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When we discuss liquids, gases, and other fluids flowing through pipes and components, we call that plumbing. In many industrial situations, however, pipes used to transport fluids and gases are referred to as process piping.
What is Process Piping?
Within a chemical facility or refinery, pipes that transport all fluids (e.g., hydrocarbons, water, steam, etc.) are known as process piping. Process piping also refers to the process of manufacturing and designing these components. Process piping is used to transform liquids, chemicals, fuels, gases, or other raw materials into usable goods. For example, pipes directing water through a factory to cool processes would not be considered process piping, but pipes directing water through processes to be converted into cleaning chemicals, soft drinks, or combined with other materials to form an end product would be considered process piping.
So, process piping is any pipes or components that aren’t part of a building’s mechanical systems. Process piping systems for liquids or gases used for heating or cooling, or plumbing pipework that leads to bathroom fixtures or waste-water systems, for instance, would not be included in the process piping category. These would be classified as part of the plumbing system instead. Process piping is not employed for power processing.
There has been a radical shift in many sectors as a result of digitisation. The oil and gas sector has been one of the most affected by digital innovation in light of its continuous and accelerated uptake. Because of the huge quantities of data generated by the oil and gas sector, there has been a big push for data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. A significant network of pipes is required to transport crude oil from its source to where it is stored or processed into other petroleum products such as natural gas or petrol. Because of technological advances, the oil and gas industry has been able to move from a routine inspection culture to a preventive culture.
The Common Type of Process Piping
There are various types of pipes used in process piping. The most common ones include:
- Steel pipes: These are the most widely used type of pipes in the oil and gas industry.
- Stainless steel pipes: These are used in highly corrosive environments, e.g. when hydrogen sulphide is being used as a feedstock.
- Fibreglass pipes: These are used when the temperature is an issue, e.g. to transport hydrocarbons at high temperatures.
How Does Process Piping Work?
All pipes are made of strong materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, or fibreglass. It is necessary to have strong pipes in the process piping system because they have to withstand high pressure and temperatures.
The types of piping that are used depend on the design of the system, pressure, and volume flow. Safety is also an important consideration when choosing the type of piping. The piping system is designed to move fluids from one point to another within a refinery or chemical processing plant.
The process piping system can be designed to handle liquids, gases, or slurries. The liquid phase system consists of a series of pipes, valves, pumps, and other components that transport liquid under pressure.
The gas phase system consists of pipes, valves, and components that transport gas under pressure. The slurry phase system consists of pipes, valves, and other components that transport slurries under pressure.
Why Is Data Quality So Important For Process Piping?
The process piping system is a complex network of equipment, sensors and controls, which is why it’s important to have a robust data quality program. This can help you reduce your risk and increase your efficiency by having a reliable source of data that’s consistent and accessible.
Instead of relying on a single source of data, investing in a consistent and comprehensive data source will allow you to collect and analyse more data. It will allow you to derive insights and apply your data in more ways. In addition to monitoring equipment performance, the process piping system includes variables such as temperature, pressure, and flow rates. When the information is transmitted to the monitoring room, it can either be displayed on the screens or used to control the process. You can use all this information if you know how to interpret it.
Process piping is the most common location in facilities, but it is also the location of the most problems, according to American Petroleum Institute research (API 7). In most cases, inspecting process piping does not involve studying one or two pipes separately. Corrosion loops are used to categorize them.
We can provide competent knowledge-based inspection strategies that capture critical data needed to plan the asset’s integrity for the future.
