EXAMPLE

Given: Code : ASME B31.4

Design Temperature : 140 oF (60 oC)

Pipe Material : API 5L Grade A25, ERW (in accordance with ASME B36.10M)

Allowable Tensile Strength of Material at Design Temp., S: 18000 psi

Joint Efficiency for pipe ERW, E : 1.0

Nominal Pipe Size, NPS = Do : 48 inch (1219 mm)

Pipe Schedule (Wall Thickness): STD. (9.53 mm)

Assume a corrosion allowance, C = 3 mm (0.11811 inch)

(1 psi = 1 pound per square inch = 0.070306955 kg/cm2)

Find: Max. allowable working pressure, or what we called design pressure, P.

Data:

Nominal pipe wall thickness, tn = 9.53 mm (Schedule STD.)

Pipe Wall Thickness Tolerance = 12.5% tn

Remaining thickness after deducting of tolerance, t = (1-0.125) tn = 0.875 tn =

0.875 x 9.53 mm = 8.33875 mm (0.328297 inch)

Corroded Thickness = 8.33875 C = 8.33875 3 = 5.33875 mm ( 0.210187 inch)

Solution:

t = PDo / 2 SE or P = 2 t S E / Do

P = 2 t S E / Do = 2 (0.210187 inch)(18000 psi)(1.0) / (48 inch) = 157.6403 psi

(10.869 bar)

So, the pipe is designed to resist a design pressure P = 157 psi (11.0382 kg/cm2)

Therefore, the operating pressure shall not exceed Pop = 120 psi (8.4368 kg/cm2)

For Remaining Life (years), please refer to the API 570 Piping Inspection Code

Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Rerating of Inservice Piping Systems.

7.1 CORROSION RATE DETERMINATION

7.1 .1 Remaining Life Calculations

The remaining life of the piping system shall be calculated from the following
formula:

Remaining Life (years) = (tactual trequired) / Corrosion Rate

Where,

tactual = the actual thickness, in inches (millimeters), measured at the time of

inspection for a given location or component as specified in 5.6.,

trequired = the required thickness, in inches (millimeters), at the same location or

component as the tactualmeasurement computed by the design formulas (e.g.,
pressure and structural) before corrosion allowance and manufacturer's tolerance are
added.

Based on API 570 for Piping Inspection Code "Inspection, Repair,

Alteration, and Rerating of Inservice Piping Systems".

The remaining life of the piping system shall be calculated from the following
formula:

Remaining Life (years) = (tactual trequired) / Corrosion Rate (API 570, Para.
7.1.1)

Where, tactual = the actual thickness, in inches (millimeters), measured at the time of
inspection for a given location or component as specified in 5.6.,

trequired = the required thickness, in inches (millimeters), at the same location of

component as the tactualmeasurement computed by the design formulas (e.g.,
pressure and structural) before corrosion allowance and manufacturer's tolerance are
added.

EXAMPLE

Given: A pipeline was constructed 15 years ago, the actual thickness measured
along the full life was as follows:

Pipe Schedule:

Nominal Pipe Wall Thickness tnominal (initial thickness when the pipe was
new)= 0.438" (11.125 mm),

After 1ST interval of 5 years, tactual5 = 10.625 mm

 After 2ND interval 5 years, tactual10 = 10.125 mm (tprevious)

After 3RD interval 5 years, tactual15 = 9.625 mm (tactual)

Code : ASME B31.8

Pipe material: API 5L XLS, ERW

Nominal Pipe Size: NPS 30" (Outside Diameter, Do = 30")

Specified Min. Yield Strength (SMYS), S = 52000 psi at the design temp.

Max. Operating Pressure (Design pressure), P = 910 psi

Appropriate Design Factor, F = 0.72 (ASME B31.8,Para. 841.114A)

Longitudinal Weld Joint Factor, E = 1 (ASME B31.8,Para. 841.115A)

Temperature Derating Factor, T = 1 (ASME B31.8,Para. 841.116A)

Find: The Remaining Life of the Pipeline in years.

Solution:

Min. Required Thickness, trequired, (or tmin. or tr, also called designed thickness or
critical thickness) = P Do / (2 S F E T)

= (910 psi)(30 inch)/2(52000 psi x 0.72 x1 x1) = 0.364" (9.260 mm) mm/year

Long Term Corrosion Rate, LT = (tinitial tlast)/time between last and initial =
(11.1259.625)mm/15 years = 0.1 mm/year

Short Term Corrosion Rate for Last interval, ST = (tprevious tlast)/time between last
and previous = (10.1259.625)mm/5 years = 0.1 mm/year

According to API 570, Section 7, the higher of these two rates LT and ST should be
used to estimate the remaining life. The interval between piping inspections shall be
established and maintained depending on corrosion rate and remaining life
calculation.

So, the corrosion rate to be considered = Max. (LT, ST) = 0.1 mm/year

The Remaining Life of the Pipeline = (tactual trequired) / Corrosion Rate = (9.625
9.260) mm / (0.1 mm/year) = 3 Years, 7 Months and 24 Days.

Before that interval, you have to inspect the pipeline.

Very Important Note. If there is a local corrosion or a pitting, you are requested to
apply the procedures of ASME B31.G for determining the remaining strength of
corroded pipeline. Or you can use the assessment(s) provided by API 579 Fitness
For Surface, FFS.

Dear inspectorjoe, please let me know your comments and any additionals you need.

(Any example derived here is formulated by myself, may be from an actual case, and
not extracted from any code or manual).

You can assume a pipe material as ASTM A53, Furnace , Butt Welded & Continuous
welded.

The Allowable Tensile Strength of A53, S = 0.72 SMYS = 0.72 x 25000 = 18000 psi

where, Specified Minimum Yield Strength, SMYS = 25 000 psi

Pipe Material Joint Efficiency, E = 0.6

The Min. Required Thickness, tr = P Do / (2 S E)

Operating Pressure, Pop = 150 psi

Assume a Design Pressure (more than the operating), P = 185 psi

For Pipes with NPS 6" : Outside Diameter, Do = 6.625 inch

For Pipes with NPS 8" : Outside Diameter, Do = 8.625 inch

For Pipes with NPS 10" : Outside Diameter, Do = 10.75 inch

For Pipes with NPS 12" : Outside Diameter, Do = 12.75 inch

To find the pipe nominal thickness t = tr + CA (where CA = Corrosion Allowance)

To find the pipe nominal thickness, tn = t / 0.875 (an increase represents 12.5%t)