported and severe conditions may be present, or where it is simply outside the scope of plumbing codes--is also sometimes classified as process piping. Some places where process piping is used are obvious, such as chemical and petrochemical plants, petroleum refineries, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities and pulp & paper plants. However, there are many other not so obvious places where process piping is commonplace, such as semiconductor facilities, automotive and aircraft plants, water treatment operations, waste treatment facilities and many others.This book comprises of 9 course modules, which cover all aspects of piping design in easy to learn format. All topics are introduced to readers with no or limited background on the subject. A multiple choice quiz (total 255 questions) is provided at the end of each module to test the readers' knowledge and enhance learning. The book is very comprehensive and refresher to engineers and designers working in the field of piping in Oil and Gas, Chemical and Industrial plants. It is also very useful to fresh engineers joining industries for improving their knowledge in the field of fluid transportation and pipework.