[MODULE 2 PART 1] API 571 (3rd ED, Mar 2020) - API 570 STUDY GUIDE

API 570 STUDY SERIES 

API 571 INTRODUCTION (3rd Edition, March 2020)

API 571 is one of the 10 codes that is in the exam syllabus of API 570 Authorized Piping Inspector.

API 571 deals with Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Industry. As mentioned previously always refer the latest API 570 Exam Publications Effectivity Sheet based on your plan for the exam.

ANSI/API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 571 is a book contains large number of pages. But Only the following sections / mechanisms from RP 571 are included on the exam for API 570:

Section 2 Definitions

3.3 Amine Stress Corrosion Cracking

3.8 Atmospheric Corrosion

3.9 Boiler Water and Stream Condensate Corrosion

3.14 Caustic Corrosion

3.15 Caustic Stress Corrosion Cracking

3.17 Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking

3.22 Corrosion Under Insulation

3.27 Erosion/Erosion – Corrosion

3.31 Galvanic Corrosion

3.37 Hydrochloric Acid Corrosion

3.43 Mechanical Fatigue (Including Vibration-induced Fatigue)

3.45 Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion

3.57 Soil Corrosion

3.58 Sour Water Corrosion (Acidic)

3.61 Sulfidation

That means 15 damage mechanisms and section 2, Definitions are to be studied for the API 570 exam.

We will go through each mechanism, one by one, with the important points related to each mechanism.

When you read questions, there may be slight confusion between some mechanisms but it is sure that some particular point will differentiate each mechanism, which has to be clearly understood while reading the code and the questions.

Each damage mechanism is organized in the code under 9 headings. We will go through each damage mechanisms from this point of view. Please read each code thoroughly and make your notes.

1. Description of damage.

Direct questions can be asked from the description of damage mechanisms. Read the description of all the 15 damages and try to remember it.

2. Affected Materials

Not all the mechanisms affects all the materials. There are some materials which are affected by some particular mechanisms. If you can make a comparison chart of the mechanism against materials, that will be very much helpful for remembering the points.

Example:

A. 400 series of SS is affected mainly by two process

1. MIC

2. Sulfidation

B. All the materials are affected by three process

1. Erosion / Erosion-corrosion 

2. Mechanical Fatigue 

3. Galvanic Corrosion 

3. Critical Factors

Critical factors for each damage mechanism are to be noted. Example, Critical for the erosion mechanism is the size, shape, hardness and velocity of solid particles present in the fluid. 

4. Affected units or equipment.

Some particular process equipment's are affected by some particular mechanisms. Example: Erosion-corrosion plays a major role in catalyst handling piping and equipment in FCCU unit in the refineries.

5. Appearance or Morphology of damage.

There will be some particular appearance for a damage. Example: Calm shell type damage is the appearance of mechanical fatigue 

6. Prevention / Mitigation

The aim of the study of the damage mechanism is to understand it and find means to mitigate it. 

Example: Reduction of velocity or having optimum velocity of the impacting materials will reduce erosion / erosion-corrosion 

7. Inspection and Monitoring

Every damage has to be identified and assessed, the common techniques for those has to be known to an inspector.

8. Related Mechanisms

Some damage mechanisms will be known by other names depends on its location, affected area, the affected means etc. Example : Vibration fatigue is a related mechanism of mechanical fatigue 

9. References 

Not of importance in the exam point of view.

Please note that only fixed equipment damage mechanisms are addressed in this code.

As you go through API RP 571, you can see that there are no tables (As per BOK) to refer and calculations to be made. So the questions from this code can be mainly expected in the Closed Book Exam.

Please make notes on the above point of view. We will review each mechanism in the above point of view from the next blog of this series.

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